Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival 2026 Guide

The 2026 Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival begins Friday.

This year’s theme is “Red, White, and Riverboats”. Things will kickoff Friday evening with the opening ceremonies at the Riverside Park Amphitheater at 6 pm.

Riverboat Days Board Member, John Kraft, says The Dweebs will headline Friday night.

Kraft says Saturday’s headlining act will be Lakeview.

Also Saturday is the Riverboat Days Parade starting at 9:30 am. Riverboat Days Parade Committee Member Renae Brooks says there are 134 entries in this year’s parade.

There will also be a couple new things at Riverboat Days this year, Kraft says one of those things is that the DC Lynch Carnival will be at Riverside Park.

Riverboat Days Board Member, Michelle Termansen, says there will also be a few new food vendors this year.

Kraft says shuttle bus transportation to and from the park will be available again this year, with busses leaving Riverside Park about every 15 minutes.

This year’s Captain and Belle are Dr. Wayne and Marge Kindle.

Wayne is the Yankton School District Superintendent. He says they know how important Riverboat Days is to the Yankton community.

Marge, who retired in 2020 after teaching math at the Yankton High School for 28 years, says she is honored to represent Yankton.

There’s also the Summer Arts Festival portion of the weekend. Yankton Area Arts Executive Director, Elijah Berry, says there are 117 vendors this year.