There are a lot of great ideas for future projects, but we need people.”

Brian Schommer

Hastings is getting ready for a new kind of summer celebration. The Rotary Club’s Festival on the River will take over the riverfront pavilion later this month, offering a full day of music, family activities, and community connection, and it will not cost a dime to get in.

“This year we wanted to try something different,” said Brian Schommer, a member of the festival’s sponsorship committee. “We’re at a transition stage with Rivertown Live, but we still wanted to provide something. The idea was to put together a free event that maybe makes a little money, but focuses on being more local, more family-friendly, and more of an all-day experience for all ages.”

The Rotary Club is designing the festival to be more than just a concert. Sure, there will be plenty of live music, all from local or regional acts, but there will also be kids’ activities, art projects, science fun, and even the chance to ride in one of the club’s well-known trishaws from its Cycling Without Age program.

Schommer says the day will also serve as a showcase for the Rotary Club itself.

“We’ll have our pontoon down there, we’ll be talking about the Rivertown Boating and Fishing program, and really just raising awareness about what Rotary does in Hastings,” he said. “Our club hasn’t been great at tooting our own horn, so this is a way for people to see it firsthand. Maybe they’ll think, ‘I’d love to be part of that.’” Raising awareness is not just about recognition. It is also about keeping the club strong for the future. With around 30 members, about half of them highly active, Rotary leaders say new faces are welcome.

“Most of our members are humble and not looking for pats on the back,” Schommer said. “We do it because we’re service-oriented people. But if we want to grow, we need to let more people know what we do.”

What they do, it turns out, is quite a lot. Over the years, the Rotary Club has left its mark in visible and lasting ways. The riverfront pavilion, built in partnership with the city, was funded in part by over $500,000 raised by the club. The group restored the railroad trestle bridge over the Vermillion River near the mill, rebuilt the overlook deck at Carpenter Nature Center, and installed the observation deck and binoculars on the Mississippi River. Rotary has also handled all the signage along the Hastings trail system and continues to lead the annual cleanup of Vermillion Falls Park.

Some projects focus more on direct community interaction. Rotary’s trishaw fleet, now at six with a seventh on the way, gives rides to seniors and those unable to get out on their own. The Rivertown Boating and Fishing program provides similar outings by water, using the club’s own pontoon. Another newer initiative, Rotary Reads, supports literacy by helping children with reading programs in local schools. It is a broad scope of service for a relatively small group, and Schommer hopes the festival will inspire more residents to get involved.

“There are a lot of great ideas for future projects, but we need people,” he said.

Of course, the day will not be all recruitment speeches. The main draw for many will be the music lineup. The festival will feature a mix of genres, from classic rock to blues to modern hits, performed by bands with strong local ties. Riser will bring the classic rock, Heartbreak will cover a wide variety of hits, and Ashland will offer its own style. Blues fans will recognize Joe Flip, a nationally recognized performer who lives in the area.

For the younger crowd, and the young at heart, there will be plenty to do. Juggling shows, mad science demonstrations, hands-on art projects, and other kid-friendly attractions will keep things lively. For the adults, there will be a beer garden serving cold beverages throughout the day. The best part, Schommer says, is that visitors can come and go as they please.

“There’s no entrance fee,” he said. “You can enjoy some music, walk around downtown, grab something from a food truck or one of the restaurants nearby, and just make a day of it. Before you know it, the kids will be back in school, so this is a chance to celebrate the end of summer with the whole community.” Whether someone comes for the music, the activities, the food, or just a day by the river, Schommer says the hope is that they leave feeling more connected to the city and to the people who keep it thriving.

“It’s really about fun and community,” he said. “That’s what makes it worth it.”

With no ticket price, an all-day schedule, and activities for all ages, the Rotary Festival on the River aims to be a laid-back but lively addition to Hastings’ summer calendar. For the Hastings Area Rotary Club, it is also a way to show, rather than just tell, what service in action looks like. And for the community, it is a reason to come together by the water, enjoy some music, and wrap up summer on a high note.