Die-hard fans have been at every Riverfest

By Diane Graff of the Daily Times staff
Monday, August 4, 2008 12:36 PM CDT

Spending more than 42 hours a week at Riverfest is better than a 40 hour work week, Dan Adams of Watertown said Sunday afternoon.

And that is what he and his wife, Barb, have done every year for the past 22 years.

The couple are die-hards at the celebrations, taking a front row seat for the musical entertainment at all of the main stage performances.

“We attended the first one, which was called River Days,” Barb said recalling the city's sesquicentennial celebration in 1986. “We haven't missed a year,” she said, noting the festival concluded its 22nd annual run on Sunday.

The couple may have missed a day or two of the celebration due to inclement weather, but never due to their own decisions. They attend the celebration on opening Thursday nights and take the day off on Friday to attend Riverfest and continue to attend throughout the weekend.

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Several activities were canceled in 2007 reducing the amount of time the couple spent at Riverside Park. But this year, the two were in the park from the time the first shuttle bus made its trip from the downtown area to just about the last bus leaves the park.

“Last year was a bad year (for the festival),” Dan said. “There wasn't a good day in the entire period,” he recalled. Unlike this year, where no rain fell and the sun shined brightly on all the activities.

“We come for the food, music and firework,” Barb said.

In the earlier days, Dan worked with the auxiliary police at the festival. “But now we attend full-time.

“We stay the entire day,” Dan added. “Sometimes it is a long day.” But if they were not at Riverfest, Dan said he would just be at home watching television.

“Rarely do we leave early,” Barb added. She recalled a couple of years ago they left before the musical group the Bo Deans completed their set. “They had a fan club that came in and it was loud,” she added.

The two are known for their signature red, white and blue chairs with double cup holders that are placed in front of the band shell stage for each performance. Those chairs have been at every performance for the past 22 years, Dan said.

In fact, those chairs are so well known that one time the Florida Yard Dogs band members made reference to the chairs and the cup holders, he said.

“There have been so many bands over the years I can't remember who we all saw,” Barb said. Some bands, such as Three Dog Night and Peter Noone have made repeat performances on the stage, she recalled.

Dan recalled seeing Lonestar and listed several other country bands. “He is more into country,” Barb said.

“I am a country fan,” Dan said sporting a cowboy hat. “But she is more into the ‘60s and rock,” he said of his wife. “If it is music, we enjoy it,” he said. “For the most part, I can't complain about the bands.”

The couple has sat through every type of music the festival has offered. Everything from the big band sound, to early rock n' roll to the blues. “I can't remember everything we have seen or heard,” Barb said.

Barb said her favorite performances were the final concert by the local Van Eske band several years ago and the Booze Brothers show.

But they are not glued to their lawn chairs. When the music stops between performances, the two wonder the park and take in the many other events, such as the craft fair, Sunday's car show and all the children performances including the jugglers, musicians and water ski show. Over the years they have seen the Scheer Lumberjack performance many times, a high wire act and all the many other entertainers for children and families. They also have attended all the firework shows over the years.

“At one point or another during the festival we see everything,” Dan said.

“That is what I like about it,” Barb said. “There is something for everyone and there is a variety of music.”

“It is so close to home and it is free. When else can you get away for a weekend without having to leave?” Dan said. “It is one of the high points of Watertown.”

As long as organizers keep putting on the celebration, the Adams said they will continue to attend.

“We may have to move our chairs back a bit though,” Dan said about the volume of the music.

While a crowd may jump and shout around them, the Adams continue to sit in the front row. Over all the years, no one has ever taken the chairs. “And we have never had anyone in the chairs,” Dan said. “We have learned to sit really close to the fence,” he added.

There is the one hazard of beer being spilt, Dan said. “I have been covered in beer. I would rather drink it than wear it,” he said.

“We will keep coming as long as we can get around,” Dan said.

“As long as we are able,” Barb added.