It's Riverfest Time!

By Steve Sharp of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, August 1, 2007 12:32 PM CDT

Preparations for Thursday's opening of the 21st annual Riverfest celebration continue this morning as workers with Logan Productions, Inc. assemble sound and lighting equipment at the Riverside Park band shell. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

Although steeped in more than two decades of tradition, Watertown's Riverfest continues to evolve with new bands, new restaurants in its Taste of Watertown and new rides on the midway.

The city's beloved summer ritual kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday night. On the rock ‘n' roll docket are Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Friday at 8:45 p.m., as well as the Twang Dragons Saturday at 5 p.m. with Johnny Wad to follow at 7:30 p.m. Beatles tribute, The Britins, perform Sunday at noon with Better Than Ezra following at 7 p.m. Dixieland band the Bourbon Street Stompers take the Riverfest stage at 11:30 a.m. Friday. The big band musicians in Ladies Must Swing will perform Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bluesman Paul Filipowicz and country acts Geoff Landon and the Wolfpack, as well as Trick Pony, are also on the weekend's schedule.

Riverfest organizer Tom Schultz acknowledged this year's weekend celebration is a more eclectic musical affair than in the past.

“It is broader than some we've done,” he said. “Better Than Ezra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are national acts - each with a great following. They will be popular with the people who are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, but older people will also enjoy what they are doing.”

Schultz said Better Than Ezra was scheduled to perform at the 2006 Riverfest, but the lead singer's mother died, leading to their cancellation. The BoDeans, a wildly popular summertime act from Milwaukee, filled in for Better Than Ezra at the last minute.

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Schultz noted the festival Web site has been receiving many hits in recent days, with people from outside the area inquiring about the cost of admission.

“And people are delighted when we respond that it is free,” he said, noting that neither Ezra nor Voodoo Daddy play free festivals very often.

Schultz said Trick Pony will bring an edgy country sound to the fest.

“They bring a rock sound to their country show,” he said.

When they are not enjoying all the music the fest features, visitors can get a bite to eat at the food court or visit the midway, both of which have several new things to offer this summer.

Chip Kedrowicz operates Rainbow Valley Rides and told the Daily Times Tuesday afternoon while setting up his amusements that he is featuring three new rides during his visit to Watertown.

He noted that new this year will be a ride called the “Freak Out.” He said the ride is a “pendulum” variety that transports riders 70 feet into the air while its cars rotate. He said the ride requires 3,000 gallons of water to hold it in place. He is also featuring a zero-gravity ride, as well as a new children's amusement called the “Bumblebee Bop.”

Rainbow Valley Rides has been a fixture at Riverfest for many years, according to Kedrowicz. He said so far this summer, Rainbow Valley has entertained at the Washington County Fair, the Lincoln County Fair in Merrill, Greek Fest in Milwaukee and several Milwaukee-area church festivals. From Watertown he said the organization travels to Eagle River for the Vilas County Fair.

“We're here in Watertown for awhile and we always enjoy it,” he said. “Riverfest is a very nice celebration.”

Ride specials are available Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

New to the Taste of Watertown will be the Blew Inn, which will feature egg rolls, crab rangoon wontons, various chicken dishes and a prime rib sandwich. Also in its rookie season will be Rico's, which brings fresh, 1 1/4-pound Maine lobsters, Italian beef sandwiches, calzones and dessert cannolis. Although long an establishment on Main Street, the Chalet Restaurant is also new to Riverfest this year. The eatery will offer chicken quesadillas, a chicken breast sandwich, chicken nuggets, burgundy marinated sirloin, barbecued pork sandwiches, cheddar nuggets and more.

The Riverfest raffle is back this year, with its grand prize of $10,000 in cash. First through 10th prizes total $3,550. The drawing takes place Sunday at 9 p.m. A 5K run is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday and the Carp Classic follows at 9 a.m. The Classic Car Show is Sunday at 9 a.m.

Bartolotta Fireworks will put on its popular display Saturday at 10 p.m., with a rain date of Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Admission to Riverfest and all entertainment is free.

There are six Park and Ride locations in the city at the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth street lots, as well as at the middle and high schools. Free rides are sponsored by Loeb Industries and Chickens Unlimited. Shuttles run every 30 minutes to and from Riverside Park. Shuttles will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m. on Friday, 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit the festival Web site at www.watertownriverfest.info or call (920) 261-6320.