This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Letter to the Editor: River Night Thank You

The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce's River Night festival saw a record number of visitors.

would like to thank everyone who came out to the 6th annual River Night on June 22. Much appreciation goes to all of the sponsors, partners, and volunteers who worked hard to make this event happen!  

This year’s River Night drew a record crowd of approximately 2,000 friends and neighbors who enjoyed live music, great food, and family activities along Yorkville’s scenic riverfront. Guests attending the festival were greeted by our “super hero” event sponsors, SBI Bank, Yorkville. Decked in their bright green capes, SBI offered balloons and gifts to children.  

The festival kicked off with a lively performance by Spirit Cheerleaders. Later, Chicago-based cover band 28 Days rocked the evening and was made possible by our partnership with the United City of Yorkville’s Parks & Recreation Department. (Throughout the summer, Parks & Rec hosts Music Under the Stars concerts on Friday evenings. Visit the City’s website to learn more.) 

Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stonefire Restaurant & Pub served up delicious ribs and sandwiches at the food tent, sponsored by Manus Dental. At the beverage tent sponsored by Brenart Eye Clinic, area business people from the Chamber were on hand volunteering their time to serve cold refreshments. New this year, a “thirsty kids” beverage tent sponsored by Edward Health Services was set up in the family area to offer pop, water, and juice. Additional treats were available from Rosati’s Pizza Pub, Creative Kernels Gourmet Popcorn, Cobblestone Bakery & Bistro, and The Trailer Guy who set up a snow cone station.  

The expanded family area, sponsored by Rush-Copley Medical Center, drew children to free bounce houses and activities. Courtesy of Fox Country Players, Seuss-inspired mini-golf and bucket toss games were set up while The Cat in the Hat along with Thing 1 and Thing 2 entertained families and provided photo opportunities. Also in the family area, Merry Hearts Clowns added color and fun while providing free face children’s painting and balloon animals. At the crafts table, children could use their creative talents to color pictures or design face masks.  

Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Thankfully, the weather was perfect and we were spared from using our rain date of June 23. The band Classical Blast who was hired just in case we did need the rain date, performed to an appreciative audience at Rosati’s Pizza Pub on Saturday evening.  

Thank you to WSPY FM-107.1 for hosting a live-remote broadcast from River Night. Our deepest gratitude is also extended to the following for their assistance: Dana & Sharon White, White Photography; Don Duffy, Barry Groesch; Jewel Food Store, Yorkville; the Yorkville City Police and Citizen’s Police Academy volunteers; and especially to Tim Evans and Scott Sleezer, along with their crew from the City Parks & Recreation Department.  

Due to the generous sponsorships of Yorkville Chamber businesses, no admission was charged at River Night and family activities were free. These are the sponsors who brought this event to the community:   

Action Graphix
Aflac
Anytime Fitness
Avon - Teresa Wedeen
BMO Harris Bank NA
Brenart Eye Clinic
Castle Bank
Centrue Bank
Chignoli Auto
CPI Home & Office Computing
Douglas Carpet Floor & Home
Edward Health Services
Fox Valley Computer Repair
Grand Rental Station
Jeanne de la Fuente - ReMax Professionals Select
Kendall County Record
Kendall Printing
Manus Dental
Mickey Travels
Midwest Street Rod Association
Mogul Hosting
Old Second National Bank
Realy Insurance
Rosati's Pizza Pub
Rush-Copley Medical Center
Sandy deRidder
SBI Yorkville
Sense of Samadhi/Integrative Therapies
Sommers' Carpet Care
Task Force Cleaning
The Care of Trees
The Trailer Guy
United City of Yorkville
Wells Fargo Advisors FINET
WSPY-FM 107.1
YACC Leads: 1
Yorkville Auto Body
Yorkville Patch  

Special thanks and appreciation to the River Night committee co-chairs, Cory Poris, Realy Insurance and Chris Plasch of CPI Home & Office Computing, and committee chairs Paul Auten, The Trailer Guy; Jeanne de la Fuente, ReMax Professionals Select; Sandy deRidder, Volunteer Extraordinaire; Jillian Duchnowski, Yorkville Patch; Jeff Fabbri, Wells Fargo Advisors FINET; and Christie Malley, SBI Yorkville. The event could not have been organized so successfully without their devotion of time and commitment.  

In all, over 60 volunteers from area businesses gave of their time to help with this community event. Personal thanks to these individuals (and particularly to the St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus for coming out in force!): Julie & Kamryn Ahearn, Ooh La La Decor & More Tom Arnott, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Paul Auten, The Trailer Guy; Chris & Kelly Bartosz, Fox Valley Computer Repair; Stephanie Baumwell, Old Second National Bank; Steve Beck, Legal Shield; Andrea Bloch, Brenart Eye Clinic; Kathy Brown, Brenart Eye Clinic; Shelly Brown, Castle Bank; Richard Brummel, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Valerie Burd, Positive Approach Publishing; Jennifer Carpenter, Mid-Day Play; Patti Craig, Gold Canyon; Ashley Crawford, Country Financial; Jeanne & Megan de la Fuente, ReMax Professionals Select; Rick de la Rosa, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Sandy deRidder; Robyn DeToni, Brenart Eye Clinic; Jillian Duchnowski, Yorkville Patch; Don Duffy, Team Eagle Packaging; Mike & Pat Engelhart, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Jeff Fabbris, Wells Fargo Advisors FINET; Don Fayar, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Keri Gaul, The Ripple Effect; Lauren Goodrich, SBI Yorkville;  Chad Green, Paradise Car Wash;  Sharon Haggard, Centrue Bank; Bruce Hamp, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Jason Hanson, Castle Bank; Kay Hatcher, State Representative; Phil Haugen, Castle Bank; Tom Herbert, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Jocelyn Herren, Old Second National Bank; Jerry Heitschmidt, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Ginny Hill, Castle Bank; Liberty Hilt, Centrue Bank; Larry Jennings, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Pam Johnson; Ton & Theresa Kager, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Mike Keck, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Barry Kolanowski, The Compass Group; Stella Krauss; Bryce Lang, BMO Harris Bank NA; Bill Mahaney, Mogul Hosting; Christie Malley, SBI Yorkville; Darla Marshall, Castle Bank; Kathy Martin, Country Financial; Tonya McMahon Innovative Job Solutions; Jim Messmer, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Greg Millen, St. Joseph Custom Cabinetry & Designs; Jim Miller, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Ann Moehring, Gift Card Greeters; Zach Morris, BMO Harris Bank NA; Carrie Niesman, Old Second National Bank; Mike Pfeiffer, NetComm Business Solutions; Chris Plasch, CPI Home & Office Computing; Cory Poris, Realy Insurance; Annette Powell, Kendall Printing; Julissa Rojas, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Georgine Schick, Brenart Eye Clinic; Dan & Julie Schleitwiler, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Bob Skidmore, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Mercy Smith, Centrue Bank; Michele Sorensen, Centrue Bank; Vern Witte, St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus; Lanette Yingling, Mid-Day Play Much credit for the event’s coordination goes to YACC staff members Janelle Helfrich and Gina Conner who so graciously contributed above and beyond in their assistance and support.  

We’re thrilled with the event’s success, and gratified to work with so many Chamber businesses whose dedication to the community is evident.  

Photos from River Night are posted on the Chamber website at yorkvillechamber.org.  

Sherri Farley, Executive Director
Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?