That is why everyone interested in being a part of the milestone birthday is encouraged to sign up and be a part of the Festival.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Miss River Queen and Teen Pageants as well as for volunteers, vendors and talent competitions.

Miss River Queen and Teen

The 2012 pageant will be held Saturday, March 24th, 2012 at 7:00pm in Clement Auditorium on the campus of Austin Peay State University. The Rivers & Spires Festival hosts this yearly beauty pageant for women 15 to 27 years-old. The Miss River Queen and River Teen Pageant is a preliminary pageant to the Miss Tennessee USA and Miss Tennessee Teen USA pageant to be held in October 2012. The winners of the 2011 pageant were Miss River Queen Giselle Fontenot and Miss River Teen Sarah Gross. They will both be at the 2012 Pageant to hand over the crown to the next winners.

Applications are being accepted for the 2012 pageant and the form is due no later than March 5th, 2012. You can go online and download the complete River Queen Application packet at www.riversandspires.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the pageant contact Nikki Loos Peterson at . For those interested in attending, tickets will be for sale at the door.

Volunteers

[320left]Your help makes the festival a success. If it were not for the hard work of the 600-plus volunteers, the festival would not be possible! The festival staff appreciates all who have come out in the past and hope that you will return this year. The festival is always looking for volunteers to help with setup, Kidz Zone, manning beverage booths, manning i.d./ticket booths and cleanup.

If you are interested in being a part of the Rivers & Spires team, please apply online at the Rivers & Spires site and make sure to mark what days you are available. There is no deadline to apply to volunteer.

Vendors and Sponsors

One of the elements that makes Rivers & Spires continue to grow each year is all the vendors that come out and set up booths throughout the festival. From art and collectables to food, businesses and non-profits, people are running all over downtown from zone to zone checking out each booth. Your business needs to be a part of the action!

Go to www.riversandspires.com to see a full description of each application and see which best suits your business. Remember information is being updated daily, so it’s best to check back often. There is still room available, but hurry as booth space is limited and filling up fast. Can’t wait to see you on the streets!

Deadlines for the applications are:

• Artz Galore – April 1st
• Children’s Parade – April 12th
• Commercial Exhibitors – April 15th
• Food Vendors – April 1st
• Green Zone – April 1st
• International Area – April 1st
• Marketplace – April 1st
• Non Profit – Kidz Zone – April 1st
• Quilts on the Cumberland – April 1st

Talent Competitions

[320right]The festival is looking for aspiring musicians to showcase their talent in one of the competitions that take place during Rivers & Spires. From the Last Band Standing to Gateway Realty’s youth talent show, Aspire to Stardom, there is an event that fits every music personality.

These competitions offer an excellent chance to get your talent heard and even offer the chance to be signed with an agent or win some great cash prizes! Each competiton has their own set of audition rules and more information can be found on the Rivers & Spires site.

If interested in applying, visit riversandspires.com and click on the appropriate link under the events section. You will be directed to the event sponsors Web site to apply.

About the Rivers & Spires Festival

The 10th annual Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 19th-21st, 2012 in Downtown Clarksville. This event has six stages of entertainment with over 100 entertainers performing all three days. From children’s activities, arts & crafts, car shows, military exhibits, jazz and wine, shopping and so much more this is truly an event for the whole family. Admission to the festival is free including all games, activities and concerts.

For more information about Rivers & Spires contact Doug Barber at 931.245.4344 or e-mail .us or visit us at www.riversandspires.com

Become a fan of us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @RIVERSandSPIRES.

There are still openings for bands, artists, businesses, vendors and community volunteers who would like to participate in the event.

Rivers & Spires is a free festival that includes featured entertainment by Little Big Town (and more to be announced).

Rivers and Spires Festival in Downtown Clarksville Tennessee.

For information contact festival director Doug Barber at 931.245.4344, .us or visit www.riversandspires.com.

Participating businesses and non-profits teach visitors about recycling, organic living, nature preservation and conservation. Each of the 12 booths will also have interactive entertainment for the whole family. This year’s Green Zone will have a fun, passport theme. Each booth will have an activity for kids to complete and once they do, their passport will be stamped. When the passport has been stamped by each booth vendor, it can be redeemed for a prize. And like all other activities at the festival, it’s free!

