Carnival
Produced by Skinners Amusements, Inc.
Patrons can look forward to the return of the OTW carnival at the 2012 Festival! The carnival offers both thrilling and traditional rides. The carnival closes at 10:00 PM each night.
Carnival Kick-Off
Thursday from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM ride all night with a $17 wristband.
Adventure Alley
Once again in 2012, inflatables will be available for the kid in all of us. An interesting array including the Bungee Pull and the Giant Slide beckon your inner child to come out and play. Don’t miss the great fun!
Midway Madness
Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. All carnival rides and inflatable activities are just three tickets or $1.50 per ride!!! You can’t beat it!
Hole-in-one
Tee up at the On the Waterfront Hole in One Shoot-Out. Once again in 2012, prizes will be awarded for winners over and under 18, as well as to anyone who’s ball lands on the green Tee up at the Oasis Stage and aim for the green located on a pontoon floating in the Rock River. Open to all amateur golfers all festival hours until dark. FORE!
ComEd Kid’s Castle
Sponsored by ComEd
The Festival’s most popular children’s attraction will return in 2012! Children under 12 can take part in over 30 interactive and make-and-take activities. Play Bingo with the other kids, learn to mini putt and you can even create a masterpiece with stamp art! Don’t forget to listen to all the fascinating stories read by the Rockford Public Library team, and enjoy entertainment on the Kids Court Stage with performances during Kids Castle hours. See ya there!
Coordinated by ComEd and On the Waterfront, inc. the Kid’s Castle is located in the Wyman and Elm Street parking deck and is open Saturday and Sunday from Festival open until 6:00 pm. Activities will be provided by several Rockford businesses and organizations. The Kids’ Castle is a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment.
Kid’s ¼ Mile Fun Run
Saturday, September 1
9:00 a.m.
Immediately following the Waterfront 5K at the Trolley Station near the Riverview Ice House. Free registration from 8:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. the day of the race at the Trolley Station.
Rockford Chariots Wheelchair Basketball
Saturday, September 3
Sunday, September 4
Established in 1986, the Rockford Chariots Wheelchair Athletic Association works to provide programs for developing the athletic potential of individuals with lower limb impairments. These gifted athletes compete against local celebrities and city officials in a long-standing and friendly rivalry which goes back many years. Exhibition games are Saturday and Sunday on Chestnut St. Come watch this hilarious rivalry unfold yet another year!
FIRST Robotics at Play!
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 Noon-4:00
Come see FIRST Robotics high school teams play Rebound Rumble! Teams from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin will be playing a form of basketball with robots they built. Winnovation, Winnebago HS team, Rockford Robotics, and Charger Robotics from Sussex, WI, will be hosting this fun event. Check out what today’s youth can do!!
Hot Air Balloon Fly Over
Saturday, September 1
Approximately 6 p.m.
This event is visible from anywhere in the festival. See several brightly colored hot air balloons soar overhead Saturday evening.
Urban Street Market
Shop the weekend away at this unique collection of outdoor vendors. The Urban Street Market is filled with colorful booths overflowing with art, jewelry, clothing, carvings and other rare finds from exotic locales from all over the world.
Bright Stars Celebration
The 11th Annual Bright Stars Celebration presented by the Rockford Area State Farm Agents will take place Saturday, September 1, 2012 on the Left Bank Stage at 12:30 p.m. The Bright Stars Celebration honors eighth grade students in the Rockford area who have achieved honor-roll status during each quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year. Because these students have continually demonstrated their dedication to learning and hard work, we at On the Waterfront, Inc. are proud to honor them and their families during the festival.
WOWBALLS
Jump into a WOWball and defy the laws of nature by walking on water! This combination of fun and exercise is located at Wyman and Elm St. and open all hours of the festival.
Body Bumperz
New this year is the Body Bumperz! Located next to WOWballs, Body Bumperz allows you to run, walk, jump, flip, bounce, and roll into other Body Bumperz and much more. Your legs are not inside the Bumper meaning you are free to move and do what your legs want to. Just put the Bumper over your head and arms through the shoulder straps and you can safely do Body Bumperz.
Children’s Face Painting
The Children’s Face Painters will be returning to paint hearts, flowers, rainbows and much, much, more.
RIVER BONFIRES 
View the five roaring bonfires floating on 55-gallon drums that will be blazing in the middle of the Rock River each night.
WATERFRONT 5K
Race along the Rock River for the 19th annual Waterfront 5K. Registration is 6:30 AM Sat. with the race beginning at 8:00 AM followed by the kid’s ¼ mile fun run. Register at www.onthewaterfront.com
LULLABY LOUNGE
This area is for parents and their little ones who just need a few moments of quiet time. Breast feeding stations, changing tables, and a play area await the smallest of festival goers. Their older siblings will enjoy toys, games, and videos. This family friendly location offers air-conditioned quiet with diapers, water and juice available for a modest fee.
OTW WATER TAXI
Spend Labor Day weekend on the Rock with the Forest City Queen riverboat. The Rockford Park District offers the area’s first Water Taxi & Tours as a way to travel up and down the Rock River over Labor Day weekend. The Forest City Queen Water Taxi & Tours kicks off Friday, August 31, 2012 with water taxi shuttles leaving Martin Park boat dock and dropping you off at Beattie Park boat dock, 401 N. Main, Rockford, just steps away from On the Waterfront.
ROCKFORD COLLEGE RADIO PRESENTS ROCKFORD ORIGINALS
Stop by the Rockford College Radio booth to enjoy the sounds of talented Rockford-area musicians.Located near the corner of W. State and Wyman streets, Rockford College Radio will also broadcastlive during various times of the weekend. Performances by our lineup of “Rockford Originals” will occur throughout the Festival, including Friday 5-8 pm, Saturday Noon-7 pm, and Sunday Noon-7 pm.
ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Come test your strength on the Army National Guard’s fun course. Locate at the corner of State St and Wyman St. in the bank plaza, this course is sure to challenge your intensity.
OSF HELICOPTER
Don’t miss out on the OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Helicopter landing on the State St. bridge this year. Look for this new addition Saturday afternoon!
TEXAS ON TOUR
Discover all that Texas has to offer at Texas on Tour. It’s an exciting interactive traveling road show that makes the Lone Star State come alive. You can explore the beautiful Texas coastline on a virtual beach, watch a film and play Texas trivia inside the dome theater, splash your way across the state in a virtual kayaking adventure, and so much more!
“The Other Brew” Podcast
The Other Brew is a weekly audio podcast hosted by four former Northern Illinois University students: Doug Meenan (White Doug), Doug Rindfleisch (Black Doug), Tim M. (Cool-Name-Pending), & Tim S. (Israel). The show blends sarcastic humor with internet news stories of the weird, served to you in a full-bodied pitcher of chaotic fun. The hosts review a new beer at the opening of each show, which they drink throughout the podcast. The show is released Monday mornings and the recording schedule and contact information can be found on the website at www.theotherbrew.com. Come watch them record their live podcast on Saturday down by the State St Bridge Bar!!
