Music, fireworks and food: Your guide to the 2023 Riverfront Rendezvous festival in Stevens Point
STEVENS POINT − Whether you have made it a July 4 tradition to attend Riverfront Rendezvous with family and friends each year, or if you will be a visitor in town this year − possibly looking for something to do after a day of watching golf at the U.S. Senior Open − the three-day festival has something for everyone.
This year’s event will be held Friday through Sunday at Pfiffner Pioneer Park, featuring everything from food and music to competitions and family fun.
The Stevens Point Journal compiled a list of things you need to know before you go.
Music: Everything from polka to '80s rock
Visitors to this year's Riverfront Rendezvous will hear the sounds of swing, bluegrass, polka, blues, '80s rock, country and folk on three stages.
Headliners on the mainstage will be Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a jazz and swing band that has been performing for over 30 years, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday; The Hype brings the ultimate '80s experience covering the hits of Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; and country-rock with Adam Greuel and the Space Burritos from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Sunday.
Other performers during the festival include Boo Bradley, Art Stevenson and Highwater, Ultimate Polka Band on Friday; Big Swig, Cathy Grier and The Troublemakers, Bradley Sperger, Driftwood, Scorched Waves, and Annie & The Oakies on Saturday; and Listening Party, Long Mama, Alyssia Dominguez, Spicy Tie Band, Erin Krebs Trio, and The Natural Talent on Sunday.
Final day of festival features fireworks
Get ready for the "oohs" and "ahhs" as fireworks light up the sky on the final day of the festival.
Sponsored by Festival Foods, the fireworks show will begin at dusk Sunday. Viewers can watch from Pfiffner and Mead parks.
The festival's Facebook page includes a map of safe viewing locations on land and water as well as restricted areas.
Get in the ‘family’ zone
One of the highlights in this year’s Family Zone children's activity area will be performances by Charles Peachock, a juggler who was featured on Season 6 of the reality talent competition "America's Got Talent." Peachock will perform at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The children's area will also feature inflatable games daily (wristbands or tickets are required) and a Kids Safety Day from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Get your game on
Several contests and tournaments also are planned during the event from fishing to pickleball to horseshoes and cornhole.
The Heart of Wisconsin Pickleball Association will hold a pickleball tournament Friday through Sunday across the Wisconsin River at Mead Park. Registration information can be found on the festival's Facebook page.
The Carp Classic fishing tournament kicks off Saturday. Registration is $2 and begins at 8 a.m. at the Pfiffner Building. Divisions include: children 12 and younger, individuals on shore and teams by boat.
Visitors also can watch the horseshoe tournament from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Mead Park, or check out the cornhole tournament starting at noon Saturday in the Family Zone.
And don't miss the trivia contest from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Pfiffner Building. Registration starts at 12:45 p.m., and you can win prizes.
Food, more food and beer
There will be no shortage of food and beverages for attendees.
Ten food vendors will be set up in the food tents and a variety of food trucks also will be serving during the three-day festival. You'll be able to find everything from cream puffs, bubble waffles and panini sandwiches to macarons, boba tea and walking tacos.
There will be beer tents too.
Check out the arts and craft vendors
Market in the Park was such a hit last year that organizers decided to bring it back for a second year. The artisan market will run from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday on the lawn of the Pfiffner Building.
Admission and more
Admission to the festival is free. No carry-ins, pets or fireworks are allowed.
For more information or a schedule of events, visit riverfrontrendezvous.com or search "Riverfront Rendezvous - Stevens Point" on Facebook.
Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Your guide to the 2023 Riverfront Rendezvous festival in Stevens Point
