Riverfront Rendezvous lineup announced for 2018

By Heather McDonald
All but one slot is filled for family fun with music, food and activities during the area’s largest summer festival: Riverfront Rendezvous.
Stevens Point city officials have released the schedule, promising more of the annual event favorites, from local musicians to nationally-known and up-and-comers. The traditional Carp Classic and the more recently popular horseshoe tournament also will return. There will be the Trivia contest and Mad Science, juggling, poetry readings, comedy and the emergency vehicle display.
The three-day, free event annually draws thousands from across the state, which is what city Parks Director Tom Schrader enjoys most.
“My favorite part of festival is seeing a lot of people enjoying the park and riverfront,” he said. “Both current residents and people that have moved away but come back to visit their former community.”
Last year, with budget cuts and the potential for a decrease in the festival finale, Mayor Mike Wiza started a Go Fund Me page to raise additional dollars to supplement the fireworks display. More than half of the $5,000 target was raised, according to the page. It was not known by press time whether Wiza was going to do the same this year.
The weekend activities begin Friday, June 29, and run all day through July 1 at Pfiffner Pioneer Park along the Wisconsin River.
Food tents will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the festival. No animals or fireworks are allowed in the park throughout the event.
The schedule is:
Friday, June 29
7 to 8:15 p.m., The Scottie Miller Band, roots, rock and blues, main stage.
7 to 11 p.m., Cold Soda Club, pop/rock, North Tent.
7 to 10 p.m., Porky’s Groove Machine, funk, Pfiffner Building.
9 to 10:30 p.m., The Original Wailers, reggae, main stage.
Saturday, June 30
8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Carp Classic Fishing Contest, Pfiffner Building.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., singles horseshoe tournament, Mead Park.
1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Michael Sodnik, pop/rock, main stage.
1 to 3:30 p.m., Trivia Contest, Pfiffner Building.
1 to 4 p.m., Bingo, North Tent.
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Mad Science, South Tent.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., juggler Jerry Frasier, South Tent.
4:40 to 6:30 p.m., TBA, Pfiffner Building.
7 to 11 p.m., Vada’s Rockhouse, rock, North Tent.
7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Them Coulee Boys, bluegrass, Pfiffner Building.
7:15 to 8:30 p.m., The Snow Birds, pop/rock, main stage.
9:15 to 10:45 p.m., Tonic, pop/rock, main stage.
Sunday, July 1
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., doubles horseshoe tournament, Mead Park.
1 to 3 p.m., Emergency Vehicle Display on Crosby Ave.
1 to 4 p.m., Bingo, North Tent.
1 to 2:30 p.m., games and prizes for Kids Day, South Tent.
1 to 2:30 p.m., Poetry Reading, Pfiffner Building.
1 to 3 p.m., Good for the Soul, blues/soul, main stage.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Kenny Ahern, comedy show, South Tent.
5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Soul Symmetry, jam, Pfiffner Building.
6:15 to 7:30 p.m., WheelHouse, bluegrass, the main stage.
7 to 11 p.m., Back’n Kickin’ Band, North Tent.
8:15 to 9:45 p.m., Copper Box, roots/rock, main stage.
The annual Lighted Boat Parade will run from 9:15 to 9:45 p.m. at Bukolt Park.
Fireworks will begin at dusk.
For more information, visit www.stevenspoint.com/rr.