EVENTS

ALL WEEKEND

CARNIVAL

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM THURSDAY

6:00 PM FRIDAY

12:00 PM SATURDAY

Grab your tickets and join in on the fun. Or come Thursday night and get a wristband to ride all of the rides you can squeeze into the day!

Early Bird Carnival wristbands $25 - or - Purchased on the night of $30

Thursday - August 7, 2025

kid owned business

See Details Below

New - Family Night Feature

With Thursday, August 7th being Family night, kid-operated Crafters or Vendors booth is FREE! Valid on Thursday, family night only!

Kid-operated business are limited to those under 18 and must be accompanied by an adult.

View the Kid Crafter Application Here

David Casas Magic

6:00 - 8:00 PM THURSDAY

4:00 - 6:00 PM SATURDAY

We’re bringing David Casas Magic back to Main Street during Tug Fest - Illinois!

David Casas is a master sleight-of-hand artist and will be at Tug Fest on two different days and at two different times! If you missed him last year, you won’t want to miss him this year!

Come find him on Main Street! David can usually be found by locating large groups of people of all ages laughing and watching in awe as he creates magic close-up strolling magic to the community members mingling outside.

Check out more about David Casas Magic Here

PRINCE & PRINCESS PAGEANT

6:30 - 7:00 pm THURSDAY

We welcome you back to the 2025 Tug Fest Prince/Princess Pageant.

If you have attended the Great River Tug Fest in the past, or have talked to some of the previous contestants and parents, then you already know what a wonderful experience it is to be a part of this event.
Our number one goal is fun!

Are you interested in having your little one participate?
Please fill out and send us an application.

Child(s) age on August 8 2024 will determine which age group they would be in:
2 year olds
3 year olds
4 year olds
5 year olds

Sign-ups end August 1, 2025

FRIDAY - August 8, 2025

far out 283

5:00 - 8:00 PM

Far Out 283 is an Alternative Blues and Rock band playing an array of unique covers and original music!

Find them on the stage on Main St. downtown Port Bryon!

Fireworks show

dusk

Join us for an electrifying evening under the stars as we light up the night sky with dazzling fireworks!

From vibrant bursts of color to mesmerizing patterns, our fireworks will leave you in awe.

Radio Fighter Pilots

9:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Radio Fighter Pilots is a rock band from the heart of the Quad Cities playing hits across the board!

Find them on the stage on Main St. downtown Port Bryon before and immediately following fireworks.

SATURDAY - August 9, 2025

FIREMAN’S PANCAKE BREAKFAST

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM SATURDAY

Please join us on Saturday, August 9th, 2025, from 7 AM - 12 PM for our annual pancake breakfast during Tugfest!

Your local volunteer firefighters will be serving up regular and blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash brown patties, sausage links, coffee, milk and orange juice.

Bring your whole family. Bring your friends. Bring your neighbors!!!

This is a DONATION ONLY event!

We truly appreciate your support for our local community fire department!

3x3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

8:00 - 1:00 pm Saturday
3:00 - 6:30 pm Saturday

Please join us on Saturday, August 9th 2025, from 8 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 6:30 PM for the return of 3x3 basketball!

Tournament Age Groups:

Girls & Boys school grades: 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12
Women & Men Age: 19 years old -22 years old
Women & Men Open Division: 23 years old +

60 team cap

Entry Fee: $120.00 per team

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 31 (no exceptions)

Please visit this link to read more information on tournament times, check-ins, rules and regulations.

NICK TEDDY 5K

8:00 - 10:00 AM SATURday

Tug Fest - Illinois is partnering up with the Nick Teddy Foundation & The Riverdale High School Cross Country Team to bring you the Nick Teddy 5K Presented by Tug Fest - Illinois!

The run will be held Saturday morning August 10th in downtown Port Byron.

The majority of profits from the race will benefit The Nick Teddy Foundation & The Riverdale High School Cross Country Team.

