It's like a big church festival. On the Waterfront is Rockford's biggest festival held annually the first weekend in September. It's not flashy but the music's good and the food is great. And best of all most of the money spent goes to not-for-profit organizations.
Most people come to eat. There are over 40 vendors and raised funds go to their organizations. Since 1986 over $7 million has been raised. The Northern Illinois Skating Club sells candy and nachos. Guilford High School has cookies and meatball sandwiches. Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary sells candy and chips. RocVale Children's Home sells freshly squeezed lemonade. Various churches sell pizza, chilidogs, cheese fries, root beer floats... And the Girl Scouts sell not their cookies but custards and ice cream.
The music for the 2004 featured Los Lonely Boys, Tesla and Kool and the Gang. Generally features musicians on the downslide but they do their best and turn out the hits we all remember and we sing along.
Various activities include waterfront skiing and a volleyball tournament that you can enter, ski performers, food eating competitions, raffles and face painting for the kids.
Admission / Buttons:
Admission to the Festival is by button and the button's good for all 4 days
$9 in advance /$14 at the gate
Children 9-12 are $9 in advance and at the gate
Children 8 and under are free
2004 Festival hours:
Thursday 5pm - 9pm
Friday 5pm - midnight
Saturday 11.30am - midnight
Sunday 11.30am - 11pm
www.onthewaterfront.com