The 2010 Rivers & Spires Festival

The Green Zone is ideal for those who want to display or demonstrate their products and ideas and applications are available until March 31st. We are looking for participants that specialize in organic and sustainable agriculture, distribution of whole foods, reduction of energy consumption and even those who want to display and demonstrate hybrid and electric vehicles. What better stage to get your message out than an area like the Green Zone at the Rivers and Spires Festival.

The Rivers & Spires Green Zone.

The area is presented by the Madison Street United Methodist Church Creation Care Committee and will be held on Commerce Street in the Church parking lot located near the popular Kidz Zone. For more information or to participate in the Green Zone, contact Jessica Goldberg at 931-245-4346 or .us

At the festival, there have been strides to make the whole event green as well. Once again the Rivers & Spires Festival will be encouraging all attendees to recycle their plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard items by placing them in the appropriate collection bins placed prominently throughout the festival. There will be two recycling bins available for every one standard trash can. It’s an easy and convenient way to keep Clarksville-Montgomery County green. Last year alone there was 42 tons of recycling collected from the festival! Bi-County Solid Waste Management is leading in the recycling effort.

The 9th annual Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 14th-16th, 2011 in downtown Clarksville. This event has six stages of entertainment with over 100 entertainers performing all three days. From children’s activities, arts & crafts, car shows, military exhibits, jazz and wine, shopping and so much more this is truly an event for the whole family. Admission to the festival is free including all games, activities and concerts.

Visit us at www.riversandspires.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @riversandspires.

Miss River Queen and Teen:
The 2011 pageant will be held Saturday, March 26th, 2011 in Clement Auditorium on the campus of Austin Peay State University. The Rivers & Spires Festival hosts this yearly beauty pageant for women 15 to 27 years-old. The Miss River Queen and River Teen Pageant is a preliminary pageant to the Miss Tennessee USA and Miss Tennessee Teen USA pageant to be held in October 2011. The winners of the 2010 pageant were Miss River Queen Kyndal Hayes of Germantown and Miss River Teen Katie Kennedy of Clarksville. They will both be at the 2011 Pageant to hand over the crown to the next winners.

Rivers & Spires

Volunteers:
Your help makes the festival a success. If it were not for the hard work of the 600-plus volunteers, the festival would not be possible! The festival staff appreciates all who have come out in the past and hope that you will return this year. The festival is always looking for volunteers to help with setup, manning beverage booths, manning i.d./ticket booths and cleanup. If you are interested in being a part of the Rivers & Spires team, please apply online at the Rivers & Spires site and make sure to mark what days you are available. There is no deadline to apply to volunteer.

Vendors and Sponsors:
One of the elements that makes Rivers & Spires continue to grow each year is all the vendors that come out and set up booths throughout the festival. From art and collectables to food, businesses and non-profits, people are running all over downtown from zone to zone checking out each booth. Your business needs to be a part of the action! Go to www.riversandspires.com to see a full description of each application and see which best suits your business. Remember information is being updated daily, so it’s best to check back often. There is still room available, but hurry as booth space is limited and filling up fast. Can’t wait to see you on the streets!

Deadlines for the applications are:

• Artz Galore – April 3rd
• Children’s Parade – April 12th
• Commercial Exhibitors –April 1st
• Food Vendors – April 7th
• Green Zone – April 1st
• Marketplace – April 8th
• Non Profit – Kidz Zone – April 1st
• Quilts on the Cumberland – April 6th

The 9th annual Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 14th-16th, 2011 in downtown Clarksville. This event has six stages of entertainment with over 100 entertainers performing all three days. From children’s activities, arts & crafts, car shows, military exhibits, jazz and wine, shopping and so much more this is truly an event for the whole family. Admission to the festival is free including all games, activities and concerts.

For more information about Rivers & Spires contact Doug Barber at 931-245-4344 or e-mail .us or visit us at www.riversandspires.com

Become a fan of us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @RIVERSandSPIRES.

No matter what your ideal entertainment might be, the 2011 festival, scheduled April 14th-16th, will have an array of options to keep your senses busy and your family amused. Of those, are two specialized events that are making their appearance again after successful debuts at past Rivers & Spires Festivals.

The 2010 Rivers & Spires Festival

The Green Zone, back for its third year, is an environmentally aware area that will have booths dedicated to sustainable living. Participating businesses and non-profits teach visitors about recycling, organic living, nature preservation and conservation. Each booth will also have interactive entertainment for the whole family.

