The attendance for Riverbend has grown over the years and there are now regularly over 650,000 people that come over the course of the festival from all over Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Add this festival to your JamBase Calendar. "We were looking at where the city was," Robbins recalls. When Walker Breland thinks back to the very first Riverbend Festival in August 1982, he remembers first going to people like Scotty Probasco, president at American National Bank, and Carey. The annual festival ranks in the Top 10 Percent of all American festivals. 2023 Riverbend, Friends of the Festival Ecom, Wristbands VIP MerchFAQ, Festival InformationParkingFestival MapThings to Do. As the first president of the board of directors for the first Riverbend, Breland was there almost from the beginning. After missing a year due to the pandemic, we will celebrate 40 years of music in 2023! It has since evolved. "dfpConfig": { When Walker Breland thinks back to the very first Riverbend Festival in August 1982, he remembers first going to people like Scotty Probasco, president at American National Bank, and Carey Hanlin, CEO at Provident Insurance, "and asking for a loan that would never be paid back.". When the band threatened to leave town without playing, Rody Davenport, whose family owned all the Krystal restaurants in Chattanooga, "went to every Krystal in town and cleaned out every till of cash to pay them," Breland says with a laugh. }. "People gave out of a sense of civic pride," Robbins says. The AEC has since become the Southern Lit Alliance and still produces the Celebration of Southern Literature, a weekend event hosting of Southern writers. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit 6/5/2022 at Riverbend Festival | Dylan Basden Photography Alabama native Jason Isbell closed out the festival with his band The 400 Unit. 201 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402, USA USA Get Directions Featured Hotels in Chattanooga More Hotels 38 Followers Connect, Meet and Build a Strong Network Related Events More Events Around Chattanooga Chattanooga All Events Trade Shows Consumer Fair Trade Shows Consumer Fair Events in USA Events in Chattanooga The Beach Boys on Memorial Day Weekend, The Commodores in June & Rick Springfield on the Fourth of July weekend. The barge has been an iconic part of Riverbend from the start. Her husband, Sam, however, was very helpful and active at our first summer 1981 planning seminars. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. No stranger to large crowds, Isbell and company rocked out. Headline performers are featured nightly on the Coca-Cola Stage, a barge which has been converted into a full-size concert stage. The Commodores are a unknown bit of early Riverbend history, and a link to its present character and problems - as are those forgotten people who deserve recognition. The Riverbend Festival, or called Riverbend (named for the bend in the Tennessee River) by locals, was started in June 1982 as a five night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This year's festival will be our 39th year! Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982. We quote the most whitewashed and comforting portions of his speeches without further examination or questioning his thoughts, more, Next Sunday, I and a group of activists will be counterprotesting a pro-abortion event marking the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Each first aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons with disabilities. In 1987, for example, the Jet Riverbend Challenge, the Inboard Championship Series and The Automotive Thunderboats all took place. In fact, very little of what exists today near that part of the river is the same. Venue: Ross's Landing Tagged With Rock Tennessee USA Festivals 4-Day Fests. The festival boasts seven stages, with more than 100 performers. One touching the leg decides it's a tree; one at the trunk thinks it's a snake, one at the ears thinks it's a fan. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ Friends of the Festival. Begun in 1982 the Riverbend Festival known locally as just Riverbend, is hugely popular. More than a hundred acts, both well-known and new, converge each year to perform various kinds of music, including classic rock, country, urban, and bluegrass, as well as jam bands, on three stages set alongside the Tennessee River. The other two acts were the Beach Boys on Memorial Day 1982 and Rick Springfield followed that July. Justin Smith, a guitarist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division band, plays guitar at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. The most important impact Riverbend makes is the same one that made it so special in 1982: Bringing people together from diverse backgrounds from around the country and the world to enjoy music in a special place that holds so much of Chattanoogas history. Paramore. Remember, that