Great River Days Announces
New Contests and Activities

 The 54th edition of Great River Days will feature new contests and activities for the public to enjoy and participate in.

 On Wednesday July 25, the Muscatine County Farm Bureau will host the first “BBQ Contest” to be held in the entertainment area of Riverfront park. Up to 20 contestants will be able to prepare various grilled meat items and compete for cash prizes in multiple divisions. The finalists will also then qualify to represent Muscatine County at the Iowa State Fair “Farm Bureau BBQ Cook-off” in Des Moines a few weeks later. The contest is open to individuals or teams, with entry forms and sanctioning information found on the www.GreatRiverDays.com website. Pre-entry is required.

 On Thursday July 26, Great River Days will host a team “Bags” tournament also featuring cash prizes and a traveling trophy for the overall winners. Registration is in-person at 6PM that evening and located in the entertainment area of Riverfront Park, with the competition starting at 7:30.

 On Saturday July 28, the first ever “Outhouse Races” will be held on Harbor Drive, also in Riverfront Park. Participating teams will construct an outhouse of their own design, then will propel a “passenger” through a designated course with the finalists determined by heat races and elimination brackets. Cash prizes will be awarded, and is sponsored by Curry’s Septic Services. Entry forms and rules can be found on the Great RiverDays.com website.

 The 54th Annual Great River Days festival will be held July 25-28, 2012 in Riverfront Park, Muscatine Iowa. The festival features a carnival, kids activities and attractions, as well as queen, talent and other contests. Four nights of live music will be held in the entertainment area of the park, with featured headliner “Molly Hatchet” performing on Saturday evening. Visit the event website GreatRiverDays.com for complete up-to-the-minute news and information.

Great River Days 2012
welcomes premier event sponsors

 It goes without saying, that in order to produce an annual community festival like Great River Days 2012, that it takes many dedicated supporters, sponsors and volunteers to make it happen. In all cases, these fine companies, organizations and individuals have made a commitment to not only participate, but ensure the ongoing success and traditions that Great River Days has enjoyed for the past 53 years.

 Kent Corporation, formerly known as Muscatine Foods Corporation, returns this year as the sponsor for “Family Fun Day” on Saturday July 28. They will display many of their products manufactured here in Muscatine, as well as host unique kids and family oriented activities that afternoon. As an ongoing premier sponsor, their continued commitment to GRD cannot be understated, and enables us to set the event standard higher each year.

 Also returning as a premier event sponsor is The Family Credit Union, who will again be the host of entertainment held on The Family Credit Union Main Stage. This professional outdoor concert production venue has hosted such names as The Kentucky Headhunters, Quiet Riot, and in 2012, will welcome to Muscatine the legendary southern rockers Molly Hatchet on Saturday July 28. TFCU employees also volunteer to work at the GRD festival, and pass out popular gifts such as can koozies, balloons and kazoos for the kids. The Family Credit Union’s returning support and sponsorship of the Great River Days Concert Series main stage is greatly appreciated by all concert attendees.

 Toyota of Muscatine has joined with Great River Days to sponsor the GRD activities on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Their presence will be well-noted throughout the event, not only with display vehicles, but also getting the bands and other support personnel to and from the venue. In addition, they will also help with the GRD Car show on Saturday afternoon, provide event volunteers, and assist with advertising and publicity.

 Curry’s Septic Services also join GRD this year as a new event sponsor. As many will recall, Curry’s main operations building was lost in the “Fruitland tornado” of 2008. Faced with the biggest challenges a business could ever endure, they chose to rebuild in Muscatine and remain an employer committed to our community. Curry Transportation, Curry’s Backhoe and newly opened Curry’s Septic Services will provide portable restrooms at GRD, as well as other logistical and transportation needs throughout the event. As an added attraction, they will also sponsor the first-ever “GRD Outhouse Races” on Saturday July 28. (click here for details)

 Other local companies that have supported GRD for many years now include Monsanto, Heinz, Trinity Health Care, Taco Johns, Prairie Radio Communications and the Muscatine Journal. These fine companies participate not only financially as sponsors, but also with volunteers to work at the festival itself. New to that list for 2012 is Hon Industries (HNI), Plamor Lanes, and the Muscatine County Farm Bureau. GRD welcomes these new organizations to the Riverfront, and the added value their businesses bring to our local community.

 In summary, it takes a lot of sponsors, resources, and volunteers to host Muscatine’s annual community festival, and it would not be possible without their assistance. Please remember these LOCAL businesses and GRD event supporters the next time you make a buying decision.

1st Annual GRD BBQ Contest announced

Winners to qualify for the Farm Bureau
Iowa State Fair BBQ competition

 “It was always an activity idea that I wanted to try doing at GRD” said event Co-Chairman Kerry Keller, “and this year it all came together.”

