By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - According to a festival official, this weekend's Riverfest was the best it has been in years.
Tom Majerek, one of the coordinators of Riverfest 2004, said the festival was the most successful one he has been involved with yet.
Though downtown construction may have caused a little disruption to parking, Majerek did not think it kept anyone from attending Riverfest.
He estimated there were thousands present throughout the weekend's festivities.
One of the weekend's most well attended events took place on Saturday when crowds of people lined the banks of the St. Joseph River to watch the "Anything That Floats" raft race.
But, he said Riverfest's vast popularity comes from the fact that there is such a wide variety of entertainment opportunities including events like the car and truck show, arts and crafts booths, childrens' activities, live music and the river events.
Some of this weekend's big winners include:
Tans Down Under was selected as the winner of best overall raft in this year's "Anything That Floats" raft race.
The winners of the Dragonboat race were Michiana Christian Embassy in the youth division and Allure Salon Professionals in the open division.
In the final race off for first place in the open division took place between Allure and the City of Niles with the salon winning by .10 of a second.
The duck race raffle winners were: John Willis, of Niles, taking the first place prize of $1,000 cash; Mary Ann Abiar, of Niles, won a family membership to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA for taking second place; Emma Leigh Smith, of Niles, won third place and received a $150 gift certificate to Millennium Steak House; Jim Gourlay, of Niles, was awarded with a $100 gift certificate to Signal Travel for fourth place; and Diane Hovath, of Niles, finished in fifth place and received a $100 gIft certificate from Majerek's Hallmark and Readers World.