As workers begin constructing the Riverfest stage on Washington Street today, festival president Terisa Cochran said she expects an opening night crowd on Friday similar to that in years past, despite the scaled-back concert lineup and tough financial times.

Riverfest entertainment

Gates open at 6 p.m.

Friday:

* The Chill — 7 p.m.

* The Patrick Smith Band — 8:30 p.m.

• Andy Griggs — 10 p.m.

Saturday:

* GospelFest — Noon to 4 p.m. (free)

* C.L.O.S.E.R. — 7 p.m.

* Anthony Walls — 8:30 p.m.

* Aaron Tippin — 10 p.m.

“With the economy the way it is, I think providing people a lot of things to do in their hometown will work to our benefit,” she said. “Plus, with our new artist, Andy Griggs, being from West Monroe, I think we are going to draw some more people from Louisiana that we otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Griggs, a country musician with four albums and a handful of top 10 hits under his belt, will take the stage at 10 p.m. Friday as headline performer on the first of two nights of street parties. He was tapped as the last-minute replacement for Clarence Carter on Tuesday after Carter  canceled.

Local groups The Chill and The Patrick Smith Band will also play Friday, while C.L.O.S.E.R. and Anthony Walls will open  Saturday night for festival headliner Aaron Tippin.

Tippin, a Pensacola, Fla., native with five gold records, one platinum recording and more than 30 singles on country music charts, will take the stage at 10 p.m.

Gates open at 6 both nights.

Riverfest scaled back entertainment to one stage this year, from two the year previous and three stages in 2007, due to dwindling sponsorships. Ticket prices were also reduced to $15 per night or $25 for both nights in advance. Gate prices are $20 per night or $30 for the weekend.

Cochran said she had no figures on advance ticket sales as of Wednesday, but anticipated downtown crowds to swell to at least several thousand each evening. Last year, about 3,000 people attended the festival each evening.

“I think attendance will be in line with what we’ve seen the past few years,” she said.

While organizers had said last fall the festival was in jeopardy of being scrapped if sponsorships did not pick up, Cochran said the numbers were looking much better heading into this weekend. 

“Our sponsorships have really stepped up, and right now everything is wonderful,” said Cochran. “Riverfest will go on next year thanks to the sponsors who have come through during these tough times to give the community what they want.”

Riverfest is a nonprofit organization with a 12-member volunteer board created after the spring festival was initiated 21 years ago. Volunteers are still needed to take tickets and work concessions on Friday and Saturday nights. Volunteers work two-hour shifts and receive free entry and a Riverfest T-shirt for lending a hand. Those who want to volunteer can contact Krista Carter at 601-218-1038.

The 29th annual Alcorn State University Jazz Festival will also take place Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Eleven high school and college bands will perform throughout the day, beginning at 9 a.m. An hour-long workshop with headlining musicians will take place at 4 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. show featuring jazz musicians Dee Dee Bridgewater, Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding and Grace Kelly. The jazz events are free and are outside the Riverfest umbrella.

Free Riverfest activities on Washington Street begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and last until 4 p.m. Along with Riverfest staples such as Kiddy Land, various street performers and GospelFest, the Vicksburg Main Street Program has stepped up its Saturday afternoon offerings this year. In the 1100 block of Washington Street, chainsaw artist Burt Fleming of Zachary, La., will create three sculptures to be raffled off, newspaper cartoonist Ricky Nobile will draw caricatures and Vicksburg author Joshua Jones will sign his book, “No One to Wash Her Hair,” at Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington St., at 2 p.m. Downtown merchants will have sidewalk sales along Washington Street.

“It’s really a great family event during the daytime Saturday. There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” said Main Street Executive Director Kim Hopkins. 

Concurring Saturday afternoon downtown are the 41st annual Vicksburg-Warren County Riverfest Arts & Crafts Show and the second annual Rally On The River. The arts and crafts show will take place along Walnut, South and Crawford streets from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Rally The River will feature a bike show atop the Walnut Street parking ramp all afternoon. A dice run and walk will also take place at area businesses as part of the motorcycle rally, which raises awareness about and money for child abuse prevention efforts. The Bluz Cruz, a 22-mile river race that begins in Madison Parish, will conclude at City Front Saturday afternoon as well.

Downtown parking is free, and is available along most streets as well as at the Horizon Casino garage on Mulberry Street and the Walnut Street ramp. Road closures will be in effect along Washington Street Friday and Saturday, with additional closures on South, Walnut and Crawford streets Saturday.

The forecast in Vicksburg calls for a 40 percent chance of rain Friday evening, while showers and thunderstorms are more likely Saturday, mainly after 1 p.m. The daytime high temperature Saturday should reach the mid-70s, with a 70 percent chance of rain in the late afternoon and evening.

“The weather is just something we can’t control, and so I’m not even going to worry about it at this point,” said Cochran. “I’m just excited that we’re finally to the point where everything is ready to happen.”

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com