Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

About Three Rivers Festival Three Rivers Festival began in the summer of 1969 and has grown to be the second-largest summer festival in Indiana. This family-friendly, exciting nine-day celebration features over 80 events and is held in downtown Fort Wayne. The Three Rivers Festival draws over a quarter million visitors from Northeast Indiana, Northwestern Ohio, Southern Michigan, and Central Indiana. The Three Rivers Festival is an annual tradition to enjoy the fun, savor the delicious food and catch up with friends. Three Rivers Festival is a not-for-profit organization funded entirely by vendor participation fees, souvenir sales, refreshments, entertainment ticket sales, and the generous sponsorship and support of area businesses. Copied April 20, 2024 from their Facebook About page: https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFestival/about_details

Website: www.threeriversfestival.org, Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFestival.

The very popular raft race came back briefly but not for long due to insurance and water quality issues.

Didja hear the news today? It's official... THE RAFT RACE is back! Sat. July 20 - Start gathering some barrels, and plan your floating money maker... $14,000 in CASH PRIZES awaits!

Posted by Three Rivers Festival on Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday, April 19, 2013 post by the Three Rivers Festival on Facebook:

Didja hear the news today? It's official... THE RAFT RACE is back! Sat. July 20 - Start gathering some barrels, and plan your floating money maker... $14,000 in CASH PRIZES awaits!

July 7, 2016 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

#TBT to opening day of the first Three Rivers Festival July 12, 1969. #TRF2016 #AllenCo200 #Indiana200

July 13, 2018 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

The first Three Rivers Festival began on July 12, 1969. Richard Nixon was president, Apollo 11 would lift off for the moon in just a few days and something called Woodstock would soon become a phenomenon. In Fort Wayne, along the banks of the St. Joseph River, more than 10,000 people gathered to watch a river parade. Check out more photos from the TRF through the years as it marks its 50th festival.

TRF through the years Corey McMaken July 13, 2018 with 23photos in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

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A week long festival in downtown Fort Wayne began July 12, 1969. At the first Three Rivers Festival in 1969, an estimated 100,000 people enjoyed a grand parade, and 60 events on the Columbia Street Landing. Copied from Three Rivers Festival of Fort Wayne originally submitted by: Mark E. Souder, Representative (4th District) at Local Legacies at The Library of Congress.

July 9, 2020 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

HISTORY JOURNAL | July 1969 | Here's a story from July 1969 previewing the first Three Rivers Festival and giving some background on how it came about. The festival, which would have started Friday, is on hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic.

July 1969: Preparing for first Three Rivers Festival Corey McMaken Jul 9, 2020 Updated Jun 6, 2022  includes the original story: "Three Rivers Festival: A Nine-Day Showcase For City," by Sandy Thorn (July 6, 1969)

January 20, 2013 post by the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook:

What all of us people miss the most about Fort Wayne is the Wonder Years that we grew up in. "1972" WLYV Raft Race

July 11, 2018 post by The History Center on Facebook:

In more recent history our community has turned to festivals and fairs for entertainment and perhaps none more so than the Three Rivers Festival. Since 1969, the Three Rivers Festival has been a source of summer entertainment and excitement for Fort Wayne families. Originally designed to help promote local businesses and celebrate the diversity and culture of Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana, the Festival has grown into an annual event that celebrates the Fort Wayne spirit. Many of the most popular festival events, including the opening day parade, the raft race, the event tent, and the beer tent have their origins in the first four years of the Festival. During its first 10 years the most of the Festival was located on or around The Landing, (a historic stretch of merchant buildings the Erie and Wabash Canal, which ran between Toledo, Ohio and Evansville, Indiana). Eventually, the events spread over downtown Fort Wayne. In 1997, following the completion of Headwaters Park, the Three Rivers Festival moved closer to its namesakes. Today we celebrate the beginning of the Fort Wayne’s premier summer festival. #sociallyhistory

July 12, 2019 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Since 1969, the Three Rivers Festival has been a source of summer entertainment and excitement for Fort Wayne families. Originally designed to help promote local businesses and celebrate the diversity and culture of Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana, the Festival has grown into an annual event that celebrates the Fort Wayne spirit. Many of the most popular festival events, including the opening day parade, the raft race, the event tent, and the beer tent have their origins in the first few years of the Festival. In its second decade the Festival spread from its original location on The Landing, (a historic stretch of merchant buildings on the Erie and Wabash Canal, which ran between Toledo, Ohio and Evansville, Indiana) to cover most of downtown Fort Wayne. In 1997, following the completion of Headwaters Park, the Three Rivers Festival moved closer to its namesakes. Today we celebrate the beginning of the Fort Wayne’s premier summer festival with images of the 1980 Raft Race, 1983 Bed Race, 1983 and 1987 parades, 1987 Waiter-Waitress Competition and always popular TRF buttons 1980-1989. #sociallyhistory

July 13, 2021 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Since 1969, the Three Rivers Festival has been a source of summer entertainment and excitement for Fort Wayne families. Originally designed to help promote local businesses and celebrate the diversity and culture of Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana, the Festival has grown into an annual event that celebrates the Fort Wayne spirit. Many of the most popular festival events, including the opening day parade, the raft race, the event tent, and the beer tent have their origins in the first few years of the Festival. In its second decade the Festival spread from its original location on The Landing, (a historic stretch of merchant buildings on the Erie and Wabash Canal, which ran between Toledo, Ohio and Evansville, Indiana) to cover most of downtown Fort Wayne. In 1997, following the completion of Headwaters Park, the Three Rivers Festival moved closer to its namesakes. Today we celebrate Fort Wayne’s premier summer festival with images of the Three Rivers Festival from the 1990s. #sociallyhistory

1. June 29, 2023 post by Three Rivers Festival on Facebook:

   Another Throwback Thursday!

