On the Waterfront (festival) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids On the Waterfront |
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An entrance into the festival.
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| Genre | Rock, Alternative rock, Rap, Punk rock, Country music |
| Dates | Labor Day weekend |
| Location(s) | Rockford, Illinois, United States |
| Years active | 1985-2012 |
| Founded by | City of Rockford |
| Website | http://www.onthewaterfront.com |
On the Waterfront was a large music festival that took place every year in Rockford, Illinois. It was held during the Labor Day weekend. The festival featured many different types of music, including rock, country music, alternative rock, hip hop, and punk rock. Besides music, there were also local bands, food vendors, and craft booths.
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A Look Back: The Festival's Story
The On the Waterfront festival began in 1985. Before that, in 1983, the city of Rockford was facing tough economic times. Many factories were closing down. To help the city feel better and celebrate its history, officials decided to create a special event. They put $15,000 towards starting a celebration on Labor Day weekend.
This small start grew into something huge. The On the Waterfront Festival became one of Illinois's biggest music events. It featured over 100 performers each year. These performers played across seven different music stages. The festival covered a large area, about 30 city blocks. It also had special attractions and more than fifty food booths.
The festival ran for 29 years, bringing joy and music to Rockford. However, 2012 was the last year for On the Waterfront. The organizers explained that they could no longer afford to keep the festival going. They thanked everyone who had supported it over the years.
Past Performers at the Festival
Many famous bands and artists played at On the Waterfront over the years. Here are some of the groups that performed in its final years:
2012 Performers
- Theory Of A Deadman
- The Offspring
- Billy Currington
- Phil Vassar
- The Last Vegas
2011 Performers
- Stone Temple Pilots
- Buckcherry
- P.O.D.
- Papa Roach
- Puddle Of Mudd
- Firehouse (band)
2010 Performers
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Billy Idol
- Hinder
- Allison Iraheta & Adam Lambert
- Dierks Bentley
- Trombone Shorty
- Candye Kane
- Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials
2009 Performers
- Jason Aldean
- Jake Owen
- The Nadas
- Brother (band)
- Barenaked Ladies
- The Last Vegas
- Framing Hanley
- Red
- Dot Dot Dot
- Smash Mouth
- Randy Bachman
- The Charlie Daniels Band
Many other talented musicians and bands performed at the festival during its nearly three decades.