This is a great resource for those who love the earth and keeping her clean. The area is presented by the Madison Street United Methodist Church Creation Care Committee and is part of the many free festivities offered during the fun-filled three day weekend. It will be held on Commerce Street in the Church parking lot located near the popular Kidz Zone. For more information or to participate in the Green Zone, contact Jessica Goldberg at 931-245-4346 or .us

The Rivers & Spires Green Zone.

At the festival, there have been strides to make the whole event green as well. Once again the Rivers & Spires Festival will be encouraging all attendees to recycle their plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard items by placing them in the appropriate collection bins placed prominently throughout the festival. There will be two recycling bins available for every one standard trash can. It’s an easy and convenient way to do your part and keep Clarksville-Montgomery County green. Bi-County Solid Waste Management is leading in the recycling effort.

Doug Barber, festival director said, “We’re excited to bring this environmental initiative back to Rivers & Spires. There were over 42,000 people attending the event last year and we are projecting to grow even more; that can create a large amount of trash. This is our way to do our part and help with community going-green projects.”

Festival Director Doug Barber

On April 14th, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm, the festival will be host to its second annual senior night, Patchwork Premiere. Sponsored by Planters Bank, Patchwork Premiere is located at the intersection of Hiter and Commerce Streets.

“Planters Bank is proud to sponsor the award-winning Patchwork Premiere again this year. The event’s senior adult focus makes it a unique part of the festival and we’re looking forward to a second very successful year,” said Michelle Dickerson, Marketing Director for Planters Bank.

In its first year, Patchwork Premiere wowed leaders in the festival industry at the 2010 International Festivals & Events Association Conference. Rivers and Spires along with Planters Bank won an award for the Best New Event.

Joe Pitts

After receiving notice of winning the award last fall, Rep. Joe Pitts of Planters Bank said, “Planters Bank is pleased to have been a part of the resounding success of the Rivers & Spires Festival this year. We are proud to receive this award reflecting the hard work of Planters Bank employees and countless Rivers & Spires volunteers.”

In addition to the Quilts of the Cumberland exhibit at the Madison Street United Methodist Church, the evening will include refreshments at the bank from 4:00pm to 5:00pm, staged entertainment, make-and-take crafts, a quilt giveaway and various other booths.

The staged entertainment will start at 4:00pm, with the gospel group Still Water kicking off the evening on the Patchwork Premiere stage. While the group has not been together long, followers of gospel music will recognize the sound and some of the faces of this all-male singing group. Next up, at 5:15pm, will be the Queen City Quintet, performing patriotic tributes to the military, Big Band era songs and even a little Broadway. At 6:30pm, Groovefellas will take the stage to entertain the crowd with their own rendition of everyone’s favorite tunes from the 60′s era of rock and roll.

A young boy celebrating his Hispanic Heritage during the 2009 Rivers & Spires Festival

For more information about Patchwork Premiere, visit the Rivers & Spires website at www.riversandspires.com or contact Planters Bank at 931-552-0654.

The 9th annual Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 14th-16th, 2011 in downtown Clarksville. This event has six stages of entertainment with over 100 entertainers performing all three days. From children’s activities, arts & crafts, car shows, military exhibits, jazz and wine, shopping and so much more this is truly an event for the whole family. Admission to the festival is free including all games, activities and concerts. Applications are still being accepted for sponsors and/or vendors.

For more information about Rivers & Spires or becoming a vendor contact Doug Barber at 931-245-4344 or e-mail .us.

Black is recognized for his string of hits in the 90’s such as Killin’ Time, Nothin’ But The Taillights, Like The Rain and No Time to Kill. Many also know him from his appearance in the film Maverick, special appearance on Extreme Makeover Home Edition and his stint on Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump. Black has had more than 30 singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts and of those, 22 were number ones. During his 14 years signed with RCA Records, Black had sold more than 12 million albums. In the early 2000’s, Black formed his own record label, Equity Music Group.

“We are very pleased with the acts that we have booked so far and will continue to announce other acts that will be performing as well,” said Harrington. “Each year the festival grows larger, both in size and attendance, and much of that is due to the headliners and various bands we have been able to book.”

