Bellevue Rocks for a Fifth Year at Annual Riverfront Festival

After months of planning, the Bellevue Community Foundation (BCF) is gearing up for the annual ‘Bellevue Rocks!’ Festival, which begins Thursday. This marks the fifth year the Bellevue Community Foundation has hosted the event, which started in 2021. It has grown annually to become the biggest, best-attended public event in the community each year.

Bellevue Community Foundation President Phil Davidson is excited about the upcoming festival. “The entire Bellevue Community Foundation Board of Directors gets behind this project,” Davidson said. “It started when the late Herman Colvin, who served on the BCF Board of Directors for many years until his untimely death earlier this year, suggested that the BCF needs to host more community and family events, and the timing was right to take on an event of this magnitude.”

Bellevue Rocks is a four-day event, running from Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8. Gates are open from 4pm-Midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and from 1pm-6pm on Sunday. Various music guests are booked throughout the weekend, headlined by Country Music Star Collin Raye on Saturday night.

Bellevue Rocks 2025 kicks off Thursday with a Family Discount Carnival Special. Ride Wristbands will be on sale for only $30, compared to $35 per wristband on Friday and $40 per wristband on Saturday. The festival is open from 4pm-Midnight on Thursday, with the wristbands good from 5pm-10pm.

Davidson discussed the many volunteers it takes to pull off an event like this. He specifically mentioned these individuals and their roles within the festival:

• BCF Vice President Matt Goetz and Jim Ristow lead the effort. Mr. Ristow has a wide variety of experience from the Riverfest Days, and we rely on his knowledge.
• BCF Board Members Mary Hansen and Lisa Rybar help with fundraising, keeping the budget in line and everything coordinated.
• BCF Board Members Kelly Niemier and Sunni Renner are in charge of the bands, and the reason we are able to bring nationally known bands to Bellevue. They really work hard to keep all the details straight.
• BCF Board Members George Rybar, Dave Compton, and Mike Williams run, organize, and sponsor the VIP area serving as key members of the Bellevue Rocks Event Committee. The BCF is blessed to have a group of about 25 Event committee members who shine during our events.
• And BCF Member Rusty Hike volunteers his time all over the place doing whatever is needed.

“I also have to mention the help we get from Sergeant Larry Lampman and the Bellevue Police Department, Steve Betts and his electrical knowledge, Tracy Niemier and his stage crew which is invaluable to a production of this size, and the help we get from the Bellevue Parks Department ensuring that American Heroes Park looks great every year,” Davidson said.

Davidson estimates that the four-day festival costs around $200,000 to run each year. Although admission is free, the Bellevue Community Foundation suggests a $5 donation, which will continue to help fund the event each year. The BCF generates most of its festival revenue through sponsorships and beer sales.

“Most years we break even or maybe are slightly ahead, but the last two years have been a little rough due to rainouts on either Friday or Saturday night.”

The BCF looks to attract 35,000 people to the event this year, following two years of slightly lower attendance. They will be watching the weather forecasts closely as rain is always a possibility. “Last year, the Bellevue Police Department estimated we had about 25,000 people. That number was lower than normal due to Friday’s rainout. We hope to attract over 35,000 people over the 4 days if weather cooperates.”

With the addition of the new large playground at American Heroes Park, there is less on-site parking this year. Parking is available at Haworth Park and there will be a shuttle system running on Friday and Saturday nights. The Foundation recommends using the shuttle bus service from Bellevue East High School. Ten buses will be running with a dedicated lane into American Heroes Park, dropping passengers off near the front gate.

Davidson concluded the interview with some final thoughts on the festival. “Bellevue residents deserve top-level and quality entertainment without having to leave our community. Bellevue shines this weekend with a large family-friendly carnival, nationally known entertainment, great food and a chance to catch up with your friends and neighbors. We love to see all of the smiles on peoples faces,” Davidson shared. “We hope that Bellevue Rocks! is something that Bellevue residents can be proud of. It has become kind of like a Bellevue reunion of sorts. I always see people down there that I haven’t seen for years, and they always seem to be having a good time.”

American Heroes Park is temporarily closed from today through 4:00pm on Thursday, allowing crews and event planners time and space to set up for the festival.

|| Pictures taken by Phil Davidson ||