first Riverbend didnt actually arrive until August. You can get this by showing a valid ID at any of the beer or token locations. Three days of great music, great food, great experiences, and f ireworks, starts today June 3rd and will last until June 5th at Ross's Landing.. Riverbend 2022 will feature over two dozen acts from country, rock, disco, jazz, and more to keep you moving all weekend long. This photo is taken from the railroad trellis on MLK looking back toward the Chubb Life building. Explore our hotels to find accommodations near Riverbend Festival (in Riverbend Festival) for your personal or business trips. If you're looking for a unique experience, you can take a water taxi or a boat to the park and enter the festival through a different gate. field59.ipo = { When you see news happening, share it! Riverbend is more than a good show. "I was at church the next morning at 8:30.". Hotels/Motels close to Riverbend Festival are shown below ordered by distance (closest first). There was no Five Nights connection with their support for our Friends of the Festival group, which started with a proposal from me and Mickey Robbins May 5, 1981. Marjorie Taylor Greene gets Committee Assignments, Fort Payne Crash Leaves One Dead, Others Injured, Update: Woman Turns Herself in after Hit and Run. Saturday, July 30, 2022 Outlaw Music Festival 2022 featuring Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Gov't Mule, Larkin Poe, and Particle Kid Doors Open: 4:00pm Show Time: 4:25pm Riverbend Music Center Artists Willie Nelson ZZ Top Gov't Mule Larkin Poe Particle Kid Important Health Update There Are No Health Entry Requirements For This Event. }, There will be several vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options on offer. In subsequent early years, the festival included boat/ski/jet ski races on the river during the day. With the $26,000 Lyndhurst planning grant in May 1981, we had brought in three national festival experts for our festival seminars held at the Chamber of Commerce, concluded with a planning and goal-setting session led by new UTC drama professor Fred Beringer. [3] Admission was previously given to people who had collectible Riverbend Pins. Event Details. For safety reasons, no chairs will be allowed on site before the gates officially open. Riverbend Music Festival Tour Dates This awesome event was started in June 1982 as a five night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pictured in this undated file photo are some of the many staff and volunteers who have helped stage Riverbend over the years. It's a good idea to wear waterproof shoes, carry a rain poncho, or consider other attire for rain in late May. 1 hits and four Grammys between 1972 and 1974, was the biggest name at the inaugural Riverbend. celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival. Over the years, it has undergone serious wind damage, leading to a new cover, and it has been outfitted with more modern and better audio, lighting and video equipment. It is likely to get pretty crowded, so carry a rain poncho so you can avoid waiting in a long line to purchase one. King Boulevard and Broad Street and -- as the name implies -- it was spread over five consecutive Tuesday nights. [2] The attendance for Riverbend has grown over the years and there are now regularly over 650,000 people that come over the course of the festival from all over Tennessee, the Southeast, the United States, and other countries. Our organizing group (Mickey Robbins, Nelson and Deanne Irvine, myself) wanted an artistic director involved very early, but the foundation wrote us after a June 1981 planning meeting that they would only support a promoter, not an artistic director who "could come later after the plans were made" (something like flying a plane with the pilot in the tail section I thought at the time). }; CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) Just how, when and why the Riverbend Festival began is still a matter for debate. There are plenty of paid parking options in the downtown area. The goal was to book a variety of acts to bring different audiences down to the river. Multiple stages are set up all over the venue where over a hundred musicians and bands perform every year. Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist assigned to 3rd IDs band. There are convenience stores in the vicinity, where you can pick up any essentials you need. Anyone violating the regulations of the festival will be removed from the venue. 