618-438-2121
Benton  West City Area Chamber of Commerce
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  • HOME
  • COVID 19
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Student Chamber
    • 1910 Franklin Co. Auto Museum
    • Career & Volunteer Opportunities
    • Starting a Business
    • How to File a Business Complaint
    • Relocation Info
  • Events
    • Chamber Calendar of Events
    • Rend Lake Water Festival >
      • Rend Lake Water Festival: A Look Back
    • Chamber / Rotary Golf Scramble
    • Chamber of Commerce Week
    • Rend Lake Car Show >
      • Rend Lake Car Show - Past Winner Information
    • Chamber Annual Dinner >
      • Of The Year Awards
    • Networking Events
    • Solar Eclipse 2024
    • Submit Your Event
  • Directory
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  • Things to Do
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Rend Lake Water Festival

48th Annual Rend Lake Water Festival

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The Festival is celebrated during the first weekend in May and is a community celebration which kicks off with our annual carnival, lots of fun new activities, and concluded 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.

Event Theme

In the spring, we take suggestions from the public on a theme for the festival.  Submit your suggestion on our event survey! 

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Event Sponsors

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our local community sponsors.   To join your fellow organizations to make this event bigger and better, please contact the chamber office for more information.  618-438-2121
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    Event Survey

    We are always looking to make this event better, however some things are not logistically possible. We will try our best based on volunteers and financial resources.
    We are always looking for people to be part of the planning committee for this event.  If you are interested, please enter your contact info below.
Submit

Carnival

May 1st – 4th: 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:
  • $2.50 per ticket
  • 10 tickets for $22 Special
  • $18 for nightly armbands
Amusement Ride Safety Tips
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Little Mister / Little Miss Rend Lake

May 3rd : Little Mister & Little Miss Rend Lake Water Festival Contest
Collins/Malkovich Event Center - Benton Middle School

Crowds cheered as we crowned this year’s winners!  Penny voting went from Monday April 16th to Thursday May 4th.  Official voting locations included Joe’s Pizza, Seasoning Bistro, & Fiesta.  Special Thanks to Sartor Photography here in Benton.  To purchase prints, please check out the special album on their website.
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Little Mister / Little Miss Pageant Sponsor & Parade Vehicles
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2018 winners

Ages 2-4
Little Miss: Savannah Morris
Ages 5-8
Little Mister: Kyler Followell
Little Miss: Kynslee Perkins

Parade

May 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".
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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.  
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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

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.
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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

Friday Night
Enjoy food and live music in Capitol Park from from 6 - 9 pm.   
  • 6pm: Music - Backroads Jammers - County & Folk Group

Saturday Afternoon
Saturday afternoon will have live music, food vendors, crafters/vendors and a talent competition. 
  • 11am: Vendor Booths open
  • 12:15 pm: Parade Awards (depending on end time of parade)
  • 12:30 pm: Music - Never 2 Late
  • 1:30 pm: Safety demonstrations featuring first responders
  • 3 pm: Talent Competition (see information above to register)
  • 6 pm: Music: The Old 37 Band 

Vendors - Food
  • Elvis' Place
  • The Big Squeeze
  • ​The Cupcake Dungeon
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Vendors - Info/Craft/Sales
  • Country Scents Candles
  • Author, Tammy Leehy
  • Tracey's $5 Bling it On
  • Dale's Handmade
  • ​First Baptist Church
  • LegalAid

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
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The Old 37 Band - Saturday Night Entertainment

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.   

Hours

Monday - Friday
10am – 6pm

Phone

618-438-2121

Address

211 N. Main St.
Benton, IL 62812
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