CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The 2016 Rivers & Spires Festival shattered previous attendance records, bringing over 49,000 people into downtown Clarksville over the April 14-16 weekend.

This year’s event was the largest Rivers & Spires to date with the 2010 Festival previously holding the record at 42,073 when the Charlie Daniels Band performed.

Attendance numbers are calculated through ticket sales, as well as the weight of garbage and recycling collected over the three days. This year, the Festival collected over 12 tons of garbage and over 2 tons of recyclable plastic and aluminum, helping to support the community’s green initiative.

The 2016 Festival had quite a few winners from the many contests and giveaways throughout the Festival. Some of these contests, giveaways and shows included: the Cumberland Quilt Show, Z97.5 Last Band Standing, The Beaver Songwriter Search, Clarksville Civitan Scavenger Hunt, the Children’s Parade and so many more.

The winners for each contest are listed below:

The Leaf Chronicle $10,000 Spring Sweepstakes
Crystal Leidy Garcia

The Step Show
1st Place – Christian County High and Middle School

The Cumberland Quilt Show
Best of Show – Jack’s Chain by Vicky McCarty
Traditional Bed Quilt – 1st Place – Oopsie Daisy by Helen Moore
Non-Traditional Bed Quilt – 1st Place – Cosmic Stars by Denise Coulter
Art/Wall Quilt – 1st Place – A Graceful Stitch by Helen Morris

Z97.5 Last Band Standing – Ironglide

The Beaver Songwriter Search – Kayle Woodson

Clarksville Civitan Door Prizes
Sheila Thompson, Lisa Conatser, and A. Sawyer

Children’s Parade
Best Float – Family and Community Education (FCE)
Best Small Group – Guthrie Schoolhouse Childcare
Best Large Group – Girl Scout Troop #743

Mayor’s Volunteer Trophy
Most hours worked per student – MiddleCollege/APSU
Most students worked – Northwest High School

The following schools volunteered throughout the Festival:
Kenwood High School
Northeast High School
Clarksville High School
Montgomery Central High School
Rossview High School

The community-driven Festival is free every year, largely because of the sponsors, the army of volunteers who donate their time and the support of the city and the county. This year, more than 600 volunteers contributed to the effort with 293 were student volunteers participating for the School Challenge. They helped significantly with inflatables, the children’s parade and mascots in the Family Fun Zone. Vendors booths were sold out and they came from as far away as Illinois, the Carolinas and Florida.

The fun will continue again next year when the Rivers & Spires Festival celebrates it’s 15th Birthday on April 20-22, 2017.