In 2017, Riverfest will again occur during the first weekend of June, marking the second year that the festival in Arkansas’ capital city has gone against its longtime Memorial Day weekend tradition.
“We made several changes last year that resulted in a big success for the event," said DeAnna Korte, executive director of Riverfest, in a statement. "We want to build on that success and make this year’s 40th anniversary the best festival yet.”
Organizers behind the festival said Tuesday that Riverfest will kick off June 1 with a separately ticketed wine and craft beer event followed by a two-day music festival June 2-3.
On June 4, a commemoration of the festival's 40th year will conclude the 2017 festivities along the Arkansas River. That celebration will include a thank you to the public as well as an evening fireworks show.
Ticket holders for the two-day music festival will be granted free entry into the anniversary celebration activities.
The continuation of the date change comes despite a 38 percent decrease in overall attendance — 140,000 in 2016 compared with 225,000 in 2015 — which organizers said could be blamed in part on a switch from three days to two days as well as rainy weather in the forecast.
Riverfest's focus also shifted in 2016, with higher ticket prices going toward booking bigger-name musicians such as Chris Stapleton, Cole Swindell and the Goo Goo Dolls, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
Musical acts set to perform in 2017 will be announced at a later date. Festival organizers said the lineup will include "some of America's hottest acts."
Springfest, created as a free event for families with young children, will also return for a second year April 8 at Riverfront Park.
Information for this article was contributed by Hunter Field of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.