Historic Tall Ship, DTE Energy Parade of Lights, Fun Rides, Music and More to Return to Detroit’s Riverfront for River Days
JUNE 19-21, 2009

“Countdown to Fireworks Carnival” to extend the fun
June 22 – 24 for the Target Fireworks!

The Detroit International Riverfront is the place to kick off summer in the city of Detroit. River Days, presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, will bring its unique festival entertainment to the Detroit RiverWalk and onto the Detroit River from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21. The festival hours are from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Free to the public, River Days features live music on three stages, a carnival midway, food courts, boating activities including an historic tall ship, the DTE Energy Parade of Lights, jumping dogs, classic cars, and a Kids Zone with entertainment and games for the entire family.

River Days will come to a close on Sunday, June 21, but the fun along Detroit’s Riverfront won’t stop.

Visitors can return on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to enjoy the “Countdown to Fireworks Carnival” from 3-10 p.m. each day. Carnival games and rides will continue as well as food and beverage tents. Local music will entertain crowds that come down early on Wednesday to get pumped up for one of the largest displays of fireworks in the nation, the Target Fireworks, which begins at 10:06 p.m.

This year’s River Days festival features:

Fun on the Water
River Days is one of the only events in Detroit bringing festival fun onto the Detroit River. From touring an historic tall ship to enjoying the sight of nearly a half mile of decorated boats to Coast Guard demonstrations and vessels, River Days brings you to the water’s edge.

• Friends Good Will tall ship – This Great Lakes historic replica tall ship will be docked at Rivard Plaza near the Kids Zone throughout the entire weekend for visitors to come aboard and explore! The captain and crew will educate festival-goers on the original ship’s storied history, including its role in the War of 1812 and its ties to Detroit. The Friends Good Will has a sparred length (from end of bowspirit to end of boom) of 101 feet, a 90-foot rig height and features a one-of-a-kind, 6-pound pivot cannon.

• DTE Energy Parade of Lights – Back for a third year, this festival favorite will light up Detroit River in a spectacular fashion with dozens of decorated sailboats and powerboats on Saturday, June 20 at 10 p.m. Boaters from all across the state of Michigan are invited to participate. Organized in partnership with the Detroit Yacht Club, applicants can visit www.RiverDays.com to register or call 313-824-1200. Prizes will be awarded in three different categories.

• J.W. Westcott II – On Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, the J.W. Westcott II will visit River Days for the first time and showcase its mail delivery service to ships on the Detroit River. The J.W. Westcott II is a boat that serves to deliver mail to other vessels, as well as provide a pilot boat service to ferry pilots to and from other vessels and sometimes even an occasional mid-river pizza delivery. The ship operates out of Detroit, MI and is regarded as the only ship in the United States that delivers mail to other ships, as they are underway.

• Parade of Tugs – On Saturday, June 20, the International Tug Boat Race will take place on the Canadian side of the Detroit River where nearly 20 tugs will race from just west of the Ambassador Bridge. At 1:30 p.m. the tugs will parade on the Detroit side of the River from the Renaissance Center to Rivard Plaza.

• Diamond Jack’s River Tours – Docked in front of the Renaissance Center, Diamond Jack’s will offer visitors the opportunity to take 1-hour tours on the Detroit River and see the amazing transformation of Detroit’s Riverfront from the water. The tour runs from the Ambassador Bridge to the Belle Isle Bridge and beyond. Tours will be offered at a discounted rate, with $10 tickets for adults (regularly $15), and $5 tickets for children (regularly $11). Children under 5 years of age are free with an adult. Tickets can be purchased with cash upon boarding. Tours will take off approximately every hour on Friday, June 19 from 1-7 p.m., Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21 from 12-7 p.m.

• 3rd Annual Detroit River Open – This annual bass fishing tournament has drawn more than 100 boats for the past two years and has become one of the premier events in the Midwest. This year’s Detroit River Open is shaping up to be one of the biggest events of the season. Anglers from all over will come out to take on these giant smallmouths and look to capture first place honors. Interested participants can register at www.nbaa-bass.com. Detroiters will be treated to an amazing launch of boats, which will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 20 in the Harbor at Tri-Centennial State Park, and festival guests will be able to view the fish weigh-in on festival grounds near Rivard Plaza at 5 p.m.

The Parade Company’s Kids Zone
The Kids Zone at Rivard Plaza, created by The Parade Company, will celebrate “Peace, Love and Happiness” this year as they entertain children and families with games, educational activities and a variety of stage performances by AM 910 Radio Disney. The Kids Zone will be open each day of the festival from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Stories & Shows Theater will feature storytelling by Ladels Children’s Book Boutique, magic shows by Magician Chris Linn and The Matrix Theater puppets. The Groovy Arts Station will feature face painting, free make-and-take crafts and daily mini-parades during the festival.

Dog Days of Summer
Man’s best friend isn’t left out of the fun during River Days! Milt Wilcox and his Ultimate Air Dogs team, one of the premier dock jumping organizations in the country, will return to River Days. This crowd-favorite will once again delight audiences each day of the festival with splash after splash from the long-distance jumping dogs and the ultimate vertical jumps.

Tails will be wagging on Sunday, June 21 for the 3rd Annual Pooch-a-Palooza pet walk on the Detroit RiverWalk. Presented by Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare, the Pooch-a-Palooza will be filled with a host of fun activities including, the pet walk, dog fashion show, free pet portraits, pet massages and more! Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the GM Plaza & Promenade in front of the Renaissance Center. Participants can walk with or without a dog, but all pets must be on a leash. There is a small fee for entry per dog, and walk-up registration is accepted. Visit www.CanineToFiveDetroit.com to register for the walk and for free parking information.

Hot Wheels at River Days
Boats won’t have the only motors running during River Days. The 3rd Annual Cars on the River will feature dozens of classic cars displayed along the Detroit RiverWalk throughout each day of the festival for visitors to enjoy. Classic car owners are encouraged to participate for free and show off their cars to thousands of people throughout the weekend. Participants can register at www.RiverDays.com.

The road to fitness starts on the Detroit RiverWalk! Wheelhouse Detroit, located at Rivard Plaza, will offer 33% discounts on River Days Weekend Bike Rentals. Instead of $15, rentals will be just $10. Take a bike tour and discover the East Riverfront or newly-opened Dequindre Cut Greenway on two wheels.

River Days Live Music
An outstanding mix of bands and musical acts will perform throughout each day of the festival on three different stages offering free musical performances to festival-goers. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will once again bring its world-class musicians to Detroit’s Riverfront for a dazzling concert at the water’s edge on Friday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. on the Museums on Us Stage presented by Bank of America. Metro Detroit’s hottest bands will take to the Michigan Lottery Stage and Local Stage each and every day during River Days festival hours.

River Days presented by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is also sponsored by Bank of America, DTE Energy, the Michigan Lottery, Pepsi, Miller Beer, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Detroit Pistons, Atwater Brewery, Smuckers and Jimmy John’s.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy was formed as a 501 (c) 3 public-private partnership in early 2003 with the mission of developing public access on the Detroit International Riverfront. The completed project will span 5 ½ miles of riverfront property, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge, and will include a continuous RiverWalk along with public parks and green spaces. Currently, close to 2 ½ miles of East Riverfront is complete and open to the public. The Conservancy is responsible for the permanent operations, maintenance, programming and security of the Dequindre Cut Greenway and the Detroit International Riverfront.

There’s still time to be a part of the Riverfront transformation. When you buy a Detroit RiverFront Conservancy commemorative brick or paver, you become part of the riverfront’s history … and its future.

www.riverdays.com