RIVERFEST

Beer can from the Sept. 18-20, 1981 Riverfest celebration.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

RIVERFEST. Riverfest began in 1980 when a group of about a dozen people began exploring the interest in a fall festival for the city. Compared to other festivals in the fall, most events were free to the public. Goals were to draw Dubuque and show them the other opportunities the city had to offer. For those who lived in the city, Riverfest was meant to provide a weekend of free family entertainment. Promoters looking back believed 10,000 people attended the first festival. By 1988, attendance estimates stood at 60,000. In 1990 it was known that the audience remained a mix of local residents and tourists, but no surveys of people who attended the event had been done. In 1989 planning for the festival was done by an eight-member volunteer committee. (1)

By 1991, Riverfest was coming off a decade of increasing attendance with an estimated 70,000 visitors attending the festival in 1990. Donna Ginter vice-president of the Riverfest Board of Directors, believed that fall foliage, entertainment and activities continued to be the reasons for the event's success. Continuing the practice of adding new events, the 1991 festival included a wrist-wrestling contest, a fashion show carried out by students of CAPRI COLLEGE of Fashion Merchandising at the TOWN CLOCK, longer hours based on demand for the art show at Washington Park, and a Jazzercisers Aerobathon in the parking lot of FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBUQUE. Musical groups performed throughout the city. In 1991 the Riverfest was held at the same time as the DRAGON BOAT RACES which were being recorded by Disney Productions for a later showing. (2)

Source:

1. Glindinning, Mary, "Riverfest to Celebrate 10th Year in 1990," Telegraph Herald, September 7, 1989, p. 21

2. Glindinning, Mary, "Music Highlights Annual Festival," Telegraph Herald, September 9, 1991, p. 10