The Village of Riverside is known for many things — being a Fredrick Law Olmstead planned community, its endlessly winding streets and lush parkways lit up by gas streetlights, its quaint downtown and historic water tower, and the landmark swinging bridge crossing the Des Plaines River.
But since 2020, there’s been one group of Riversiders who’ve hoped the village can become known for being one more thing — a place that really rocks.
Enter the Riverside Rocks Spring Fling — an open-air, rain-or-shine music festival hosted across various sites in Riverside which has attracted hundreds of fans annually and raised more than $215,000 in ticket sales to benefit organizations fighting childhood disease and illness.
From Yacht rock to country, grunge to cover bands, Spring Fling pitches itself as an outdoor concert series featuring lively music from local bands for audiences of all ages, leaving ears begging for more and a day filled with exploring Riverside on foot.
This Saturday, April 26, the fun returns to Riverside from 12:30 P.M. to 5:30 p.m., promising an afternoon of lively tunes, great food and relaxed vibes.
According to Riverside resident and Riverside Rocks founding member Jessica Mieczkowski, the origin story of the event was a simple one — a way to create neighborly camaraderie in a safe way all while fundraising for a good cause.
“During the [COVID-19] pandemic, all charity events for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital were cancelled, but we still wanted to find a way to support St. Jude in any capacity we could,” she said. “Fellow Riverside residents Amy and Matt Benson contacted my husband, Mark, and I to see if we could come together and form a group to make this happen.”
“We try to help as many Riverside residents as possible,” Mieczkowski said. “Besides local sponsors, the only source of income is ticket sales.”
Following the success of the group’s inaugural event, the 2020 Halloween Walk, they were inspired to make a community fundraiser an annual happening, with a goal of expanding its outreach to work closely with local charities and create awareness toward a variety of different causes.
This year, with the addition of newcomer Jody Ames, Kimber Day and Pete Durbin, Riverside Rocks now consists of seven members who have come together to organize this weekend’s event.
Each year since the group’s first event, the committee has chosen a secondary fundraising partner to donate to, with this year’s new premier charity one which is truly locally focused — Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
While exact performance locations are kept under wraps while marketing the event, past locations have included village parks, private home driveways, garages and porches, and even buses. With the purchase of a ticket, concert goers will be given a map of Spring Fling the day before the event disclosing exactly which bands will be performing, the locations of their performances and their set times.
“The vibe of the event is light-hearted fun for serious causes,” Mieczkowski said.
Individual tickets start at $45 a person, with 2- and 4-pack ticket bundle package options available at discounted rates as well.
For more about Riverside Rocks’ Spring Fling and to purchase tickets, visit RiversideRocks.net.