2 minute read
Boone Iowa River Valley Festival 2021
By Kiley Wellendorf
Gannett
Advertisement
Next year, the Boone Iowa River Valley Festival will feature the same musical lineup that was scheduled for this year’s postponed festival, the organization announced.
In mid-June, festival goers were informed the same music artists pledged to come back to the festival next year as this year’s fourth annual event was postponed in March due to the pandemic.
Jennifer Hanson, festival coordinator, said the organization feels both relieved and grateful to be able to offer the same acts for next year’s lineup.
“We floated the new date tentatively and one-by-one they agreed,” Hanson said. “We’re very grateful for the whole lineup to join us in 2021.”
The lineup will include headlining and multi-platinumselling band Night Ranger, along with special guests SKID ROW and Great White Band. The festival is scheduled to occur over Memorial Day Weekend in 2021, over the same days and at the same location, the festival wrote in a post online.
The Boone Iowa River Valley Festival was created four years ago by a group of volunteers who were looking to bring something new to the Boone area, according to Hanson.
During discussions, the idea of hosting an event outdoors continued to be of shared interest among the group, she said.
“I said, ‘Guys, wouldn’t it be fun if we did a festival that celebrated the outdoors,’ and we hyped it up with some great music,” Hanson said.
During the festival’s second year, an outdoor worship service took place, she said, which had not been done before in Boone County.
“It just became this collaborative effort with so many different entities in Boone,” Hanson said.
The festival is not just focused on music, as events for all ages take place throughout the weekend. Prior to this year’s festival cancelling due to the COVID-19, some of the weekend events included a kick-off and block party, a family run, adventures in outdoor photography, a “wild” hike and geocaching at Ledges State Park.
“I would say some level (of the festival) has grown every year,” Hanson said. “Whether it being the activities we’ve offered, or whether it’s the number of people that have come.”
The concert tends to be a popular attraction, according to Hanson, where those from out of town visit to stay for different hikes and fishing trips, she said.
“We just are so excited about being able to offer more things to more people,” Hanson said.
