TrekFest beams into Riverside this weekend

The future of the 2011 TrekFest was briefly in jeopardy earlier this year. The Riverside Area Community Club (RACC) was able to raise $15,000 in donations to make TrekFest 27 a reality.

TrekFest runs from Friday through Saturday. On Friday, the fun begins at 5 p.m. with the food booths and beer garden. At that same time, there will be carnival rides. The kid?s parade is at 6:30 p.m., which runs from River Street to Hall Park. The square dance is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the main stage at Hall Park. The Pet Show is also on the main stage at Hall Park and starts at 7 p.m. Big and small pets alike are welcome.

The demolition derby begins at 7:30 in the southeast corner of Hall Park. Friday evening concludes with a performance by ?Insectoid? at 9 p.m. in Hall Park.

An 8 a.m. volleyball tournament kick-starts Saturday?s events. The parade, known as ?Assignment Earth? this year is at 10 a.m. Parade entries are asked to register and line up by People?s Savings Bank. The carnival rides, games and food begin at 11 a.m. A barbecue sandwich meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as will Barb?s homemade apple pie and ice cream. The kids? face painting at Hall Park lasts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., as well.

A band known as the ?Synthaholics? will perform from 11:15 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Hall Park. An antique car show in Railroad Park will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. A sci-fi swap meet is at 11 a.m. in Hall Park. From noon until 5 p.m., episodes of Star Trek and Invasion Iowa will be shown in the Red Barn.

The costume contest is at 1 p.m. on the main stage of Hall Park. The kids? tractor pull is at 1:30 p.m. east of the Red Barn. The Bill Riley State Fair Talent Show is at 2 p.m. in Hall Park. RACC President Ken McCracken said that, in past talent shows, he has seen square dancing, tap dancing, violin and flute routines. The event is a State Fair prequalifier. The golf cart rodeo then begins at 3 p.m. in Hall Park.

The band ?Five Year Mission? performs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Hall Park. From 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., the band ?Who?z Playin?? performs in Hall Park. At 10 p.m., the fireworks will be shot off at Hall Park. After the fireworks, the raffle drawing will be held.

McCracken said parking is available along Main Street and on the south side of Hall Park.

?There are usually plenty of places to park,? said McCracken.

McCracken said he can?t wait to celebrate another TrekFest in Riverside.

?This is what the people want,? said McCracken. ?They came out of the woodwork to give. We ended up raising $15,000, which exceeded our expectations by $5,000. I want to give those people who requested TrekFest the best show we can.?

The TrekFest this year will not have a rodeo or a tractor pull. It will also be without the usual ball tournament.