BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW RICHMOND -- The village's re-emergence from the ravages of the March 1997 flood continues this weekend with the Fourth of July Family Festival on the banks of the Ohio River.
IF YOU GO
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What: Fourth of July Family Festival.
When: 6-11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Front Street in New Richmond, from Main Street to Susanna Way along the Ohio River.
Information: Call event chairman Greg Minor, 553-0188
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Organizers are hoping to draw 30,000 people to the village's riverfront on Front Street.
Last year's festival saw a donation drop of $3,000 and far fewer volunteers than in previous years, as local residents were just five months into the flood recovery that for many is now complete. "People are coming back," event chairman Greg Minor said Monday. "People go through a devastation, but they survive because everyone pitched in as a unit. We've made it through."
This year's festival will include more than 35 food and craft booths, up from 22 last year, and feature The Monday Night Big Band on Friday and H. Bomb Ferguson and the Medicine Men on Saturday. Mr. Ferguson is a renowned jump blues singer, pianist, songwriter and twice a winner of the national W.C. Handy Award, Mr. Minor said. A parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and feature police and fire units from throughout Clermont County. The second Community Recognition Awards for local volunteers will follow the parade at the bandstand.
Saturday's schedule also includes a regatta and a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show on the river.
