With summer in full gear, it might be time to rock the Kinni.
The theme for this year’s River Falls Days is Adventures on the Kinni, referring to the noted local trout stream, from July 7-10.
The festival is in its 42nd year and is seen as something that people from a wide area make it a point to see and hear, and is viewed as a Homecoming of sorts, especially former students of UW-River Falls.
Each year, the community celebration is held in Heritage Park on the banks of the scenic Kinnickinnic River. This free, family-friendly event has a carnival-like atmosphere (a few roadies included) with tons of food and entertainment that includes a few batches of country bands. Festivities include a 6:30 p.m. Friday parade from Main to Second streets with floats having the river-based theme in mind, Saturday morning 10-K and two-mile races and Kid’s Fun Run, live music acts and outdoor dancing, food vendors and Miller Beer Garden, Sunday fireworks at dusk at Hoffman Park, carnival rides and more. The tradition is seem as a great event to celebrate the city of River Falls.
The live Music in Heritage Park includes the pop, rock and country sounds of Uncle Chunk on Friday, July 8 from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (with no cover charge), and then it steers more to country in particular with Rural Route 5 on Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m., and then Lost Highway from 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. There is also other live music to be found around town during River Falls Days.
Also incorporated into the fest is a Sunday Car Cruze-In, which is hoped to draw some of the many fans who go from such car show to such car show and exhibit or spectate all through the summer, as well as some new lovers of classic cars. They can then also go from event to event and take in the duration of the fest.

Want to get some cool gear and taste some spicy but smooth rum during your Fourth of July? Consider taking in the offerings from a relatively new liquor company based in Hudson, Demon Rum, at different venues around town during the holiday weekend, some in close proximity to the Hudson Booster Days grounds.
That is where they will have a booth and be distributing apparel starting at about 4 p.m. Friday, then going all weekend, largely patterned around the music times, which are on-going throughout the three days of the festival. The local people who are fixtures in the company will march in the Booster Days downtown parade starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, then go from there around the downtown giving away samples of their rum and its accessories at several establishments such as the Postmark Grille, Stone Tap and Dick’s Bar and Grill, all within a couple of blocks of each other.
At those times, if you want more, patrons to the Hudson Green Mill on the hill can receive a dollar off any Demon Rum drink with the coupon being handed out on the grounds.
Wayne Karls, one of the principles of the company, said most people at samplings are surprised at the sheer quality of their rum products, which have all-natural flavors and ingredients. “They is made with a blend of real rum imported from the Virgin Islands, and also barrel aged from the West Indies. People are always trying to figure out where (all the ingredients) came from. It is complex, beautiful and smooth.”
This makes for good summer sipping (like over the Fourth) and winter cocktails (such as during the holiday season), Wayne said. “People find it is so good they even have it on the rocks, and it is the best rum they’ve ever tasted, is what we often hear said.”
And, available at many local liquor stores and taverns, it is the best premium rum on the market for the price, Wayne said. You can get a standard size bottle for $19.99 at those places.
And their stalwarts who staff the tastings are friendly people who can shoot the breeze with you about not only their rum, but other topics that might come up. And that ambience is provided for a reason: “This is about our love of our products, and we want people to love them as much as we do,” Wayne said.
“We want this to be a spirit everyone can enjoy, so we price it affordably.”
Demon Rum is also the lead sponsor of two bands at Booster Days, Cadillac Kolstad & The Flats at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday and Paisan at 9 p.m. Saturday.
– One of the most touted aspects of Hudson Booster Days is the food, and heading the list is the Willow River Saloon-Carbone’s Pizza in Burkhardt, with their longtime landmark stand of eats. What’s so special about it, among the raft of complete meals offered? “It’s the broasted chicken. That’s our specialty. That’s the biggie,” said the bartender at The Willow who answered the phone.
Also providing signature food are Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse, (although much newer to the scene), and the local Boy Scouts. The food stands operate from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday at Lakefront Park, and from noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday. (So you can check out the music while you munch on hearty food).
– For more all-out gonzo, check out Saturday’s Goliath Challenge and its pair of accompanying road races at the Badlands recreation center east of Hudson, which this year features a new and more demanding obstacle course. For more information or to register, go to their site online. Things get going soon into the day for the event, which also serves as a fundraiser for the Feed My Starving Children group, so get there early.