The Festival is open to everyone!
This year’s Bass Derby & Festival starts off with a festive Thursday night, October 10. For the kids, there are fire truck rides, courtesy of the Rio Vista Fire Department (from 6 to 8 PM). For the adults, there is a kickoff dinner, starting at 6 PM, right on the waterfront, with foods provided by some of our local restaurants and caterers. We will start the festivities by honoring a couple local heroes.
Festival goers will notice a couple major changes in this year’s festival. For a start, the food and bands will be located right on the waterfront with the iconic Rio Vista Bridge in the background. The second big change is the implementation of two areas for the kids. One area will be across from the food/drink and music. The second area will be the “Pole Barn” where smaller kids will have their own area. There will be another stage featuring storytelling, a clown, games and performances by and for kids.
Friday morning, October 11, at 6 AM, the fishing starts. Both adults and kids may enter the derby. To award them for their efforts (and success) there are prizes, ranging from an adult fishing grand prize of $4000 down to gift cards for the kids. A little later on, the Rio Vista Food Pantry will start their “Catch of the Day” rummage sale at noon, followed by the first of the bands playing on the waterfront at 2:30 PM. At 4 PM the first of two kids zones will open along with all the vendor booths. This day’s part of the festival will close at 11 PM after the last of the bands for the day, Garratt Wilkin and the Parrotheads finish.
Saturday starts off when the Lions Club and Rio Vista Fire Department team up to hold a pancake breakfast and then it’s on to the Lions Club car show, with cars lining Main Street. Vendor booths open at 10 AM, followed by both kids zones opening at noon. The bands will begin playing on the waterfront at 12:45 PM. The Food Pantry will hold their “Catch of the Day” rummage sale throughout the day. Tonight, the fireworks will take place from a barge right on the Sacramento River followed by a performance by our own Groovy Judy. The day’s festivities close down at midnight.
The festival wraps up on Sunday with another full day featuring vendors, food and music, and of course the “Catch of the Day.” The highlight of Sunday is always the hometown parade, starting at 11 AM. The parade goes down Main Street from up by Lira’s Market to Front Street. The fishing derby will end at 3 PM and winners will be announced at the foot of Main. Farther down the waterfront, the last of the bands will play from 3 to 5 PM. The Soroptimist will hold the drawing for their meat raffle at 3:00 PM. The 3-days of fun end at 5 PM. Whew!