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Sing the Blues Two Months Later

Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News

A 30-year-old Quad Cities festival will keep a couple of traditions alive, but change another. This morning, the Mississippi Valley Blues Society announced from now on, the festival will be held on Labor Day weekend instead of the one closest to Independence Day. It will still be held at LeClaire Park in Davenport with a tent stage along with the bandshell.

Board President, Scott Klarkowski, says after three floods and multiple storms over the last seven years, the budget has been depleted. The society spent an extra 20 percent last summer that wasn't in the budget because of high water and other factors.

Board member, Karen McFarland, says the blues society has started a fundraising campaign, in part because the festival doesn't have a major corporate sponsor. It'll cost around 200,000 dollars, and she hopes at least half comes from contributions.

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People who come from out of town may be inconvenienced. We hope they have enough time to change plans and come.

Other Labor Day events in the Quad Cities include parades in East Moline and Rock Island, plus the Grand Prix kart races in downtown Rock Island.

The 31st annual Mississippi Valley Blues Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 5th and 6th.

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.