12. Daniel Thompson/50th Public Affairs Detachment), U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division band perform at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Jillian Bojoh, a vocalist from the 3rd Infantry Division band, sings at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 3, 2022. Over the years, it has grown in popularity, and currently, over 650,000 people join the celebrations annually from different parts of the country and the world. But even in their heyday of the 1990s and early 2000s, most of the music festivals that arose in other cities were three- or four-day events, unlike Riverbend's week-or-more schedule. You can Google "Two Town Festivals: Signs of a Theater of Power" and scan the academic text, now being revised for a book, "The Idea of Festival". Find tickets online today using Songkick Boat and jet ski races on the Tennessee River were part of early Riverbend Festivals. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}350318N 851934W / 35.055N 85.326W / 35.055; -85.326. Legacy of the Beast World Tour - trasa koncertowa grupy Iron Maiden. category_id: null, But the birth of Riverbend had plenty of labor pains. Sunday, June 20, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Little Richard Add Setlist Monday, June 21, 1993 Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN Deanna Bogart Neighboring communities (starting in the north and going clockwise) Abenberg Before the inaugural Riverbend Festival in August of 1982, organizers booked three shows at Engel Stadium to raise money for the bigger festival. detail_page_enabled: true, I am wanting to come in from ATL and I don't. In the familiar story, the blind men each touch a different part of the elephant and come away with different ideas of what it is. In fact, it's not even a single line, but a series of separate lines that eventually merged into one. Admission is given to people with special scannable wristbands, which can be purchased in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia in the weeks leading up to the festival for a discounted price or purchased at the gate for a regular price. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. Country duo Brothers Osborne will kick off the festival on June 3. Riverbend Festival, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga to bring the community together. Riverbend Festival Jun 3 - 5, 2022 3 days Chattanooga, TN / map Day-by-Day Lineup Jun 3, 2022 Brothers Osborne Jenny Lewis Elle King Devon Gilfillian Kendell Marvel Bexar Rick Rushing Jun 4,. Download the News 12 News and Weather Apps on your smart phone or tablet device to receive breaking news and weather push notifications the minute it happens. Several of the early organizers who still care wonder why the current Riverbend history page is not corrected to match the real history, which started with my/our efforts in 1980 to learn about town festivals, such as the new one in Charleston S.C., Spoleto USA. Interacting with a live audience is a feeling unlike any other, and we hope to be back next year., 3rd Infantry Division Band Performs at Riverbend Festival, U. S. Army Sgt. The now-familiar pins did not come into play until the next year. Its been awhile since weve been able to perform in front of a live audience like this since the COVID-19 pandemic.. I suppose Commissioner Robinson's "history" on the Riverbend official web page reflects her memories or what someone uninformed wrote for her. Having begun as a small music festival in 1982, Riverbend has grown to become an internationally-recognized, nine-day event welcoming more than 650,000 fans. The entrances are accessible, and select viewing areas at ground level are reserved for patrons with disabilities. In some ways, figuring out who started Riverbend is like trying to definitively pinpoint who invented rock 'n' roll; you can name dozens of artists that could claim part of the title, yet each of those had their own influences in the past. We are proud of our long-standing history in downtown Chattanooga. Provides positive economic impact not only to Chattanooga but also to regional tourism. Youre covered with our custom protection packages. Our efforts provide nearly 250 area residents with full-time, ongoing employment and an amount approaching $1 million in net public sector revenues. Then the first Riverbend "at the water" was held the end of August at Ross's Landing with about 15,000 or so people attending during the week of this first one; the attendance numbers are not certain. Fri 24 Mar 2023 Ultra Music Festival 2023 Miami, FL, US. Riverfest Festival Map Riverbend Church OCT 29 | 4-7PM Riverfest at Riverbend in Austin, TX We're so glad you're here to enjoy Riverfest with us. You'd think this would make an interesting feature story for the Festival press office to pass on to the media - if, that is, the FoF knew its own history. Chattanooga is situated along the Georgia border in the southeast part of Tennessee. Music truly enriches the human experience.. Riverbend Festival Riverfront Nights Four Bridges Art Festival, About Us Our Work Contact Careers. "You just have to walk around down there and see people from Whitwell and Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and Alton Park.". The festival went to wristbands last year, though it offered a collectible pin, as well. The Tennessee Aquarium would not be built for another decade, and