Obviously, a love of BBQ grilled meat comes into play, but with the assistance of the Muscatine County Farm Bureau as the sanctioning sponsor, and premier GRD event sponsor Kent Nutrition Group, the 1st Annual GRD BBQ competition will also qualify the winners to compete at the Iowa State Fair in August. The BBQ contest will be held on Wednesday evening, July 25 inside the “Parkside Lounge” entertainment area at Riverfront Park. Contestants can choose from a variety of meat categories to grill, with cash prizes and other benefits to the winners in each division. There will also be categories for a “peoples choice” award as well as celebrity panel judging. (click here for detailed rules, information and entry form)

Pre-registration IS required to participate, and will be limited to no more than 20 total entries on a first-come basis.
“This is a great addition to the opening night activities at GRD” continued Keller. “We will have bands playing, the carnival wristband night going on, the GRD Queen Contest, and then the BBQ cook-off will make this our biggest opening night ever at GRD.” Admission to the “Parkside Lounge” entertainment and beverage area is $5 for adults that evening. A complete schedule of events, attractions and information can be found on the www.GreatRiverDays.com website.

GRD wishes to thank the Kent Nutrition Group and the Muscatine County Farm Bureau for sponsoring this event, and obtaining the sanctioning to qualify for participation at the Farm Bureau Iowa State Fair BBQ Cook-off Championship.

4th Annual GRD
“Battle of the Bands” now underway

$3000 purse up for grabs!

 In what has become the most-anticipated homegrown music concert in the area, the 4th Annual Great River Days “Battle of the Bands” is now open for entries through the www.GreatRiverDays.com website.

The one-of-a-kind format is entirely driven by the general public, who not only will choose the five finalists who will perform on The Family Credit Union Main Stage on July 27, 2012, but in addition, the crowd will also select the winners that evening in a paper ballot format. -More-

Great River Days 2012
“Battle of the Bands”
July 27, 2012
$3000 Purse to be awarded

 GRD is proud to present the fourth annual ‘Battle of the Bands” featuring the very best homegrown talent in the region, performing on The Family Credit Union Main Stage for over $3000 in cash and prizes.
The past three years exceeded all expectations, with dozens of bands vying for the final qualifying spots, which were supported by thousands of fans who voted for these bands in an online poll format. 2012 will see a few modifications to the event, but the basic structure remains the same. -More-

Great River Days 2012
July 25-28, 2012

GRD 2012 Tentative Schedule of Events 4/8/2012 SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Wednesday July 25

• Carnival wristband night 6-10PM  $15.00 for unlimited rides
• Compete with the Beat dance competition – by White Owl Productions
• GRD Queen contest – Riverview Center 7PM

Activities in the Parkside Lounge beverage/entertainment area

• GRD Beverage tent 6-11PM  $5 admission
• Music/band entertainment under the big tent 7-11PM
• GRD and Farm Bureau present the “Best BBQ” competition at 6PM. Judging at 8PM. Winners qualify for the Farm Bureau State BBQ Competition

Thursday July 26

• Carnival opens 5PM (Free Riverfront admission)

      Activities in the Parkside Lounge beverage/entertainment area

• Beverage tent 6-11PM  $5 admission
• Live music entertainment 7-11PM featuring “Blind Alley”
• Taco Johns super-hot Taco contest 8:30PM
• TBA:

Friday July 27

• Carnival opens 5PM (Free Riverfront admission)
• GRD ride-in motorcycle show by ABATE 5:30PM

      Activities on “The Family Credit Union Main Stage”

• Beverage tent 5-close
• 4th annual GRD “Battle of the Bands” as chosen by the fans - 7PM $10 admission

Saturday July 28

• GRD Craft fair and “Hometown Business Expo” 10AM-3PM
• Carnival opens 10AM
• GRD Parade 11AM – 2nd street route
• MHS FFA “putt-putt golf” 12 – 4PM
• TBD – details to follow upon logistic completion
• GRD presents the “Bill Riley Talent Search” competition 12:30 – Riverview Center (state fair qualifying)
• Trinity “Kids Club” 12:30
• GRD Car show 12:30-4
• Outhouse races 1PM (click here for flyer)
• Sidewalk Bowling tournament presented by Plamor Lanes 1-3PM
• GRD Watermelon eating contest 2PM
• KWPC/KMCS presents the 3rd annual Daschund Doggy Dash 2PM
• Muscatine Journal presents the “Great Ping Pong ball drop” – 3PM
• Pearl Button boat rides – times TBA

      Activities on “The Family Credit Union Main Stage”

• Beverage tent 5-close
• Featured music entertainment: 3 bands 7PM start $20 admission
• 10PM  The legendary southern rockers Molly Hatchet