The first Rend Lake Water Festival
At the June 3, 1971 Board of Directors Meeting of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, a report was given by Joe Browning concerning retail, recreation, and industrial promotion of the area. A four day festival in conjunction with the official opening of Rend Lake in 1972 was discussed. A committee of retailers, who became known as the Benton Promotion Association, were led by a Chamber of Commerce steering committee. This included Joe Browning, Robert Taylor, Howard Payne, and Clarence Barton. Thus the Rend Lake Water Festival was born. - copy from the 25th Water Festival Anniversary program.
The Rend Lake Water Festival was a project to celebrate local businesses and the development of a great natural resource to serve our region. Below is an article put together by one of the original festival planners, Joe R. Browning. Article published with the permission of yourfranklincounty.com.
The Rend Lake Water Festival was a project to celebrate local businesses and the development of a great natural resource to serve our region. Below is an article put together by one of the original festival planners, Joe R. Browning. Article published with the permission of yourfranklincounty.com.
How did the Festival Come about?
The year was 1972 and Benton Chamber of Commerce President Robert Taylor asked me to help form a committee that would work closely with the merchants and townspeople to promote business in the Benton area. The Benton Promotion Association was formed and became the working organization that created the first Rend Lake Water Festival. It became a four day event that featured a beauty contest, a parade, a carnival, and a Governor’s Ball. We soon learned that before we could celebrate, we had to dedicate.
The Origins of Rend Lake
With the support of the Rend Lake Conservancy District, Congress authorized the building of Rend Lake, near Benton, Illinois with the Flood Control Act of 23 October, 1962, Public Law 87-874, 87th Congress, HR No. 13273, in accordance with the Chief of Engineers' recommendation, contained in House Document No. 541, 87th congress, Second Session. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accepted the responsibility for the lake's development. Construction of the $60 million project took five years to complete with the final filling coming in the fall of 1972. Learn more here...
Celebrating the Lake Opening
Committee members of the Promotion Association were already busy creating various events for the Benton festival when we got a call from the Conservancy District representative, Larry Foster. He wanted a dedication ceremony at the lake and wanted us to make it happen. Taylor told Foster that it was Benton, not Rend Lake that was going to have the festival. He suggested that the conservancy district hold a dedication. Taylor held strong and the Rend Lake Water Festival and all activities were and are still held in Benton.
The festival planning stages
To make sure we had the best information, Taylor and I traveled to other communities that held town wide festivals. Once we got the information, we wanted strong committee members to head the festival’s events. Bank of Benton President, Howard Payne became the treasurer for the organization and agreed to head the Little Mr. and Miss Contest. Jim Knight accepted the responsibilities of the annual parade. He quickly drafted Doyle Goffinet, and Stanley Hatchett to his committee.
David Webster was asked to head the carnival division. He turned to his brother, Charles, and a host of volunteers and soon his committee was up and running. Everyone was responsible for the First Annual Miss Rend Lake Ball. And, everyone paid full fair to attend. The price of admission was $100 per person. We were hoping that newly elected Governor Dan Walker would attend. He did not.
David Webster was asked to head the carnival division. He turned to his brother, Charles, and a host of volunteers and soon his committee was up and running. Everyone was responsible for the First Annual Miss Rend Lake Ball. And, everyone paid full fair to attend. The price of admission was $100 per person. We were hoping that newly elected Governor Dan Walker would attend. He did not.
miss Rend Lake pageant
The committee decided that a Miss Rend Lake Pageant would compliment the festival. There was a lot of discussion about the pageant prizes. It was finally agreed that the first Miss Rend Lake would receive $1,000 in cash. The great first place prize worked. Twenty-one of the most beautiful women in southern Illinois competed in that first pageant. Edith and I were asked to be the Master and Mistress of Ceremony for the event; and several ensuing pageants. She did an outstanding job describing the formal attire of the contestants. Our son, Jonathan, was a participant in the first Little Mr. Rend Lake Pageant. On the final night, Miss Ann Lacy of Pinkneyville was crowned the first Rend Lake Water Festival queen.
the parade
The interesting aspect of the Rend Lake Water Festival is that all the work was and is still being done by people who have full time jobs. Jim Knight owned and operated a furniture store bearing his family’s name. Knight knew the commitment necessary in heading the parade committee. This was not going to be an ordinary parade. It was going to be THE parade, conceived and developed by a master tactician. He knew that his business and time with his family would suffer. His wife, Mary Ann, and his two children were very supportive. In fact, they helped him with the event.