most of the buildings in the area were empty and boarded-up; there was almost no reason for anyone to visit the area, much less bring a family there. The Riverbend Festival, also called Riverbend, is a well-known annual music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was started in June 1982 as a five-night festival. Although Savage spent much of his later life in the Northeast, his formative years were spent in southwestern Montana, where the mountain West and his ranching family formed the setting for much of his work. 9 ALTON Thousands of eagle fans landed in the Riverbend Saturday for the annual Eagle Ice Festival, a multi-site extravaganza dedicated to the majestic bird that serves as the nation's. We are the most trusted source for local news. The Riverbend Festival showcases various genres of music such as country, urban, rock, and bluegrass. Riverbend Festival 1986 Setlists Jun 13 1986 Date Friday, June 13, 1986 - Sunday, June 22, 1986 Venue Ross's Landing, Chattanooga, TN, USA Report festival So far there are setlists of 14 gigs. It started as a way to come together downtown to celebrate the community we all share. Begun in 1982, to celebrate the beginning of summer, the Riverbend Festival is a musical event that takes place each . Fireworks have traditionally closed the festival since the very beginning and continue to be a popular draw for fans. Your email address will not be published. And when looking at how it all came together, you also see the inner workings of the city's artistic, civic and business leaders, getting a glimpse at the creation of the "Chattanooga Way" -- the spirit of cooperation that current civic leaders still like to reference. Though it technically was centered on a fine-arts festival similar to Spoleto, it also provided a blueprint for Riverbend. So when talk began of putting together an arts festival to promote the city, many forces fell into place under his leadership. A free summertime music series that attracts wide-ranging audiences to the riverfront. The Lyndhurst's Riverbend archives make it clear Mr. Jack Lupton saw the Five Nights project as a one-time experiment but wanted the foundation out of the concert business with its potential for liability lawsuits and that a "citizen's group should be found.". 2023 Riverbend, Friends of the Festival Ecom, Wristbands VIP MerchFAQ, Festival InformationParkingFestival MapThings to Do. 08-23-1982 Riverbend Festival Barge Christening - YouTube The barge that held the first Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga is christened. Storey produced the Five Nights concerts directly for the Lyndhurst Foundation, which later pushed our new Friends of Festival board to hire him as a promoter based on that curious no-charge experiment in urban animation to see if blacks and whites could gather without violence. Over the years, it has grown in popularity, and currently, over 650,000 people join the celebrations annually from different parts of the country and the world. Over the years, the festival grew into the nine nights of its current run and presently ranks in the top 10 of all American festiv. Beginning as a five-night festival, the Riverbend Music Festival has garnered quite a reputation since its debut in June 1982, ranking in the top ten percent of American festivals. His thirteen novels received high critical praise, yet he remained largely unknown by readers. None of the shows made money, and even had some drama of their own. So, she and other current FoF board members, such as Hugh Moore, may not have known what was actually happening before that time. Chattanooga and the large music festival scene have changed quite a bit since the inaugural Riverbend Festival in 1982. The goal was to entice Chattanoogans who lived in the suburbs to return to the downtown area. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Required fields are marked *, function evvntDiscoveryInit() { Riverbend Festival, or Riverbend, named for the bend in the Tennessee River by locals, began in June of 1982 as a five-night festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Concessions are purchased using a token system and many street vendors set up food and souvenir stands. Answer 1 of 6: I love Alison Krauss, but found out about the festival too late to get reserved seats by front of the stage. Music festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, International Festivals and Events Association. The festival itself only had one proper stage, the barge in the river. This years event marked the festivals 39th year of celebrating community togetherness. From The Archives: The First Riverbend Festival The very first Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga actually ran during late August of 1982 August 18, 2022 Collins Parker CHATTANOOGA. That being said perhaps among all the down line-up artists, Jenny needs the least introduction and yet deserves it as much all the same. Riverbend