Despite the current flooding by the Mississippi River, this year's Blues Festival will be held on the Davenport riverfront as scheduled. The river crested Sunday 1 1/2 feet over flood stage, and is expected to fall to flood stage by Friday when the festival begins.
Ellen Clow, from the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, says they were preparing to move the event to downtown Davenport, but late last week were assured by the city that LeClaire Park would be ready in time.
"Everything just costs us more when we move into downtown. Electricity costs us more and the sound and lights people cost us more. So it's always a financial hardship every time we have to move out of the park and into the downtown area."
And LeClaire Park has the bandshell, and is cooler than downtown.
This year's Blues Festival opens Friday afternoon, and continues through Saturday night.
