Riverfest is a celebration of visual and performing arts that is held annually over Memorial Day weekend on the banks of the Arkansas River in Little Rock and North Little Rock. Riverfest is the largest single event in the state of Arkansas with a rich 35-year tradition. Approximately 260,000 festival-goers attended the 2011 event, with an estimated economic impact of $33 million on the community.
Riverfest, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has enjoyed tremendous success for the last 34 consecutive years and has been a leader in the redevelopment of downtown Little Rock. Riverfest has donated nearly $1,000,000 to various projects in the riverfront and downtown areas, including our latest contribution of $100,000 to the La Petite Roche Plaza. Riverfest is an incredible, family-affordable entertainment value that delivers impact to its sponsors and festival-goers.
Riverfest began in August 1978 when the Junior League of Little Rock had the opportunity to bring the American Wind Symphony to Little Rock. The event was called The Summer Arts Festival and was held in Murray Park, with various activities built around the Wind Symphony’s performance.
The Summer Arts Festival was such a success that it was decided to have a similar event the next year. The date was changed to Memorial Day Weekend, the name was changed to Riverfest, and the current logo was adopted. It was also at this point that Riverfest, Inc., a non-profit organization with a Board of Directors, was formed to operate the festival, with the Junior League of Little Rock committing to provide primary volunteer support.
In 1982 after outgrowing Murray Park, Riverfest moved downtown and the festival was held on the Convention Center Plaza along Markham Street. The following year, in 1983, Riverfest moved to its permanent home in Julius Breckling Riverfront Park and over 100,000 people attended the festival that year. As Riverfest grew and developed, a need for permanent staff arose and in 1987, a full-time Executive Director was hired.
Riverfest has continued to grow and expand along the banks of the Arkansas River in Julius Breckling Riverfront Park and an expansion to the North Shore Riverwalk in 2002. The festival continues to offer new and unique opportunities for festival-goers while playing a vital role as an organization helping the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock work together to make Arkansas a better place to live and work.
Today, Riverfest’s Board of Directors has standing positions from the Junior League of Little Rock, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Little Rock Department of Parks and Recreation, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Partnership, the North Little Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission, and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. There is also an Executive Committee, fifteen at-large positions, and four ex-officio positions. In addition to the Executive Director, Riverfest has four other full and part-time staff members working year-round to effectively plan and produce the festival and an outstanding volunteer festival committee of 170.
The mission of Riverfest is to produce a quality, recreational, cultural, educational, family-oriented celebration of the visual and performing arts for the benefit of the community. Riverfest and quality will always be synonymous. From offering an outstanding children’s area where every activity is free to the participant, to an area focusing on young teens, to ArtZone where art classes are offered to the young (and young at heart), to the International Village where festival-goers can travel the world, to numerous special attractions, events and family oriented activities, there is something for everyone.
Riverfest is unmatched in entertainment. A wide variety of entertainment has always been presented. From the Arkansas Arts Center’s Tell-a-Tale Troupe to the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, festival-goers have been treated to some of the best-known names in music: Al Green, ZZ Top, B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Brad Paisley, , Jason Aldean, Heart, Hinder, Cheap Trick, Collective Soul, Diamond Rio, Don McLean, Everclear, Hank Williams, Jr., Hootie & the Blowfish, James Brown, Lifehouse, Live, Los Lobos, Loverboy, Mark Wills, Arrested Development, Morris Day and the Time, Better Than Ezra, Blake Shelton, Chaka Khan, Huey Lewis & the News, Nickel Creek, Pat Green, REO Speedwagon, George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars, Rick James, Run DMC, Gym Class Heroes, Dwight Yoakam, Keb Mo, Styx, Switchfoot, The Black Crowes, LL Cool J, Pat Benatar, Pat Green, The Doobie Brothers, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Gap Band, Robert Earl Keen, The Neville Brothers, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Ruben Studdard, The Wallflowers, Carrie Underwood, Train, Trapt, Miranda Lambert, Uncle Kracker, Earth Wind & Fire, Heart, The Steve Miller Band, REO Speedwagon, Ludacris, Jason Aldean, David Nail, Nelly, Widespread Panic, Barenaked Ladies & Blue October. The 2012 line-up is shaping up to be one of the best yet!