   It's hard to believe our Three Rivers Festival has been around for 54 years! So much has changed in Fort Wayne, but one thing that has stayed consistent is this festival!

2. June 28, 2018 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

   We LOVE a parade at Hofer and Davis! For "Throwback Thursday" we share from the Saturday July 5th , 1975 Edition of The Journal-Gazette article for the Seventh Annual Parade. You can count us in for the 50th Annual Parade on July 14th! See you there!

3. July 12, 2018 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

   For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture and article from The Second Annual Three Rivers Festival Bed Race from the Journal Gazette on July 11, 1975! What a crowd! Think they still do it on Main Street! BTW...Carl A. Hofer did a boundary survey of the City-County Building for the Board of Works and the Allen County Commissioners in 1963, and also prepared the topographical survey for the famous Fort Wayne architect, A.M. Strauss in 1966. The City County Building is now known as The Rouseau Centre and opened in 1971. It's almost Festival Time, 3 Rivers Festival Time...the 50th Annual!

4. July 7, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

   THREE RIVERS REWIND | As we gear up for the Three Rivers Festival, here's a look back at what the raft race looked like in 1984. From the archives: 1984 TRF Raft Race

5. Raft Race Returns To TRF Eric Dutkiewicz, Emily Dwire, and Rachel Martin July 20, 2013 on 21AliveNews.com archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
6. Revived Raft Race draws more than 60 teams Matthew Glowicki July 22, 2013 on The News-Sentinel newspaperarchived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
7. 2013 Three Rivers Raft Race [Gallery 49 Photos] DasFort July 21, 2013, July 22, 2013 tonyfranz archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

8. July 11, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

   THREE RIVERS REWIND | In honor of $2 Tuesday at Junk Food Alley, here’s what $20 could get you at the festival in 1985. From the archives: What $20 bought at TRF in 1985

9. July 9, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

   THREE RIVERS REWIND | Check out the competitors in the TRF bed race of 1986!

   From the archives: 1986 TRF bed race

10. July 8, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    THREE RIVERS REWIND | Here's a look back at the 21st edition of the TRF parade in 1989, along with footage of an event that's long gone-- the Bikini Spectacular. From the archives: 1989 TRF parade and bikini spectacular

    Will we see you at this morning's parade?

11. July 16, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    THREE RIVERS REWIND | It's the last day to enjoy TRF this year. Check out this 1989 clip of one of the more popular events festival goers have enjoyed over the years.

    From the archives – 1989 TRF bed race

12. July 13, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    THREE RIVERS REWIND | Which raft race entry from 1992 is your favorite?

    From the archives: 1992 TRF raft race

13. Three Rivers Festival, Indiana (Images of Modern America Series) 50th anniversary book by Lori Graf was promoted May 31, 2018 on the Three Rivers Festival Facebook page.
14. Three Rivers Festival turns 50: Fort Wayne’s fun event by the numbers by Lisa M Esquivel Long published July 11, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.
15. Great memories, stories part of Fort Wayne man’s nearly 50 years of volunteering with the Three Rivers Festival by Kevin Kilbane published July 13, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaperarchived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Dave Auman has gone to the Three Rivers Festival for 48 years. He and founding board member Tommie Manny were honorary grand marshals for the 50th anniversary.
16. Three Rivers Festival turns 50: Created as showcase of civic pride for Fort Wayne, its future could include wintertime fun by Lisa M Esquivel Long published July 13, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaperarchived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

17. July 1, 2023 post by The Journal Gazette on Facebook:

    The JG reviews Three Rivers Festival financial reports during a 10-year period.

    The Three Rivers Festival is a mostly money-losing effort heavily dependent on sunny skies and robust attendance, an inherent risk for outdoor summertime events. During the decade beginning Jan. 1, 2011, Fort Wayne’s premiere festival outspent its revenue in seven of 10 years, resulting in a loss of more than half a million dollars during those years, according to federal tax filings that The Journal Gazette reviewed. Copied from Three Rivers Festival struggles to break even during rainy years Sherry Slater July 1, 2023 The Journal Gazette newspaper.

     

    Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Festival is a link to stories about the festival at   The Journal Gazette newspaper.

18. June 28, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    Three Rivers Festival button collectors are a community like no other.

    Fellow collectors help complete man’s Three Rivers Festival button set

19. July 14, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    The Three Rivers Festival makes a new button every year. The pin can get you discounts on some tickets around the festival, but, for some, they mean a lot more.

    Three Rivers Festival button-collecting becomes family traditions

    People collect the Three Rivers Festival Buttons July 14, 2023 WANE 15 News on YouTube

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