Rivertime in Rainier concerts combines great music with view of the Columbia River

Rainier is trying out a new event this summer, a free event that will allow park visitors to enjoy concert music while viewing the scenic Columbia River.

It’s called Rivertime in Rainier, and it’s well underway at Riverfront Park. The event kicked off June 5 with a performance by the Cascadians. Concerts will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Wednesday, through the end of August.

There will be a beer garden, food trucks and strolling entertainment.

“It has always been the goal of city council to have more events at the park,” City Administrator Scott Jorgensen said. “It’s great. We want people to have something to do, but we also want there to be a draw to town.”

Jorgensen added, “Rainier has always been kind of a passthrough community for people just driving through on Highway 30 on their way to and from the coast. We want to give people a reason to stop into town and support the local businesses, and check out what we have.”

Jorgensen touts the beauty of Riverfront Park in Rainier.

“We are very blessed to have this beautiful park,” he said. “I think it’s world class for a city this size … One of my favorite things about working in Rainier is that we have all these huge ships that constantly come by on the Columbia.”

Remaining concerts are July 17 with JT Trawick; July 24, Bottleneck Blues Band; July 31, Michelle Lambert; Aug. 7, Gabriel Cox Band; Aug. 14, Dirty Gondolas; Aug. 21, Rae Gordon Band; and Aug. 28, Steelhead Band.

Jorgensen hopes Rivertime in Rainier can continued beyond this year.

“If this continues to do well, we would probably want to keep this going,” he said. “The turnout has been good, and growing. It has never been any fewer than 100 people, which for a town this size, is amazing … a lot of folks, in town, they’ll be at home and they’ll hear it and they’ll come on down.”