Riverfest wraps up with bang

By Teresa Stowell and Diane Graff of the Daily Times staff
Monday, August 6, 2007 12:39 PM CDT

Members of the Must-Skis water ski team perform a series of airborne twists and flips during the group's Saturday afternoon Riverfest appearance. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

The 21st annual Watertown Riverfest celebration came to a festive conclusion Sunday night, as fireworks by Bartolotta filled the sky over Riverside Park.

The fireworks, originally scheduled for Saturday, were postponed until Sunday night because of inclement weather. But the one day delay was worth the wait as the rockets filled the sky with bright colors and loud bangs as the annual event came to a close.

“We had a lot of people out there having a lot of fun and that's what it's all about,” Thomas Schultz, Riverfest chairman, said. “There was good attendance, but we lost some ground an Saturday when the weather turned bad.”

Schultz said officials will count numbers this morning to determine the event's total revenue and ticket sales for the food vendors. Those numbers should be determined by Tuesday. Schultz said with Saturday's rain dampening the attendance, numbers will likely compare with last year's festival, which had a rainy day on Sunday of the event.

The country band Trick Pony kicked off the celebration Thursday and the crowds continued to flow to the park throughout the weekend. After Friday night's lineup of the Bourbon Street Stompers, Paul Filipowicz, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a number of activities followed the next morning. The tennis tournament, 5K run, kids casting contest, bean bag tournament, Carp Classic and raft race were all part of Saturday morning's activities. Saturday's musical entertainment also caught the attention of those in attendance with bands including Ladies Must Swing, Watertown Municipal Band, Twang Dragons and Johnny Wad.

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“Sunday was probably our biggest day with Better Than Ezra,” Schultz said. “Saturday morning was also successful, bringing out people for all of the family events.”

The raft race got off to a fast start as some of the participants took to pulling the inflated raft through the shallow Rock River. About 75 two-person teams made their way from Tivioli Island to the park by way of the river. It took about 20 minutes for the first team to cross the finish line, while others trickled in after about 40 minutes. The rafters had to make their way through the Carp Classic fishing teams that lined the banks of the river at the park.

Hunter Minning, 10, of Watertown, brought in 19.10 pounds of fish during the two-hour contest. He used corn and nightcrawlers to catch more than 25 carp in the river.

All participants received a rod and reel from the Watertown Conservation Club. A casting clinic was also held sponsored by C&R B.A.S.S. Anglers Inc.

The 16-piece Ladies Must Swing big band performed late Saturday morning prior to the sounds of Watertown's own city band.

The city band, under the direction of Duane Roberson, performed several patriotic pieces along with a variety of marches.

The rains slowly arrived Saturday afternoon, but it did not hinder the three water ski performances or family entertainment.

Despite the rain Saturday, the bands kept playing. Twang Dragons performed contemporary rock and Johnny Wad played before an umbrella holding crowd. He said the people in the crowd looked as though they were at a beach party.

Muggy and humid weather didn't keep the crowd away Sunday with many listening to the tunes of the Britins. Dressed in gray suits and resembling the Beatles, the Britins played a number of classic hits.

In between and during the musical entertainment Saturday and Sunday, many people walked around the island and through the annual craft show.

Lori Stuart of Fall Creek was among the craft vendors with her hand-painted ornaments, glassware and shirts. She takes her artwork to festivals in seven different states and has brought her work to Riverfest for the past six years.

“This has got to be the best crowd we've had at Riverfest for the past few years,” Stuart said. “It's really been a buying crowd. The people have been wonderful. You give them a smile and they'll come on in.”

With rain causing most antique car owners to stay home last year, this year's Classic Car Show on Sunday was a huge success with well over 200 antique vehicles lined up throughout the park. Awards were given to the top cars and trucks in each division.

Tom and JoAnn Badovski of Neosho were among the many antique car owners. They displayed their dark blue 1930 Model A Deluxe Roadster. This was the Badovskis' first year with their car at Riverfest. Most car owners sat near their antique vehicles and answered questions from those touring the car show.

“This is just an awesome fest,” Tom Badovski said. “Look around, there are just so many beautiful cars here.”

The Badovskis received a plaque for the Wayne Kohlhoff Memorial award, in memory of a local resident who had a love for Model A's.

“His son told us that if there was any car he would have liked to take a ride in, it would have been ours,” JoAnn Badovski said. “That's pretty special.”

Over the weekend children and adults at the festival let their toes get a little wet while waves from the Rock River splashed to shore during the performances of the Beaverland Must-Ski's.

The skiers, dressed in purple outfits, performed barefoot acts, pyramids and acrobatic jumps all while water skiing.

While most of the Must-Ski's are from Beaver Dam, a few of them participate in activities in Watertown. Gymtastics coach Kerri Yenor, of Watertown, came to Riverfest to watch two of her students, Mariah and Ariana Weinberger, perform with the Must-Ski's as part of the pyramid and in other acts.

All weekend, the 15 food vendors provided a variety of chicken sandwiches, Greek food and Mexican entrees.

“We have been really busy,” Sue Hepp, whose husband owns the Silver Eagle Saloon, said late Sunday night. Business picked up when a band member from Better Than Ezra mentioned the mini corn dog offerings. The restaurant went through almost 800 pounds of chicken wings during the four-day festival.

The lines of people waiting for Mullen's ice cream Sunday night stretched to the carnival rides. Rico's Italian Restaurant was sold out of cannoli, calzones and Italian beef by the end of the festival.