We are so excited to be a part of such a great event! Join the Facebook Event here!

Sign-up here

KID’S TUG

11:00 AM SATURDAY

The Kid’s Tug is where we start training our future tuggers! Join us at the Tug Site area and cheer on the dozens of kids who participate each year! We divide the children into age brackets to ensure everyone gets a fair chance and no one goes home disappointed.

Any child in preschool, elementary, middle, or high school is welcome to participate in this FREE event and will (hopefully) be given a shirt for participating! NOTE: Shirts are first come, first served to those children who participate in the Tug and are NOT guaranteed.  

The kids will be split up into the following age groups:

4 years old and under
5-7 years old
8-10 years old
11 years old and up

All participants must check in at the Kids Tug site (located near the official Illinois Tug Site) between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, August pth.

Officiants will then split participants into groups. At 10:50 a.m., participants must be lined up and ready to tug.

Sign up here.

THE TUG

12:00 - 3:00 PM Saturday

The one and only tug of war across the Mighty Mississippi! Ten teams of 20 & one all woman’s team of 25 pull with everything they’ve got as they attempt to take home the alabaster eagle trophy. And don’t forget the Riverdale High School football team’s exhibition pull against PV!

Where else are you going to see a 2,700 foot long, 680 pound rope stop all Mississippi River traffic?

Kids Pedal Tractor Pull

4:00 -6:00 PM Saturday

Tug Fest - Illinois will host its 3rd Annual Kids Pedal Tractor Pull event hosted by Eastern Iowa Pedal Pullers!

The event starts at 4 PM by the Fire Station and Village Hall on Main St. downtown Port Byron. There will be medals for placing 1st - 3rd in each age group.

Registration Fee: $5
Early registration encouraged - Sign up Online Here

Day of Sign-ups begin at 3:00 PM

Age Groups:
4 year old and younger
5 year olds
6 year olds
7 year olds
8 year olds
9 - 10 year olds
11 - 12 year olds

*Please review the sign-up link above for further information.

MONSTER ARM WRESTLING Tournament

5:00 PM Saturday

Think you’re strong enough to participate in our annual Monster Arm Wrestling Tournament? Whether you just got off of the rope or you were just watching from the crowd, this event is for anyone and everyone.

Sign-ups are only available on Saturday between 4 - 5:00 PM. at the Gazebo across from Peakcock’s Tavern on Main St. downtown Port Byron.
Weigh-ins start at 5:00 PM!

More information about Monster Arm Wrestling can be found here

Fair Warning

5:30 - 8:30 pM

Fair Warning is a high-energy Rock 'n' Roll band based in the Quad Cities!

Fair Warning brings an authentic rock 'n' roll experience that spans all your favorites! We draw inspiration from Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Guns 'n' Roses, AC/DC and other legendary acts.

Find them on stage on Main St. downtown Port Bryon!

SWEET CORN EATING CONTEST

6:00 PM SATURDAY
sign-up is 5:00 pm

Tugfest- Illinois will be hosting its Second Annual Sweet Corn Eating Contest! The event will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9th near the Fire Station and Village Hall in Downtown Port Byron. This event is being sponsored by LW Cattle Company.

• Early Registration Fee: $5

  • Sign-up Online Here

• Day of Registration Fee : $10

  • In-person sign-ups will begin at 5 PM

• Must be 18+

• There will be a max of 15 participants for the contest

This will be an 8-minute timed event, each contestant will have 8 minutes to eat 12 ears of sweet corn. There will be trophies for 1st-3rd place. Cash prize of $200 to the first-place winner.

All participants need to check in at the designated sign-up table (located near the fire station & village hall) between 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 9th. Participants will then need to stay near the table until the event begins at 6:00 p.m. It will be one race, and tables/chairs/glasses of water provided.

TBD

9:00 PM - 12:-00 AM

Find them on stage on Main St. downtown Port Bryon to close out TugFest 2025!

See you next year!