Sponsors are the life-blood of Riverfest and help turn the planning into reality. From large corporate donors who sponsor the fireworks, to private individuals who sponsor craft activities in the children’s area, to local police, fire, and city agencies who donate many man-hours, Riverfest enjoys the support of the entire community.
Finally, and most important, no description of Riverfest would be complete without recognizing the thousands of volunteers who staff each festival, and the volunteers who work all year long to plan and administer Riverfest. From all over the community, people donate their time and talents to present Riverfest – a fun, exciting, wonderful gift for all to enjoy.
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE
Riverfest would like to thank this tremedous group of volunteer committee members who work tirelessly year-round planning this great event. The festival would not be possible without all of your hard work and dedication!
| FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN Angie Johnson |
FESTIVAL CO-CHAIRMAN Jody Veit-Edrington |
| ADMISSIONS Jason McDonald, Ed Price, Rich McCauley, Mark Collins, Tess Welch, Stephen Long, Amy Pearson, Lara Crane, Taylor Greenlee, Anne Jones, Emily Garza, Lynn Ashley, Charles Lyford, Rhea Roberts, Sarah Kurrus, Donette Stump, Kelli Wigginton, Cindy Choisser, Susan Marion, Emily Eley, Christy Ashley, Justin Gatlin, Chris Grimmett, Shannon Speer, Curtis Hitchcock, Claire Tennyson, Gina Shafer, Christy AshleyCOMMITTEE HOSPITALITY Lucie Minor, Claire Wetzel, Brandi Allen, Beth Nilles COMMUNICATIONS |
BANNERS & SIGNAGE Tod Alstadt, Shelley Steiner, Mary Hunt, Susie Colley, Chris Corzine BEVERAGE GO GREEN FOOD |
| GROUNDS Kirk Jones, Kirk Hogue, Barrett Dudley, Mike Castleberry, Justin Eric Brown, Bayly Eley, Jason Cathey, Justin Blagg, Yousef Fahoum, Rick Sugg |
INFORMATION Sue Bemberg, Amanda Moore, Becky Moore, Wendy McCullar, Jemi Ann Hall |
| INTERNATIONAL VILLAGE Kathleen Joiner, Krystie Bailey, Tara DavisLOGISTICS Ashley Parker, Lydia Bemberg, John Antle |
KIDZONE Antionette Atkins, Catherine Cole, , Keri Hunt, Lizzy Chandler, Whitnie Hall |
| MERCHANDISE Cathy Fox, Kate Frazier, Lori Bain, Megan Hart, Quinton Cohen |
MERCHANT/ VENDOR RELATIONS Cindy Harris, Georgia May |
| MEDIA RELATIONS Stacey Hall, Leigh Anne Jewart, April Campbell, Tiffani Butler, Bill Puckett, Chris White, Kelley Bass, Ashli Ahrens |
PARKS/LITTLE ROCK Phoebe Stephens, Bill Craig, Jackie Collins, Robbie Hudson, Chase Hawkins |
| RIVERBANKS Kathy Hester, Mary Hunt, Ervin Brendel, Andrew Crone, Holly Elloitt, Karen Hicks, Damian Hicks, Craig Parsons, Cathy Doan, Chad Brown, DeShawn Robinson, James Hester, Ann Dozier, Manley Dillon, Tyler Woods RIVERFRONT PARK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK |
PARKS/CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER Debbie Shock, Stuart Van Houten, Brett Spickard RIVERFEST TV ROVERS |
| ROCK ‘N STROLL 5K Mary Ellen Richards, Scott Gann, Steve Bentley, John Alston, Jill McIlroy, Larry Gilliam, Cindy Henry, Lisa Marler, Chris Kacena, Katie McManners |
