This page part of 2010 Watertown Riverfest website

Riverfest 2010

August 5, 6, 7, 8

Watertown's Riverfest starts Thursday, August 5

Riverside Park, Watertown, WI

Watertown Daily Times article

Watertown's Riverfest starts Thursday

For just a year shy of a quarter-century, Watertown's Riverfest has been bringing world-class musical entertainment to green and shady Riverside Park. This year's 24th annual lineup, which runs from Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 8, promises more great music for the thousands who now make the event an annual summer rite.

This year's Riverfest musical schedule features performances by Molly Hatchet, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Eagles tribute band Hotel California, Madison County, Mark Shurilla, Pat McCurdy and Paul Cebar. Bartolotta, Wisconsin's top name in fireworks, puts on its display Saturday, Aug. 7, beginning at 10 p.m.

Ride specials will be available all four days of the festival. The special is $18 for all the rides a person cares to take within the stated times. The ride specials are from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A separate fee is required for each day of the ride specials.

Saturday will provide a lot of different family activities. A 5K run and a walk are scheduled Saturday with the walk at 8 a.m. and the run at 8:30 a.m. The Carp Classic fishing tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with teams consisting of one adult and one child. The annual raft race begins at 9:30 a.m. from Tivoli Island and ends at Riverside Park.

An arts and crafts show, featuring nearly 100 artists, will be held on the Riverside Park island from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

In addition, several hundred classic cars are expected to be on display at the annual car show Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A raffle that helps support the free festival will again be held, with the grand prize being $10,000. First through 10th prizes total $3,550.

Throughout the fest, Robotron, Boxman Contortions, the Must-Skis Water Show and Randy Johns and others will entertain at the south stage and at other locations.

The fest will also feature its usual array of great food from local restaurants, including fare from Biggs Bar and Grill, La Finca de Adobe, Chalet Restaurant, Main Street Treats, Deeg's, Emil's Pizza, Fendt's Market, Mullen's Dairy, Augie's Elite Catering, Silver Eagle Saloon, Phil's Pizza, Rico's Pizza Express, Steakfire Restaurant, Zwieg’s Grill, and Watertown Turner Hall.

There are numerous park and ride facilities throughout the city, including the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth street parking lots, as well as the middle and high school lots. Free shuttle rides from the various lots to Riverside Park are sponsored by Loeb Industries and Chickens Unlimited.

Shuttles run every 30 minutes to and from the park and begin service at 5 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Riverside Park is located on Labaree Street. There is no parking available on Labaree. There is minimal parking on Fourth, Division and Boughton streets nearby.