The Rivers and Spires Festival is also happy to announce Brandt Hardin as the winner of the 2011 poster contest. Hardin is the recipient of a complimentary booth during the festival as well as a $500.00 cash prize. Aspects of the selected artwork will be on the 2011 festival poster as well as on festival merchandise including the official Rivers and Spires t-shirt and program. The poster will be distributed to over 100,000 people within Clarksville-Montgomery County and surrounding areas. The runners-up for the 2011 contest are Lynne Griffey of Clarksville and Melanie Jackson of Bumpus Mills.

“The poster submissions were reviewed by a panel of qualified judges and Brandt’s artwork was chosen because it was a standout piece that captured the spirit of the festival and the arts community,” said Doug Barber, Festival Director. “The judges were not aware of who the artists were until the winning piece was selected. We appreciate each person who entered the contest this year.”

The Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 14th-16th, 2011 in downtown Clarksville. A list of activities and entertainment is available on the festival website www.riversandspires.com. Some of the popular events include Jazz n’ Wine, Kidz Zone, Teen Area and Green Zone. More announcements will be made soon as new events and entertainment are finalized. Applications are available online now for bands, artists, businesses, vendors and those who wish to participate in the festival.

In 2010, more than 42,000 people filled the streets of Downtown Clarksville for the free three-day event. At the International Festivals and Events Association annual conference, Rivers and Spires Festival and several of their sponsors won awards for Best Radio Promotion, Best Sponsor (5 Star Radio Group), Best New Event (Planters Bank) and Best Children’s Programming (Gateway Realty & Investment Group, LLC), beating out over 1,500 other festivals.

Booths are still available for the 2011 event, as well as sponsorships. To participate in the festival as a vendor or sponsor, contact festival director Doug Barber at 931-245-4344 or .us. More information can also be found at www.riversandspires.com.

The festival this year promises to be bigger and better than ever! With many new events, big name performers, and three days of non-stop fun, there is something for everyone!

In 2009, more than 35,000 people filled the streets of Clarksville for the free 3-day event.

Some of the many events going on during this year’s festival include Artz Galore, Children’s Parade, Clarksville’s Got Talent, Corvettes of the Cumberland, Dino & Vino, Doughboy Campaign, Eagleoke from Eagle 94.3, Foods of the Festival, Get DOWNtown, Green Zone, International Area, the International House of Brews, Jazz N Wine, the Kidz Zone, Last Band Standing, Rivers and Spires Marketplace, Mascot Mania, Memory Lane Cruisers, Patchwork Premiere, Quilts of the Cumberland, Road Rider’s Underground Zone, Songwriter’s Showcase, Teen Area, The Next Great Songwriters Showcase, the Urban Quest contest, US Bank’s Art Exhibition, and the Youth Talent Show.

Limited seating is available around the event. Festival-goers are urged to bring their own folding or camping chairs. It is also recommended that attendees buy their food and drink tickets early to avoid long lines. Tickets for food and beverages will go on sale at eight different booths throughout downtown when the festival opens, food vendors will not accept cash. Recycle bins will also be placed throughout the festival.

The festival will take place rain or shine. Festival hours are:

• Thursday, April 15th from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Friday, April 16th from 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Saturday, April 17th from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Road Closures

Road closures for this week have been announced for the 8th Annual Rivers & Spires Festival in downtown Clarksville. The following streets will be closed:

Wednesday, April 14th

• Public Square in front of F&M Bank

Thursday, April 15th

• Strawberry Alley
• Franklin Street from First Street to Public Square
• Hiter Street from Madison to Commerce
• Commerce Street from Hiter to Third
• First Street from Franklin Street to Main Street

Friday, April 16th

• All of Hiter Street
• All of Legion Street/Strawberry Alley
• Franklin Street from First Street to Sixth Street
• Commerce Street from Second Street to Fifth Street
• First Street from Commerce to Main
• Second Street from Commerce to Main
• Third Street from Madison to Main

The streets will be closed until Sunday morning, April 18th, at 7:00 am.

Handicapped parking is available in the parking garage off Commerce Street in front of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department on the first level. It is accessible from Riverside Drive.

Big names headlining this year’s entertainment

Thursday, April 15th

Randy Nations

The Public Square Stage will feature John Flanagan and Randy Nations during prime time on Thursday, April 15th. John Flanagan is a Boston-born, Nashville-based 22-year-old performer who has spent the majority of his career perfecting the thrill of his dynamic stage presence. Flanagan moved to Nashville in 2005 and immediately began playing to audiences of 1200 as lead vocalist of rock outfit, The Gilly. Flanagan left The Gilly in pursuit of corporate gigs, and has played venues from Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma to Seaside, Oregon. Currently in production, his 6-song EP is due for release in 2010.

