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One Last Hurrah for the River & Spires Festival

Clarksville’s unique blend of cultural art and natural scenery are sure to make your next Tennessee vacation a memorable one. Visitors will love the city's historic downtown district and its museums, boutiques, live music venues, and art galleries. From kayaking on the Cumberland River to honky-tonks featuring rising local musicians, Clarksville has your next Tennessee getaway covered.

 

The 15th Annual Rivers & Spires Festival will take place April 20-22 in downtown Clarksville. This free event began as a way to attract people back to the community after a devastating tornado ripped through the city in 1999 and now, organizers anticipate more than 45,000 attendees. From live music performances by nationally known acts to a car show with hundreds of classics and hot rods, the event has something for everyone. Families attending should head to the Family Fun Zone featuring over 60 activities for all ages including bouncy houses, climbing walls, crafts, and more. We got the opportunity to interview Michelle Dickerson, Marketing & Communications Director for the Clarksville-Montgomery County EDC, to learn more about this community celebration.

 

RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.

MD: 2017 marks the 15th (and final) Rivers & Spires Festival. It was established in 2003 with the dual purpose of bringing people back downtown after a F-4 tornado crippled or destroyed many businesses in 1999, as well as celebrating the community’s history and heritage. It has been free since day one.

 

RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?

MD: It’s all outdoors, so somewhat weather dependent, but on a good weather year we’ll have upwards of 45,000.

 

RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?

MD: With 100+ entertainers covering every musical genre, and dozens of activities for varying interests, we have something for everyone. Over the years, we have intentionally added activities to attract every age group.

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

MD: River & Spires Festival is a free festival that offers major headline entertainers. The only expense is food and beverage purchases.

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event.

MD: Rivers & Spires Festival covers nine square blocks and includes five entertainment stages featuring every musical genre. We will feature major headline acts infused with up and coming acts, as well as local choirs and dance groups. There will also be an art and craft marketplace, 35 food trucks, roaming street performers, a Jurassic Kingdom show, a children’s “Wild Things” parade, Fiber Fast gaming area, sports zone, quilt show, car show, military displays, and an international zone. The environment is festive and exciting, with anticipation building toward the major headline evening performances.

 

RAL: What will attendees find for dining options?

MD: In addition to the food trucks, local restaurants remain open. In the festival area or close-by are coffee shops, sandwich and burger spots, steakhouse, microbrewery and pub, Cajun and Greek cuisine, and more.

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

MD: Clarksville offers 3,100 hotel rooms, with the downtown Riverview Inn, a locally owned and operated property, located near the festival grounds. Most of our hotels are located off of the I-24 interchanges within 10 miles of the city center. A list of current festival specials can be found on our website.

 

RAL: What does this event mean to the community?

MD: As mentioned above, our two main goals in creating this event were (1) bringing people back downtown after a tornado crippled or destroyed many businesses, and (2) celebrating the community’s history and heritage. Clarksville is very committed to supporting the festival. Our residents and visitors appreciate the fact that the festival has remained free over the years, but not sacrificed the level of quality entertainment they expect. Once the festival became profitable, the profits allowed us to feature higher level entertainment for subsequent years.

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

MD: The sheer variety of experiences one can have in a day, or weekend, at the Rivers & Spires Festival will provide a memorable trip. Whether you’re a fan of Country, Christian, Pop, Blues, Jazz, or Rock music, you can see a major entertainer in your realm for free. Children can touch and feel a life-size walking and growling Tyrannosaurs Rex or feed a two-week-old triceratops. Children can learn inspiring tips from Austin Peay State University student-athletes. Teens and young adults can enjoy laser tag and video games at fiber speed, and all branches of the military will be at the event with static displays, equipment, and vehicles.


For more information about Rivers & Spires Festival, please visit the event website.