From an event that almost didn’t get off the ground in its first year to one that is highly anticipated throughout the North Delta, Rivergate Festival has a compelling story of invention and reinvention in its 20 year history.
In 1991, then Chamber director Brenda Van Cleave and former mayor Bobby Williams hatched a plan for downtown Tunica to host an annual barbecue and arts & crafts festival in the spring. The two picked the third weekend of the month, April 19-20, for the inaugural festival, with a carnival to start on Thursday, April 18. The Chamber conducted a contest to choose a logo, and eventually, three winners were picked: Page Van Cleave, whose logo graced festival caps. Virginia Kittle’s entry went on aprons, and Paulette Ellison’s, tee shirts.

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