Randy Nations is a Nashville singer, guitar-player and songwriter who headlines regularly at popular Music City honky-tonk The Stage. A veteran rock-n-roller, he leads an excellent band of some of Nashville’s most amazing musicians through a smoking set of classic rock-n-roll songs. Randy has performed with several top singers including Toby Keith, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mark Collie and Mark Chestnut.

Friday, April 16th

The Texas Tenors

Singing sensation The Texas Tenors will be performing Friday night at the festival. The Texas trio was among the top 40 acts on Season 4 of “America’s Got Talent.” The acappella group made it to the quarterfinals of the NBC talent competition series in September. Doug Barber, Rivers & Spires Festival Director, says he saw the group perform on television and knew their mix of country and classical music was a perfect fit for festival.

Top Christian acts Chris & Conrad and Big Daddy Weave also be taking the stage that evening. Chris and Conrad is a contemporary Christian music duo from Lakeland, Florida, consisting of Chris Kuti and Conrad Johnson. Their debut single “Lead Me to the Cross” reached #3 on Billboard magazine’s top Christian Songs chart. It was their first #1 song on the Christian Radio Weekly Inspirational Chart, as well as the #1 song on the Billboard Soft AC/Inspirational Chart in 2009. Influenced by Jars of Clay, David Crowder and Lifehouse, Chris and Conrad also pull from the ranks of yesterday’s mainstream hit makers such as Chicago, The Police and U2.

Big Daddy Weave

Saturday, April 17th

The Charlie Daniels Band will be the featured headliner at the 2010 Rivers and Spires Festival. Daniels and his band will take the stage as the main event on Saturday night, April 17th. The concert is free and open to the public.

Daniels is known for his eclectic mix of country and southern rock. The singer, guitarist and fiddler was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. The band is well known for their support of American troops and has performed for soldiers at more than 300 shows domestic and abroad.

The Charlie Daniels Band - Front Row: Bruce Brown, Charlie Daniels, Chris Wormer Back Row: Taz DiGregorio, Charlie Hayward, Pat McDonald

Jimmy Hall

Jimmy Hall and the Prisoners of Love will also be performing on Saturday night. Jimmy Hall, former lead vocalist and harmonica player for Wet Willie, has a long and varied background as a performer, working with Capricorn Records from its early days in the 1970s. Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Hall co-founded Wet Willie in 1970. Over the next ten years, Hall and the group toured with Areosmith, the Allman Brothers Band, Grand Funk Railroad and the Grateful Dead. Hall was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocalist for Jeff Beck’s 1985 Flash album. After Wet Willie’s breakup, Hall moved to Nashville, finding a healthy blues scene in a city known for country music. Hall worked as bandleader, vocalist, saxophonist and harmonica player for Hank Williams, Jr. He has numerous television performances under his belt including American Bandstand, Solid Gold, CMT special Crossroads, CMA Music Fest and The Jeff Foxworthy Show.

The Virtual Army Experience (VAE) will be in the Kids Zone this year

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an Army soldier, fight in a combat mission or cross into enemy territory, then you need to check out the Virtual Army Experience (VAE) coming to the 2010 Rivers & Spires Festival. The VAE is like the America’s Army computer game, and provides participants with a virtual test drive of the United States Army, with state-of-the-art Army training simulation technology to create a life-size virtual world.

The VAE highlights key Soldiers occupations, Army technologies, operating environments and missions, within a fast-paced, action-packed, information-rich experience. Participants employ teamwork, rules of engagement, leadership and high-tech equipment as they take part in a virtual U.S. Army mission. After a ‘briefing,’ participants enter the mission simulator where they cross into enemy territory and execute an operation. The experience takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Visitors enter crew stations in one of six HMMWV simulators, similar to vehicles employed by Army Special Forces, and one of two full-size replicas of UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters. Each HMMWV and Black Hawk simulator is surrounded by large screens providing a 180-degree battlefield upon which the virtual mission is displayed. HMMWV participants use replica M4 Rifles or M249 SAW’s (Squad Automatic Weapons) that are wired to laser engagement systems similar to existing computerized marksmanship trainers. Other participants enter UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters where they use light arms and provide air coverage against enemy forces.

