47th Annual Rend Lake Water Festival
We would like to welcome everyone to take part and enjoy this year's Rend Lake Water Festival from May 2nd to 5th. The Festival will kick off with our annual carnival, lots of fun new activities, and conclude with our community parade on Saturday.
This event is organized by the Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rend Lake Water Festival Committee.
This event is organized by the Benton / West City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rend Lake Water Festival Committee.
2018 - Journey Through the Decades
Business Scavenger Hunt, Carnival by Brady's Amusements, LMLM Pageant, Parade, & Live Music
2017 - Communities Moving Forward
Carnival by Brady's Amusements, LMLM Pageant, Parade, Vendors & Kids activities & Live Music.
2015 - ?
Carnival by Brady's Amusements, ????
2012 - Let's Go Hunting
Carnival by Magic Midway Carnival, LMLM Pageant, Parade, Vendor Booths, Duck/Goose Calling Competition, BBQ Contest
Business Scavenger Hunt
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As part of National Small Business Week (April 29th - May 5th), we will be hosting a Business Scavenger Hunt in the Benton / West City community. Explore our local businesses and learn more about what makes them so unique and special. Return form to the chamber office by May 7th and all correctly filled out registrations will be put in a drawing for prizes!!
Scavenger Hunt Check List! - PDF Forms can also be picked up at the following participating locations:
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Prizes provided by:
Peoples National Bank, US Bank, & Legence Bank. |
Carnival
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May 1st – 5th: Rend Lake Water Festival Carnival by Brady’s Amusements
NE corner of the Benton Public Square Wednesday – Friday 6-10 pm Saturday 11-4 & 6-10 pm Ticket prices are:
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Slow Glow Ride
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May 3rd - 6:30 pm at Cycle1 Cycling Studio at 117 E. Smith St.
A fun family-friendly bike ride that passes some of the historic sites and haunts of Benton. All ages welcome. Younger riders must be able ride a bicycle without training wheels or should be pulled in a bike trailer or a tag-a-long bicycle attached to an adult’s bike. This will be an evening ride and we will be returning around dusk so lights encouraged but not required. Ride starts at 6:30pm and we anticipate everyone being back to Cycle1 Cycling Studio by 7:30pm. UPDATE FROM LEE - 3:45pm From Lee: Lots of questions regarding the weather and ride, and rightly so. Forecast is still predicting a break in the weather between 6-8p. That's just enough time for us to get the ride in. IF anything should change, we'll post to the event page. #slowglowride Safety
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Little Mister / Little Miss Rend Lake
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May 4th : Little Mister & Little Miss Rend Lake Water Festival Contest
Collins/Malkovich Event Center - Benton Middle School Come to cheer on your favorite contestant as we crown this year’s winners! Penny voting begins on Monday April 16th. Official voting locations are Joe’s Pizza, Seasoning Bistro, & Fiesta. Private or large donations need to be made at the Chamber Office. Voting will end at noon on May 3rd. 
Little Mister / Little Miss Pageant Sponsor & Parade Vehicles
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2017 winnersAges 2-4
Little Miss: Gabriella York & Little Mister: Zaedyn McCain Ages 5-8 Little Miss: Roree Baker |
ParadeMay 5th – Rend Lake Water Festival Parade
Along West Main, Benton Public Square & North Main to Joplin Street – 10:02 am Enjoy creative and amazing floats as your listen to local bands march down Main Street. Over 68 businesses/organizations took part in the 2017 event, and we are excited to see what will be in this year's parade. This year's theme is "Journey Through the Decades". Register Your Parade Entry Online! Printable Registration Form Parade Grand Marshall We will be honoring the 2018 Chamber Citizen of the Year, Jayna Hart, as this year's Grand Marshall.
Special thanks to WEEKS in Benton for the use of vehicles for the parade.
