Yorkville Area Chamber Hosting 7th Annual River Night

See what fun activities, food vendors and more will be happening on June 21. Craft and vendor applications still being accepted for brand new River Night Market.

It’s never too soon to start thinking about this year’s seventh annual River Night festival hosted by the Yorkville Area Chamber. This year’s even takes place on Friday, June 21 from 5 p.m. until midnight at the Riverfront Bicentennial Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Street. Last year over 2,000 people attended the annual event, and even more are expected this year as River Night partners up with the Summer Solstice Craft Beer & Indie Music Festival. Festivities for the event begin at 5 p.m. and music will be played until midnight. Admission is free to the event. So far the band line-up includes The Giving Tree Band and Heavy Guilt, with more to be announced. Free family events include: This year for the first time the event will also feature a …

• Photos (3)

Letter to the Editor: River Night Thank You

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

The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce 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 …

• Photos (8)

Video: Flash Mob Dances at River Night

The surprise dance was choreographed to Katy Perry's "Part of Me."

The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce's River Night featured Chicago-area cover band 28 Days, a flash mob dance, Spirit Cheerleaders, two bounce houses and plenty of other activities.

• Videos (1)

Editor's Corner

Costumed Characters, Bounce Houses Planned for Kids at River Night

The Cat in the Hat, other Seuss characters to make an appearance at the Chamber's major fundraiser Friday.

A red-and-white striped hat might be bobbing above the crowd Friday at the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce's River Night festival. The signature hat of the Cat in the Hat, that is. Fox Country Players is bringing the Cat, along with Thing One and Thing Two, to the festival at Bicentennial Riverfront Park. The famous Seuss characters will be available for photographs with young attendants, and (with parents' permission) the photos will be posted on Yorkville Patch. I'll be there, too, in my green Patch t-shirt and with my camera in hand.(In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm on the Chamber's planning committee for the event.) The festival's family area will be larger in general. There will be two bounce houses, a Seuss-inspired mini golf…

• Photos (1)

Editor's Corner

River Night Providing Two Bands on Two Nights

Chicago-based cover band will perform in Yorkville on June 22; Classical Blast will perform on June 23.

This year, River Night really isn't just one night. The annual event, which is a major fundraiser for the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature 28 Days, a Chicago-based cover band, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. June 22. The event itself will be from 5 to 10 p.m. at Bicentennial Riverfront Park. The Chamber also is bringing Classical Blast, a group of classically trained musicians performing rock, to Yorkville on June 23. The venue depends on the weather: If June 22 is blessed with clear skies, Classical Blast will perform at Rosati's Pizza Pub on June 23. If the skies open and pour rain across Yorkville on June 22, 28 Days will perform at Rosati's Pizza Pub on June 22, and Classical Blast will headline the rescheduled River Night at the …

• Videos (2)

Editor's Corner

Save the Date for River Night on June 22

Your local editor got roped into the Chamber event's planning committee, so you can believe me when I say it's going to be fun.

Free family fun. Plus a beer tent. And Chicago-based cover band 28 Days. What's not to love about River Night? The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, so I didn't skip a beat when Chamber member Cory Poris asked me to sit on the planning committee. I can assure you we have some fun things in store for you. The festivities will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 22 (rain date: June 23) at Bicentennial Riverfront Park. 28 Days will perform from 7:30 to 10 p.m. According to the band's website, they don't do “Heavy Metal” or “Prog Rock” because they know they don't look great in spandex - but they play pretty much everything else: Pop, Rock, Funk, Classic Rock, Country, Techno, Rap, R&B, and Gospel. …

• Documents (1)

Photo Gallery: Rockin' by the River

The crowds were aplenty at River Night on Friday in Yorkville's Bicentennial Riverfront Park.

City officials allowed River Night to last an hour longer than originally planned Friday night in light of the large crowd. The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the city, hosted the fifth annual event in Bicentennial Riverfront Park. The popular 80s cover band EPIC performed from 7pm until 10pm. Beverages and food were being served along with several small tent vendors from local businesses such as The Olive Gallery and Creative Kernels. Children's entertainment was also available, including face-painting.

• Photos (20)