Holding the Guinness World Record for “Largest Traveling Game Simulator,” the VAE is 9,750 square feet and is covered by an inflatable dome that weighs over 2,700 pounds. It houses more than 35 flat screens, more than 2.5 miles of data cable, and requires more than 35 computers to run. The massive game has the equivalent computing power of an Army Stryker Battalion.

“We’re very excited to have the VAE at Rivers & Spires,” said festival director Doug Barber. “It’s hard to describe the enormity of the game. It will be one of the largest mobile units that we have placed on our streets and will definitely add an element of pizzazz that we haven’t seen before.”

Colonel Casey Wardynski is the originator of the Army Game Project. He said he “envisioned using computer game technology to provide the public a virtual soldier experience that was engaging, informative and entertaining.” In response to criticism about the authenticity of the experience, Col. Wardynski compares the VAE to other Army branding efforts, “There is only so much the Virtual Army Experience can do to depict Army life, and it does a better job than a 30-second commercial.”

The Virtual Army Experience will be located on the corner of Hiter and Commerce Streets across from the Kidz Zone.

International House of Brews

The International House of Brews is pouring into downtown Clarksville this week with the Rivers & Spires Festival. The new event will feature twenty beers from across the world. Participants can pay $10 for twelve samples of beer. Multiple tickets can be purchased for samples, and full glasses will also be available for purchase. Any age may enter the beer area, but participants must be 21 or older, have a ticket and current photo ID to sample.

Sponsored by the House of Brews and Coors Light, the beer event will be located at Third and Main in the International Area. Featured beers include Heineken, Dos Equis, New Castle, Beck’s, Stella Artois, Bass, Sam Adams, Sam Adams Summer Ale, Twisted Tea, Guinness, Harp, Red Stripe, Blue Moon, Molson, Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Abita Purple Haze, Sierra Nevada, Yazoo Dos Perros, and Paulaner Hefeweizen.

“We’re thrilled to have the new international beer event at this year’s festival,” said Doug Barber, Festival Director. “Our Jazz n’ Wine area has been immensely popular over the years, and now we’re able to offer two great events for people with different tastes.”

River Queen and Teen Pageant Winners

Rivers & Spires Queen Kyndal Hayes & Teen Katie Kennedy

This year’s pageant was held Saturday, March 27th, 2010 in Clement Auditorium on the campus of Austin Peay State University.

Kyndal Hayes of Germantown has been named Miss River Queen 2010, while Clarksville’s Katie Kennedy will reign as the new Miss River Teen.

The pair will reign over the Rivers & Spires Festival in downtown Clarksville, making numerous appearances, signing autographs and participating in festival events. In October, they will also advance to the Miss Tennessee USA or Teen USA pageants, which are part of The Miss Universe Organization.

Contestants competed in three phases: swimsuit, evening gown and private interview. In the Miss River Teen pageant, Sarah Gross was named first runner-up, and Brittney Burress received second runner-up. For Miss River Queen, first runner-up was Brittany McGinnis, and Giselle Fontenot was second runner-up. The contestants voted Katie Neely Miss Congeniality. Taylor Oliver and Brittany McGinnis were awarded Most Photogenic. Also competing were Jessica Borunda, Brittney Clark, Samantha Maselli, Taylor Oliver, Harley Rose, Carlee Smith, Madison Snipes and Amanda Tivoli.

They will be escorted during the festival by the winners of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Paegent held at Fort Campbell.

B.O.S.S is a program that supports the overall quality of life for single Soldiers. BOSS identifies well-being issues and concerns by recommending improvements through the chain of command. BOSS encourages and assists single Soldiers in identifying and planning for recreational and leisure activities. Additionally, BOSS provides single Soldiers the opportunity to participate in and contribute to their respective communities. Motivated single Soldiers with strong senior Military and MWR guidance are the backbone of the BOSS Program.

New Event for Seniors

The Rivers & Spires Festival is launching a new event this year tailored especially for senior adults. “Patchwork Premiere,” sponsored by Planters Bank, will be held April 15th from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the intersection of Hiter and Commerce Streets.

