ALTON, Ill. — A once popular festival held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be revived in Alton, Illinois, this summer.
The Mississippi River Festival will return featuring one night of music on the Alton Riverfront on Saturday, June 22.
The festival was originally held from 1969 to 1980 at SIUE and was known for bringing legendary acts to the Metro East. The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Bob Dylan and more have all performed at the festival.
The revival was made possible through a partnership with REX Productions, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, F1 Powerboat, the City of Alton, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Office of Tourism and thousands of fans, according to a press release.
“Re-visiting a festival of this magnitude is no small task,” said Nick Bifano, Mississippi River Festival Director. “We understand the gravity this name carries and the responsibility we have to do all things with excellence. What excites me the most is the opportunity to bring national attention to our river town and celebrate the already incredible music and arts scene.”
This year, the Mississippi River Festival will welcome headliner Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, Fastball and FEEL.
General admission tickets are $25 and are on sale. VIP and reserve seating tickets will go on sale Friday, May 3.
For more information about the festival, click here.
In addition to the festival, the weekend will feature F1 Powerboat Racing, a street party and a cornhole tournament.
The weekend will kick off with a Meet the Drivers event and a street party at Mac's Downtown from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21.
F1 Powerboat Racing will return on the Mississippi River with racing on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23.
The first-ever F1 Championship Cornhole Tournament will be held on Sunday, June 23, on the Alton Riverfront. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the tournament begins at 9 a.m. Team registration is $50 and cash prizes will be awarded, the release said.
“The City of Alton is a great place for music festivals and powerboat racing,” Alton Mayor David Goins commented. “We are proud to be the host site for both the revitalized Mississippi River Festival and F1 Powerboat Racing. This will be a weekend to remember for everyone!”
Click here for more information.
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