SECURITY Shay Matyja, Joey Korte, Mike Bain, Dennis Mitchell, Craig Hill, Andy Traffanstedt, Andy Goldthorpe, Roger Jones, Dwayne Yarborough |
| SPONSOR PAVILION Jennifer McConnser, Tina Chandler, Fred Osborne, Monika Hemenway, Hedi Hemenway, Sarah Fritschie |
SPONSOR RELATIONS Jarrod Johnson, Nikolai Dipippa, Mike Stevenson, Kati Andersen, Alecia Castleberry |
| STICKYZ MUSIC TENT Corey Gilmore, Lindsey Eaves, Trey Scallion, Timur Celikel, Gaile Amason, Stephen Roach |
MILLER LITE/ AMPHITHEATRE STAGE Kasi Jones, Bob Henry, Courtney Calhoun, Jerry Rye |
| BUD LIGHT STAGE Mahlon Maris |
FAMILY STAGE Sunny Matuszyk, Sarah Bernhardt |
| KIDZONE STAGE Melissa Ortega, Mike Ortega |
TRANSPORTATION Dave Hare, Jessica McSpadden, Barrett Rogers, Casper Nehus, Chris Minor |
| TREASURY Jeremy Ables, Courtney Swindler, Aaron Reed, Terri Cohen, Kim Berry, Jeremy Cobb, Marc Sherman, Kathy Thorton, Susanne Stabnick WEBSITE Isaac Alexander, Rob Bell, Patrick Phelan, Kristi Clark VOLUNTEERS MAP MAN |
WRISTBANDS Brent Skrodenis, Matt Nilles, Leslie Traweek, Robbie Traweek, Ricki Smith, Sam Smith, Herb Brake, Martin Marler, Joshua Billis, Danny Groshong, Alicia Billis, Lisa Marler, Wyatt Vadour-Brake, William Hughes ZONE CAPTAINS |
RIVERFEST BOARD
The Riverfest Board is an advisory group made of of business and community leaders from the Little Rock and North Little Rock areas. They work closely with the Riverfest, Inc. staff to oversee the business and management of the festival.
| CHAIRMAN Jordan Johnson |
VICE CHAIRMAN Cheddy Wigginton |
| PRESIDENT Angie Johnson |
VICE PRESIDENT Jody Veit-Edrington |
| SECRETARY/TREASURER Jeremy Ables, CPA |
ASSISTANT TREASURER Aaron Reed, CPA |
| ADVERTISING AGENCY Rob Bell |
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LITTLE ROCK Jackie Crowder |
| LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Jim Rice |
LITTLE ROCK PARKS DEPT. Truman Tolefree, Phoebe Stephens |
| LR REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Kathy Hester |
NLR ADVERTISING & PROMOTION COMMISSION Shannon Harris |
| NORTH LITTLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Terry Hartwick |
PAST BOARD CHAIRMAN Rodney Peel |
| PAST BOARD PRESIDENT Lydia Bemberg |
DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK PARTNERSHIP Autumn Jacob |
| MEMBERS AT LARGE Heather Allmendinger, Stephen Bentley, Shayla Copas, Bridgette Frazier, John Hathaway, Brent Morgan,Tim Pickering, John Rutledge, Chris Thomas, Kelley Bass, Mike Castleberry, Daniel Robinson, Bill Cobb |
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Jim Sick, Barry Simon, Barry Travis, DeAnna Korte, Executive DirectorOF COUNSEL Sam Baxter, Andy Vines |
RIVERFEST STAFF
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DeAnna Korte |
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST/BOOKKEEPER Renee Ikard |
| MARKETING AND OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Kristi Clark |
SPECIAL EVENTS/VENDOR COORDINATOR Julie Shindler |
| VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Barbara Daugherty |
