Organizers are finalizing the details and the excitement seems to be heating up for Niles’ annual Riverfest, Aug. 4-7.

The festival, which makes the most of the St. Joseph River with its traditional dragon boat races and “Anything That Floats” race, draws about 5,000 people each year to the Niles riverfront.

“Riverfest pretty much has its staple activities,” said Lenette Votava, business manager for the event.

That includes the waking of the dragon ceremony, car show and beverage tent organized by the Niles Elks Lodge.

Votava said this year the annual festival is also hoping to incorporate more musical performances and activities for kids of all ages.

“We have a larger variety of music acts and entertainment,” she said. “I think we’re going to have activities for a wider age range of kids. (And) we’ll have a large variety of arts and crafts booths as always.”

One event that won’t return this year is the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Riverfest.

Bands will include:  Van Dyke Revue, Elvis impersonator Tim Dudley, Al Mott, singer/songwriter Emilee Allen, Fillmore’s Ladder, popular kids entertainment group Jetta and the Jelly Beans, Hey Annie, singer/songwriter Scott Thalman, Sixth Generation, The Whistle Pigs, Elvis impersonator Chris Young and Florida Boys. Soul Shaker will be the featured band on Saturday night.

A silent auction will also be held during the event and the country music radio station B100 is expected to be at Riverfront Park that Saturday.

Since its beginnings 19 years ago, members of the community have brought their creativity to the waters of the St. Joseph River with the “Anything That Floats” race, creating unique spectacles out of their rafts.

Votava said organizers are still looking for volunteers to come out and help with the event, which has sustained itself through the last few years of economic recession.

“Because we’re still trying to recover from the economy,” Votava said, “we’re gradually trying to build the festival back up. We’re still kind of feeling the effects of that but we’re trying to build (Riverfest) back up to a better festival.”

The organization is also looking to build more sponsorships, Votava said, so even more events can be added to the festival weekend.

“We’d love to have another 5k walk and run,” she said, adding local groups, clubs or businesses could be a part of the fun by sponsoring events or donating funding dollars.

“Our funding dollars are looking a little bit more positive the last couple of years, however we have to go slowly because that’s how we finance the festival. It’s just based on donations,” Votava said.

One thing the economy may actually be doing to help festivals like Riverfest, she speculated, is giving more people a reason to stay close to home and rediscover what their local communities have to offer.

“Sometimes people don’t take the time to discover what’s in their own back yard,” Votava said. “And it’s kind of neat to see people rediscover that.”

With the resources they have and the hopes to build Riverfest into an even bigger annual event, there’s one thing about the festival that won’t change.

“It’s all free,” Votava said. “And we want to keep it that way.”

For more information go online and visit www.nilesriverfest.com.

2011 Niles Riverfest Event Schedule

Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011

6 p.m. MJ Bishop — singer songwriter, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

7 p.m.  Highlife — rock band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011

All Day  Riverfest Silent Auction, Riverfest Office

8 a.m. Riverfest Pancake Breakfast, Riverfront Park Food Court

Noon  “Anything That Floats” Raft            Boat ramp behind old Decorating Event, Niles Police station

3 p.m.  Tim Dudley — Elvis impersonator Riverfront Park Amphitheater

5 p.m.  Vandyke Revue — rock band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

6:30 p.m. Riverfest Opening Ceremony, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

7:30 p.m. Emilee Allan — singer/songwriter, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

Dusk Movie in the Park — Cars, Behind Wonderland Theater

9 p.m. Awakening of the Dragon ceremony, Riverfront Park boat dock

9 p.m. Fillmore’s Ladder — jam band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011

All Day Riverfest Silent Auction, Riverfest Office

8 a.m. Riverfest Pancake Breakfast, Riverfront Park Food Court

9 a.m. Dragon Boat races, Riverfront Park

9 a.m. Arts & Crafts booths open, Riverfront Park

9 a.m. All Car & Truck Show, Riverfront Park (Rain date: Sunday, August 7) North Stage

10 a.m. Oldies 94.3 Radio Remote featuring Riverfront Park, near Riverfest Buddy King office

10 a.m. Al Mott — one-man variety band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

1 p.m. Jetta & the Jelly Beans — kid’s show, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

2 p.m. “Anything That Floats Raft Race” St. Joseph River, along Riverfront Park

3 p.m. Hey Annie — classic rock band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

4 p.m. All Car & Truck Show awards, Riverfront Park North Stage

4:15 p.m. Scott Thalman — singer/songwriter, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

4:45 p.m. Hey Annie — classic rock band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

5 p.m. B100 Birthday Party Ticket Stop, Riverfront Park Food Court sponsored by Owens Lawn Care

6 p.m. Scott Thalman — singer/songwriter, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

7 p.m. “Anything That Floats” Raft Race Awards Riverfront Park Amphitheater

7:30 p.m. Sixth Generation reunion concert Riverfront Park Amphitheater

9:30 p.m. Soul Shaker — rock band           Riverfront Park Amphitheater

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011

8 a.m. Riverfest Silent Auction, Riverfest Office

8 a.m. Riverfest Pancake Breakfast, Riverfront Park Food Court

9 a.m. (All Car & Truck Show Rain Date), Riverfront Park North Stage

10 a.m. Church of Niles praise service, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

9 a.m. Arts & Crafts booths open, Riverfront Park

Noon Mr. Jones & The Groove Tones — rock, funk & blues, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

2 p.m. The Whistle Pigs — rock band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

3 p.m. Riverfest Silent Auction items awarded, Riverfest Office

4 p.m. Chris Young — Elvis impersonator, Riverfront Park Amphitheater

6 p.m. Florida Boys — bluegrass band, Riverfront Park Amphitheater