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Current Entries
(Alphabetical Order, Registered as of 4/30/18) 618 Jeeps AARONS- BUSINESS ABBOTT EMS American Legion Auxiliary Unit 280 Austin's perfect paws Benton Church of the Nazarene Benton Junior Football League Benton Public Library Benton Rangler Girls Benton Super Lube Buckner Fire Department Casey's General Store City of Benton Cub Scouts amd Troop #7028 Dailyn Darr's Academy of Dance David Bartoni Republican Candidate for Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones for Franklin County Sheriff Dunagans Collision Center Ewing Grade School Ewing Northern Fire Protection District Ewing Offroad Club Extreme Exigency Shooting Park & Home of the Armed Barbers Factory Connection Farm City Days 2018 Fifth Season Assisted Living First Financial Bank Fowler For Senate Franklin County Democrats Franklin County Republicans Franklin Hospital Auxiliary Friends of Jason Woolard Garden Gate Garden Club Girl Scouts Head Designs Salon Heritage Woods of Benton Immanuel Baptist Church Individual Entry - Vintage Car Jim Hobbie for County Board (District 2) KJ Rock Memorial Legence Bank Loucks Auto Repair McDonald's of West City Midwestcarshowonline Mike Bost for Congress Mini model t New Horizons Christian School New Life Church and Upward Soccer North Benton Baptist Church Pate Funeral Home Peoples National Bank Petersens Benton rehab Political Candidate Relay for life & The American Cancer Society Rend Lake College Rend Lake Locator S&S Muffler, Tire, & Towing Safelite Auto Glass Second Chance Rescue Shelter Insurance STATE BANK OF WHITTINGTON State Representative Dave Severin Steve Webb for State Senate Terminix Thompsonville Mounted Posse Uncle Joe's Restaurant US Army Corps of Engineers, Rend Lake Project US Bank Valier Fire Department VFW POST 2671 AND AM. LEGION POST 280 Village of West City Vintage Cars Vintage Tractor / Equiptment Wild Trillium Williamson County Motor Patrol Shriner Club |
Talent Competition
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Join us on Saturday, May 5th at 3pm for the Rend Lake Water Festival Talent Show. This event will feature a wide range of talent and is open to Franklin County Residents. Participants will compete within the following age categories: 4 to 10 years, 11 to 17 years, and 18 through adult.
Registration is available up to the afternoon of the contest. Limited audio equipment is available. Event Flyer - (PDF) Talent Content Registration Form - PDF Prizes will be awarded for each age category. Prizes provided by: Peoples National Bank, US Bank & Legence Bank. Event Facebook Page |
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Live Music & Entertainment
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Friday Night
Enjoy food and live music in Capitol Park from from 6 - 9 pm.
Saturday Afternoon Saturday afternoon will have live music, food vendors, crafters/vendors and a talent competition.
Vendors - Food
Vendors - Info/Craft/Sales
Vendor Information Online Application for Craft/ Vendor / Information / Food Print Application PDF: Craft / Vendors / Information Print Application PDF: Food Vendor
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Never 2 Late - Saturday Entertainment
The Old 37 Band - Saturday Night Entertainment
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Parking Information
Public parking lots are available on the west side of the Benton Public Square. Parking is also available along the street. Please follow any street signs regarding special parking zones!
Event Sponsorship
Event Sponsorship is available. Please contact the chamber office for more information. 618-438-2121
Event FAQs
Why did the date change?
This year marks a new chapter for the Rend Lake Water Festival. In years past, the festival has fallen on Mother's Day weekend, however with family schedules and general attendance to the festival, we have decided to move it to the first weekend in May. This way we can encourage more participation with local schools and colleges, limit overlap with other festivals, and free up the holiday weekend so our community can spend it with their families.
This year marks a new chapter for the Rend Lake Water Festival. In years past, the festival has fallen on Mother's Day weekend, however with family schedules and general attendance to the festival, we have decided to move it to the first weekend in May. This way we can encourage more participation with local schools and colleges, limit overlap with other festivals, and free up the holiday weekend so our community can spend it with their families.
