BENTON, Ill. -- The WSIL News team took part in the Rend Lake Water Festival parade on Saturday morning.聽
The parade kicked off the final day of the festival in Benton. The festival's 聽says the parade is a chance for businesses to "get [themselves] in front of a large audience." Local organizations marched from Pizza Hut to North Main handing out candy and flyers. The event is a great chance for the community to connect with residents face to face.聽
Local vendors will be on sight after the parade from noon until 4:00 p.m. for the Vendor Fair.聽
The annual festival commemorates the creation of Rend Lake 51 years ago. Families flock to the site for carnival games, rides and fair food.聽
The festival in Benton began Thursday.
The theme for the 2024 festival is "Twice in a Lifetime" to acknowledge the total solar eclipse that brought an economic boost to the area in April.聽
