It’s almost time for LeClaire, Iowa, and Port Byron, Illinois, to restart their annual tug-of-war celebration across the Mississippi River. The 37th annual Tug Fest celebration will be held Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 8-10, with a variety of events in both communities.
The celebration will include live bands, carnival rides, food, a grand parade, fireworks and much more. But the start attraction of the festival will be the tug-of-war battle between the two communities across the river.
From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, boat traffic will yield the right of way to a 2,700-foot-long, 680-pound rope that stretches across the river between the two towns.
Some 11 teams from each side are pitted against each other trying to gain advantage by pulling in the most feet of rope within three minutes.
The town with the most winning Tug Fest teams takes the coveted Alabaster Eagle trophy and bragging rights for the year. Last year, Illinois teams scored an 8-3 win to keep a decade-long win streak alive for the Illinois side.
This year’s Tug Fest theme for the celebration is “Stars and Stripes – A Salute to America.” The Tug-for-a-Cause beneficiary is the Hiney Heroes.
Here is the schedule of events in LeClaire:
Thursday, Aug. 8 (Family Night, free admission)
- 5:30 p.m. – Carnival, vendors and beverage tent open.
- 5:30-10 p.m. – Bingo (south end of levee).
- 5:30-8 p.m. – Tug Fest parade packet pick up (beverage tent).
- 6-10 p.m. Carnival Wristband Night ($30 for all the rides you can ride).
- 6 p.m. – Bags Tournament (North end of levee).
- 7 p.m. – Live music – Press Record.
Friday, Aug. 9 (Admission $8)
- 4:30 p.m. – Tug Fest parade line-up (LeClaire Fire Station).
- 5 p.m. – Community Tailgate Party (LeClaire Baptist Church parking lot).
- 6 p.m. – Grand Parade (2024 Theme: Stars & Stripes – A salute to America).
- 6 p.m. – Carnival, vendors and beverage tent open.
- 6-10 p.m. – Bingo (south end of levee).
- 7-9:30 p.m. – VIP Sponsor Party (north end of levee).
- 8:30 p.m. – Live Music – Dirt Road Rockers.
- 9:30 p.m. – Fireworks.
Saturday, Aug. 10
- 7 a.m. – Community Breakfast (Civic Club).
- 8 a.m. – Tugger Registration (Civic Club).
- 10 a.m. – Kid’s Tug (Sign-up begins at 9:30 a.m., north end of the levee).
- 11 a.m. – Vendors and beverage tent open.
- Noon to 10:30 p.m. – Bingo, (south end of levee).
- Noon to 3 p.m. – The Tug, LeClaire vs. Port Byron (Tug Pit – north end of levee).
- 6 p.m. – Live music – Made Ya Look.
- 7 p.m. – Live music – 7 Ark.
- 9 p.m. – Live music – Soul Storm.
The Port Bryon celebration events can be found here. Here are many of those events:
Thursday, Aug. 8 (Family Night, free admission)
- 5 p.m. – Vendors, crafters and food trucks.
- 5:30-10 p.m. – Cutest pet contest voting begins.
- 6-10 p.m. — Carnival
- 6-8 p.m. — David Casas magic
- 6-7 p.m. — Little Prince and Little Princess pageant
- 6:30-7 p.m. — Prince/Princess pageant
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Friday, Aug. 9
- 4 p.m. – Vendors, crafters and food trucks.
- 4-5 p.m. – Sign up for karakoe championship
- 5-11 p.m. — Carnival
- 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks show
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Saturday, Aug. 10
- 9 a.m. – Vendors, crafters and food trucks.
- 10 a.m. to noon – Free kids’ games
- 11 a.m. — Kids’ tug of war.
- Noon to 3 p.m. — The Tug
- 4-6 p.m. — Kid’s pedal tractor pull.
- 4:30 p.m. — Tugs Awards ceremony
- 5 p.m. — Carnival
- 5 p.m. — Arm wrestling tournament.
- 6-6:30 p.m. — Sweet corn eating contest