Festival. Riverbend Festival June 2-4, 2023 | Ross's Landing WRISTBANDS ON SALE 12/2 celebrating 40 years of riverbend Festival We are proud of our long-standing history in downtown Chattanooga. The 3rd IDs band was one of a wide variety of performers covering almost every musical genre at this event. widget: true, In the rare event of severe weather, you can look for direction from festival staff at that time. Some events were ticketed, but most were free. For more information on tickets and pricing, take a look at the official event website. Major local and national companies, such as Covista Communications, Unum, and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront area. Don't forget that you will likely cross a bridge or two near this festival. partner_name: "WDEF", [4] A wristband provides admission for either one night or every night of the festival except for the Bessie Smith Strut. widget: true, | System Trade Analysis Tools. I was surprised to see that The Commodores are on Riverbend's main barge stage Wednesday night and yet I have seen no mention anywhere that they performed at the first Riverbend events May-August 1982. Is the festival so crowded that we would hardly be able to hear the music or see them? Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. Contrary to the official Riverbend history on their page, the 1981 Five Nights in Chattanooga had nothing to do with Riverbend except, in looking back, as a bad model, since the three ticketed. "It's complicated, of course, but I did live through it," he says in a recent email. discovery: { Hetzler and Richard Brewer, who was partners with Storey in Variety Services, insist that an event called Five Nights in Chattanooga, which Variety produced in 1981 with a $150,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation, had nothing to do with Riverbend. 154 relations. Cage the Elephant has won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album twice, in 2017 for Tell Me I'm Pretty and in 2020 for Social Cues. Some of the first-year events were well-attended, drawing several thousand spectators, but some were not, drawing a few dozen. It is now celebrating more than 35 years as Chattanooga's premier event. It has since evolved into three nights and is nationally known. In a partnership with local audio retailer Listen Up, CDs and playback equipment were shipped in from Japan. The Riverbend Festival, which was twice delayed and then restructured during the COVID-19 pandemic, will have to wait another year before returning June 2-5, 2022. You can choose to attend a single day of the Riverbend Festival or all four days. Later that summer I visited Salzburg Festival and was amazed at the range of all the arts and other activities and the enormous economic and cultural impact of these huge town festivals, which were our guiding examples for the early Riverbend festivals. detail_page_enabled: true, Although being unfortunately canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, event organizers have pushed through to ensure that this beloved occasion occurs . Kicking off summer, Riverbend Festival draws thousands of attendees to enjoy a weekend of great music, food and other festival attractions. With the planning grant we also took Mayor and Mrs. Pat Rose along with Mickey and Eloise Robbins and myself to see Charleston's Spoleto USA and so that Mayor Rose could discuss the festival's impact with Mayor Joe Riley, a believer in "art power," that same summer of 1981. Original Objectives Advertise scenic beauty Civic publicity Stimulate new architecture National image promotion Bring in unique (big names) Promote local arts organizations Civic pride Artistic quality (big names, local showcases) Economic benefit Individual creative expression (local showcases) Community involvement Artistic pleasure Nationally significant event Indigenous festival People to downtown Fun Focus/showcase arts Promote local arts organizationsSource: Minutes from Sept. 19, 1981 board meeting. map: false, "Carey just sat back and laughed, but then he turned around and wrote a check for $25,000," says Breland, professor emeritus from the Music Department at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The VIP pass may get you backstage access to the main stage, private bars, separate restrooms, complimentary food and beverages, and other perks. Using 40+ years of experience, we lend our expertise, resources and partnerships to other organizations. While the list of original goals for the as-yet-nebulous festival included things like "economic benefit," "people to downtown," "civic publicity," "civic pride" and "artistic quality," which the committee defined as featuring big names and local showcases in any creative area, the committee was looking for an event to showcase fine arts at various locations around town. Many of the restaurants and bars have live music in the evenings, which you can enjoy with a refreshing cocktail. 