He knew that he had to have an outstanding crowd-drawing unit in the parade. He contacted Aggie Busch and asked that the Budweiser Clydesdales participate. Busch considered the invitation but declined. The Breckinridge Marching unit was invited and became the crowd’s favorite. Scores of floats and marching bands were solicited by Knight. He invited clubs and organizations in southern Illinois to field a float or marching unit. He contacted the first-responders, national, state, and local office holders, and equestrian lovers. He even established a crew of pooper-scoopers to follow the horses.
When the Breckinridge group formally accepted, they wanted a free meal for their 59 members. He activated the Benton Booster’s Club to host a barbecue at Tabor Field. Every participant that was supposed to be fed was fed.
He argued with local and state officials, but managed to close State Route 14. He convinced the Illinois Central Railroad to hold all trains during the first parade. He convinced almost every high school in the area to send participants.
He knew that he had to have an outstanding crowd-drawing unit in the parade. He contacted Aggie Busch and asked that the Budweiser Clydesdales participate. Busch considered the invitation but declined. The Breckinridge Marching unit was invited and became the crowd’s favorite. Scores of floats and marching bands were solicited by Knight. He invited clubs and organizations in southern Illinois to field a float or marching unit. He contacted the first-responders, national, state, and local office holders, and equestrian lovers. He even established a crew of pooper-scoopers to follow the horses.
When the Breckinridge group formally accepted, they wanted a free meal for their 59 members. He activated the Benton Booster’s Club to host a barbecue at Tabor Field. Every participant that was supposed to be fed was fed.
He argued with local and state officials, but managed to close State Route 14. He convinced the Illinois Central Railroad to hold all trains during the first parade. He convinced almost every high school in the area to send participants.
Parade Start Time
One of the last acts in the planning stage was for Knight to pick its starting time. He announced that the parade would commence at 10:02 a.m. In the final planning meeting he stated, “This parade will not start at 10:01. It will not start at 10:03. This parade will begin at 10:02 sharp”. The first parade began at 10:02 sharp.
Rend Lake Carnival
Another family-pleaser at the first festival was the Rend Lake Carnival. David Webster engineered one of the finest carnivals in Illinois. He gathered together a group of hard working Bentonites that included Standley Hatchett and Doyle Goffenett. Webster said he wanted the first festival to be held in the Benton Parking Lot on the North East corner of the square. After seeing the size and scope of the first festival, the carnival community began battling with each other for concession rights. Webster drafted the best, most extensive, and cleanest carnival in the industry. Families came for miles around to enjoy the rides and concession stands.
Making everything come together
Activities of the first festival were falling into place. Every major component had a strong committee crafting a positive outcome. Most of the cost of the first festival was paid out-of-pocket by the volunteers. But, the festival committee had obligated the Benton Promotion Association for the $1,000 first prize for the new queen. Then, there was the cost of the prizes for the top three finalists and the little Mr. and Miss Contest winners. Add this to the fact that the Booster’s Club needed to be reimbursed for the cost of the food they were to prepare. In the excitement of the moment, the committee had committed the association for several thousand dollars in necessary expenditures. The association was broke.
This Rend Lake souvenir booklet became the financial vehicle that was to provide the needed revenue. Evelyn Payne Robertson, a rural Benton resident and mother of two, agreed to lend her composition and editorial skills to the committee. The first Rend Lake Water Festival Book became reality, and through the generous participation of area merchants, was a resounding success.
This Rend Lake souvenir booklet became the financial vehicle that was to provide the needed revenue. Evelyn Payne Robertson, a rural Benton resident and mother of two, agreed to lend her composition and editorial skills to the committee. The first Rend Lake Water Festival Book became reality, and through the generous participation of area merchants, was a resounding success.
The tradition continues...
Through the years, the Rend Lake Water Festival has undergone several changes. The parade survived the committee meetings and remains as one of the best events in the Midwest.
