EXCELSIOR SPRINGS — It wouldn’t be summer in Excelsior Springs without Waterfest.

After taking a COVID break in 2020, everyone’s favorite festival returns in 2021 with a celebration larger than ever. Save the dates of June 25-26 and plan to be in downtown Excelsior Springs for the largest festival of the year.

Hosted by the Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Waterfest celebrates the city’s mineral water heritage with a two-day festival featuring various events for all ages.

Waterfest 2021 has filled two stages with music, activities, contests and more.

The festival will feature free live music on its main stage and the Good News Stage – hosted by the Crescent Lake Christian Center. Bands scheduled to appear are the Country Music Makers; Gypsies, Doves & Dreams — a Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac tribute band; Robb Stewart – a Rod Stewart Experience; Elton Dan and his Rocket Band – an Elton John Extravaganza; JD & the Chasers; and Four Fried Chickens and a Coke. Enjoy New Orleans-style brass by the 135th Army National Guard Band. On the Good News Stage will be Jimmie Bratcher, 9th Hour, The Center State and Break the Fall.

The festival brings back all the traditional favorites: vendors, food, beer tent, historic trolley tours, Little Mr. and Miss Waterfest contest, a petting zoo, a quilt show, the Opoo Wapo Gravel Grinder bike race, pedal car racing, fireworks and more.

The Waterfest Car Show returns with all the classics on June 26. Sponsored by Jones Custom & Collision Center, this year’s show moves to Thompson Avenue for more room and more vehicles.

New this year is the Waterfest’s Cornhole Tournament. The tournament takes place both days, with $10 blind draws and $50 BYOP double elimination, with payouts up to 80% and a last-man-standing chance to win a set of Waterfest cornhole boards. The tournament is open to players of all skill levels, even young children. Waterfest’s Cornhole Tournament is hosted by the Stars and Stripes Cornhole Association.

This year’s Waterfest Parade will be led by Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Will Shields as its grand marshall. Stay after the parade to meet him and get autographs.

“This is going to be one of the largest Waterfest festivals to date,” said Brian Rice, festival chairperson and publisher of The Excelsior Standard and Richmond News. “The committee was discouraged that we couldn’t celebrate last year. I think they channeled all the pent-up energy into this year’s event. I can’t believe the activities we’ve packed onto the stages and around the event area. We’ve had to expand the car show to Thompson just to make room for everything. It’s unbelievable. I hope everyone comes downtown and joins us.”

For all the festival details, visit ESWaterfest. com or look up ESWaterfest on Facebook. Look for the official Waterfest Event Guide in the June 16 issue of the Town & Country Leader or online at ESStandard.com. Gather the family and make plans to be at Waterfest 2021 on June 25 and 26.