In addition to the “Quilts on the Cumberland” exhibit at the Madison Street United Methodist Church, the evening will include refreshments at the bank from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, staged entertainment, dancing with a big band, make-and-take crafts, and a quilt giveaway, along with various other booths and games.

Country music variety band South Paw will kick off the staged entertainment at 4:00 pm. Next up is Memories of Patsy Cline featuring vocalist Lori Stegner. The show incorporates many of Cline’s greatest hits into the story of her life. At 6:30 pm, the Cumberland Winds Big Band will take the stage. These 20 local musicians combine their exceptional talents to perform timeless classics from Count Basic, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller and more.

Local quilter Susan Schaaf has pieced a “Goose in the Pond” quilt that the bank will give away that evening. It will be displayed at the Planters Bank Commerce Street office between April 8th-15th.

Rivers and Spires is Going Green

Clarksville’s Rivers & Spires Festival is going green this year. The festival will be encouraging attendees to recycle their plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard. There will be two recycling bins for every one trash can. “We’re excited to bring this new environmental initiative to Rivers & Spires. With over 35,000 people attending the event last year, such an effort can divert huge amounts of waste from ending up in landfills,” said Doug Barber, festival director. Waste Management and Bi-County Solid Waste Management are partnering in the recycling effort, and local Boy Scout troops are also assisting.

The Green Zone was created at last year’s festival and will be back in 2010. Booths in the Green Zone will offer information on sustainable living, renewable resources and green products. Activities are centered around families and children, and how everyday life can be changed to make greener choices. Last year, participants made a bird feeder with a stale bagel. Interest in the Green Zone has increased dramatically and current participants include Mission Clarksville, Habitat ReStore, TVA, CDE, Austin Peay State University Green Campus Committee, C&L Recycling, Montgomery County Stormwater, Red River Watershed Association, The Harvest Network, and Recycle Clarksville.

The Green Zone is hosted by Creation Care, a community group of Madison Street United Methodist Church.

Schedule

Click here to view the complete schedule for the 2010 Rivers and Spires Festival

So as you can see, this is an event not to be missed! We hope to see you there!

Daniels is known for his eclectic mix of country and southern rock. The singer, guitarist and fiddler was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. The band is well known for their support of American troops and has performed for soldiers at more than 300 shows domestic and abroad.

The Charlie Daniels Band (Front Row: Bruce Brown, Charlie Daniels, Chris Wormer, Back Row: Taz DiGregorio, Charlie Hayward, Pat McDonald)

Singing sensation The Texas Tenors will be performing Friday night at the festival. The Texas trio was among the top 40 acts on Season 4 of “America’s Got Talent.” The a cappella group made it to the quarterfinals of the NBC talent competition series in September. Doug Barber, Rivers & Spires Festival Director, says he saw the group perform on television and knew their mix of country and classical music was a perfect fit for festival.

This year’s festival will have a new look courtesy of local artist Brandt Hardin. Hardin had the winning design in the first ever Rivers and Spires Poster Contest. His work, a unique design which brings together all aspects of the local event, will be seen in festival publications throughout the year and is featured on the website. The poster contest was a huge success and will be held as a regular event in upcoming years.

The Rivers & Spires Festival will be held April 15-17, 2010 in downtown Clarksville. A list of activities and entertainment is available on the festival website www.riversandspires.com. Some of the returning events include Jazz n’ Wine, International Streetfest, Quilts of the Cumberland, Kidz Zone, Teen Area and Green Zone. More announcements will be made soon as new events and entertainment are finalized. Applications are available online now for bands, artists, businesses, vendors or those who wish to participate in festival events.

In 2009, more than 35,000 people filled the streets of Clarksville for the free 3-day event.

At the International Festivals and Events Association annual conference, Rivers and Spires Festival won top awards over 1,500 other organizations from around the world. The festival received top accolades in the “Overall Best Event” category and first place in the “Best New Event Within an Event” category for Quilts of the Cumberland.

Booths are still available for the 2010 event, as well as sponsorships. All corporate sponsors from 2009 have pledged their continued support, along with the City and County Government who graciously offer their ongoing support and provide invaluable resources. To participate in the festival as a vendor or sponsor, contact festival director Doug Barber at (931) 245-4344 or .us. More information can also be found at www.riversandspires.com or www.clarksvillecvb.com.

Photo Gallery

You can view a gallery of images from the 2009 Rivers and Spires Festival.