423-785-1200 | news@wdef.com3300 Broad Street, Chattanooga TN 37408. "There was a definite progression there," says Robbins. Stream: Riverbend Festival ( Free Trial) Watch Riverbend Festival! As of June 1982, "Riverbend", affectionately named after the curve in the Tennessee River, has been a riveting music event ranking in the top 10% of festivals in the country. Location: Chattanooga, TN. The barge floats just off the shore against a large collection of amphitheater seats built into a hillside at the water's edge. Talk to News 12 anchors, reporters and meteorologists. The food scene in Chattanooga has exploded in recent years. Friends of the Festival is experienced in event production in the greater Chattanooga area with expertise in planning, implementation and management. The Krystal sponsored these three events as part of its 50th anniversary, building on Lyndhurst support, and I believe co-organizers Nelson Irvine and Mickey Robbins have copies of that poster; mine burned in my August 07 home fire with other original founding records. The Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN has been celebrated for over 35 years since its start back in June 1982. "global": { He loves to spread positivity by playing great music so that people can hopefully have a good time. King Blvd downtown), 2007 also debuted Riverbend's first ever classical recital featuring pianist, This page was last edited on 6 June 2022, at 11:58. Riverbend 2022 was awesome, Bojoh said. But the first full Festival happened in August of 1982. All Ages. We persisted. [4] A wristband provides admission for either one night or every night of the festival except for the Bessie Smith Strut. See the Riverbend Festival 2023 lineup. Festival wristbands also allow guests to have an associated card to simplify purchases. That changed after the Pointer Sister show in 1985. Wed love to hear from you. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An annual juried art show that attracts visual artists from across the country, and has been ranked in the top 30 fine art festivals in country. Officially established in 1982 by Chattanooga locals, the event was created as an avenue through which the community could come together and celebrate . Contrary to the official Riverbend history on their page, the 1981 Five Nights in Chattanooga had nothing to do with Riverbend except, in looking back, as a bad model, since the three ticketed summer acts in 1982 lost the fledgling festival about $100,000 under executive director Bruce Storey's leadership, based on comments from the first officers. Its hosted by a local pro-choice group called the New Suffragettes, more, Walker Valley, McMinn Co. 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Varnell Jr. Into one Sister show in 1985 aid station will also have accessible restrooms, which are reserved for patrons disabilities... Through it, '' says Robbins a hillside at the inaugural Riverbend Festival or all four days summer planning... Complicated, of course, but some were not, drawing a few dozen to! But some were not, drawing several thousand spectators, but I did live through it, '' Robbins. International festivals and events Association this event of early Riverbend festivals birth of Riverbend from the railroad trellis on looking! Chattanooga area with expertise in planning, implementation and management information on tickets and pricing, take a at! Barge Christening - YouTube the barge has been an iconic part of Riverbend the! Changed quite a bit since the inaugural Riverbend find tickets online today using Songkick Boat and ski... 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To spread positivity by playing great music so that people can hopefully have a good time koncertowa... @ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354 at the riverbend festival 1982 event website but the birth Riverbend..., and Budweiser, sponsor other stages throughout the riverfront where the city was, '' Robbins recalls and Festival. Early years, the Jet Riverbend Challenge, the Jet Riverbend Challenge the... Five consecutive Tuesday nights the 3rd IDs band other attire for rain in late May well-attended, drawing few... Friends of the Festival included riverbend festival 1982 ski races on the Riverbend Festival riverfront nights four Bridges Art Festival, for. Were free by distance ( closest first ) will also have accessible restrooms, which can! Beginning of summer, Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee covering almost every musical genre at this.... Husband, Sam, however, was the biggest name at the official event.!, which you can choose to attend a single line, but I did live it. Southeast part of the Festival is a musical event that takes place each band was one of a sense civic. At church the next morning at 8:30. `` and Rick Springfield followed that July the gates officially.. A good idea to wear waterproof shoes, carry a rain poncho, or consider attire!