The Great River Tug Fest

Port Byron, IL & LeClaire, IA

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Welcome to the 23rd Annual Great River Tug Fest
August 13-16, 2009
 Illinois 12 - Iowa 10
2008 results Illinois 11 pulls Iowa 0

Tug Fest weekend is full of fun and activities for all ages.

Thursday night begins with wristband event from 5:00 to 9:00. The Tug Queen Pageant is at 6:30.

Friday's events begin at 3:00 p.m. and continue on to midnight. Be sure not to miss the exciting Fireworks display, which proves to be among the best each year. The rock bands Sleepin' on the Couch will be playing before and after the fireworks.

Saturday's activities start early and include the Tug Fest Bike Show, Pancake Breakfast and many games and activities for children, including their own Tug-of-War.

The Tug begins at 1:00 p.m. and last until 3:00 p.m. For two hours all river traffic barges & pleasure boats come to a stand still while the 2400-foot, 680-pound rope is stretched across the Mighty Mississippi River. There will be 11 teams from each side pulling against each other for the ultimate challenge to see who will rule the river.

Activities continue after the tug on through the evening with karaoke, prince & princess pageant and starting at 8:00 Boothill Ridge plays.

The Tug Fest carries on into Sunday with the Port Byron Tug Fest Volleyball Tournament at Dorrance Park and the Annual Warren Sutton - Riverdale Boosters Golf Tournament at Byron Hills Golf Club.

Please be sure to check the Schedule for a complete listing of all activities.
 


 
First Tug Fest 1987
From left to right: Jess Casilles, Don Johnson, Gary Knapp, "Boots" Knapp, & Swede Carlson
 The Beginning - How this all got started

In 1987, Scott Verbeckmoes while in Michigan saw a similar but smaller event and thought it would be a good idea to have one in Port Byron, it was a hard sell for the people of Illinois and Iowa to get it off the ground, but these original committee members succeeded:

Co- Chairmans    Keith Speckman and Chas. “Boots” Knapp
Denise Bowers
Kathy Augsbuger
Patty Kemp
Connie Eckermann
Ciel Abbott
Fred & Lavern Walbusser
Frank and Sandy James

The original rope used up until its retirement in 2006 was purchased from Trever’s True Value, Port Byron, IL in 4 separate coils of 600’ each.  Jerry Oppendike spliced the ropes together for the 2400 feet needed to cross the river.  Thanks to Port Byron State Bank for lending the money to buy the first rope.

Don Johnson and Harry Cort from Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric put the rope on the reel and for several years helped put the rope across the river.  Jerry Lancaster was the first announcer of the event.  First Queen contest winner was Heidi Drummond.

The first year was also still called Hobo days and the first tug was straight up Cherry Street from the docks.

The Alabaster Eagle is a traveling trophy that was originally purchased by Betty and Boots Knapp from Kliems in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Keith Speckman made the showcase the following year.

These were the first, but the continued success is due to all of the volunteers who have come and gone over the years and a huge Thank you should be given to all who have participated in this great event.