THE BALLOON MAN

Clinton scales back Riverboat Days

Steven Martens The Quad-City Times Posted: Saturday, April 2, 2011 CLINTON, Iowa — In its heyday, Clinton’s Riverboat Days was a four-day festival that drew thousands of visitors to the city’s riverfront for carnival rides, demolition derbies, concerts and a wide variety of other activities. But due to lagging ticket sales, budget constraints and difficulty in finding new volunteers, the event’s board of directors has voted to cut back this year’s event to a Fourth of July parade and fireworks show on the riverfront. Board member Mike Fullerton said the decision was difficult for the current board members and other longtime supporters of the event, now in its 50th year. “They’re very distraught about it,” Fullerton said. “It’s not what we wanted.” Dwindling ticket sales in recent years have drained the event’s financial resources, Fullerton said. “We just don’t have the money in the bank to put on a big festival,” he said. Riverboat Days will continue its other community activities, including an Easter egg hunt, scholarship program and Dirt Days, an event held in Miles that features some of the events that used to be staples of Riverboat Days, such as mud volleyball and tractor pulls. Fullerton said the board hopes to put on a festival for Riverboat Days again in future years. Clinton Jaycees president Ryan Steines said his organization will continue to hold its annual carnival, which coincides with Riverboat Days. This year’s carnival is scheduled for June 30-July 4 at Riverview Park. Steines said the Jaycees are considering expanding their event to include other forms of entertainment, but plans have not been finalized.