River Days stays afloat in tough economy

Photos: 2009 Great Miami River Days

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer Updated 10:36 AM Monday, September 14, 2009

HAMILTON — In a year where the economy almost ended the city’s string of annual River Days at five, organizers battled to meet expectations for area residents.

And while the recession meant sacrifices even for the performers, it didn’t translate into lesser attractions.

Earlier this summer, the committee charged with spearheading the event was nearly forced to shut it down because funding had fallen short. But an anonymous donor’s $25,000 kept the water education festival afloat.

Then organizers got more good news when most of the performers — including headliners Badgerland Water Ski Show Team — agreed to take a pay cut.

In fact, most of the attractions for this weekend’s event cost between 10 and 20 percent less to provide to the public than last year, according to Mike Cox, River Days water events chairman.

“This thing wasn’t going to happen,” Cox said Sunday, Sept. 13, as dozens of Badgerland members jumped, flipped and stacked themselves up and down the Great Miami River.

Cox, a supporter of Hamilton’s Vision 2020 team, said the city’s future depends largely on offering unique events like River Days and taking advantage of the riverfront.

“We have to keep doing things like this so people understand the river isn’t just a place to go fishing. We have to keep the focus on the water,” he said. “If you look at all the good cities, they all have something.

“It’s going to take money, and it’s going to take a better economy, but in the meantime, we have this.”

Members of Badgerland said they fully understood the committee’s financial situation, and agreed to do the show for less than in year’s past.

“In this tough economy, everybody has to pitch in,” said Paul Dross, show director for Badgerland. “We’re all partners in this. The whole deal is to make this event successful.”

Despite its success and near-perfect weekend weather, attendance is expected to be down this year, organizers said.

While last year’s event drew approximately 50,000 people to the river’s edge along Neilan Boulevard, this year’s numbers are estimated to be between 5,000 and 10,000 less, according to River Days Chairman Tony Traub.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

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