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.