RiverFest on the Deschutes
Maupin, Oregon. Saturday May 26 2012

MAUPIN’S SIGNATURE EVENT SINCE 2005

Many cities organize events that showcase community assets. These events “show-off” the best facets of a city, attract significant positive attention/visitors, generate revenues for local businesses, and ultimately become known as “signature events.”  Examples include the New Year's Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, the Rose Festival in Portland, Pendleton Round-up, and the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

RiverFest Mission Statement

“As Maupin’s signature event, RiverFest attracts visitors/tourists from beyond our immediate community to enjoy a family-friendly festival featuring music, food, craft and art vendors, fishing demos, rafting, and environmental organizations on a weekend that would normally not be busy.”

Goals

Organization & Leadership

RiverFest on the Deschutes is a non-profit, city-sponsored association of government, businesses and individuals who plan, organize, finance, and conduct the event. Currently, there is a nine-person Board of Directors, including a Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce representative and a City Councilor. Over 40 volunteers also assist in the conduct of the festival, donating over 2,000 hours of community service.  The Board works nearly all year long to execute this event in a professional manner.

RiverFest 2010 Board of Directors

Marni McLucas-Malefyt, Chair
Donna Troutman
Frank Kay, Treasurer
Kate Wallace, Chamber Rep.
Gary Schoenecker
Tammy Creel
Silas Lewis

Karletta Corithers

Ivy Hickey

Sponsorship & Finances

Currently, over 60 businesses and organizations sponsor/fund RiverFest with contributions of $150 to $1,000 each, plus volunteer support. Total operating budget for RiverFest 2005 was $5,400; RiverFest 2006 was $14,000; RiverFest 2007 was $21,000; RiverFest 2008 was $24,000; RiverFest 2009 was $25,000. RiverFest 2010 is projected to continue our record of growth.

Significant funds are spent on promoting the event so that people from around our northwest region are aware of RiverFest and make plans to attend.  Other major expenses include music/bands, activity attractions for kids/families, site preparation (tents, awnings, stages, electrical hook-ups, sanitation), office supplies and printing.

About 500 people attended the first RiverFest in 2005. RiverFest 2008 had a “free raffle” that visitors could sign-up for, and we were able to certify 1,519 individual entries. RiverFest 2009 attendence was over 1600. This data base will be used for tracking future attendance, as well as marketing our event and Maupin businesses.  Each past attendee is sent a post card invitation to attend RiverFest 2010, set for Saturday, September 18, 2010.

To be a Sponsor or Vendor at RiverFest, please contact Frank Kay at (541) 395-2222

Future Plans

RiverFest’s long-term goal is to attract 2,500 people to a two-day-long event, featuring ever better quality music, food, vendors, and activities. We also hope to continue attracting higher-value tourists with more funds to spend locally, thus enriching our local businesses, their employees, and our local economy. We currently conduct a SOLV Deschutes River Clean-Up on Sunday,September 19th, starting with an orientationat 9:45 am at the Imperial River Company Lodge. Following the clean-up is a free BBQ lunch for all volunteers. Leadership for the clean-up is All Star Rafting Company, owned by Silas & Amy Lewis.

We will increase our annual operating budget each year through increased sponsorship, thus having more funds to promote our event and to stage a better/longer event. We expect to meet our attendance goal of 2,500 by 2012, with an operating budget of $35,000.

We will also pursue a partnership with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of rail service along the Deschutes River.  This is a historically significant milestone, and offers incredible marketing opportunities (excursion train trips, for example).  We are also researching the establishment of a regional triathlon featuring rowing, biking and running for individuals and teams. We are also exploring a Maupin City Centenial Celebration in 2011

In addition to RiverFest-specific goals, the RiverFest Board would also like to develop and nurture a Spring event attracting a different audience by featuring other activities (such as a food/wine fair).  We are currently exploring the possibilities with the Imperial River Company Lodge.  Success in the Spring will then lead to creating a Winter event by 2013.