10/30/2026
Riverside Arts Weekend has been bringing art vendors to the village’s downtown for a weekend of excitement since 2008, but if the community doesn’t step up soon, organizers say the beloved institution might not make it to its 20th year.
While 2026 saw a successful Riverside Arts Weekend in June, members of the senior planning committee say they’re reaching the end of their ropes to continue making the event happen year after year.
“We face ongoing challenges with fundraising, volunteer engagement and attendance that raise serious questions about our ability to sustain RAW in the years ahead,” Maggie White said on behalf of the organization at the Riverside village board meeting on Oct. 15. “Our committee worked hard to bring RAW back after the pandemic and deliver a successful 2026 weekend, but putting on a successful event is not the same as having a sustainable organization. We’re reaching a point where we may not be able to continue RAW without greater community support.”
White and Lisa Janunas, both members of the senior planning committee, and RAW President Charlotte Zia told the Landmark that RAW takes many months of behind-the-scenes planning, marketing and fundraising to bring to fruition what some residents may take for granted as an annual institution in the village.
Zia said the work for one year’s Riverside Arts Weekend begins shortly after the previous year’s ends, with the volunteer organizers reviewing what worked or didn’t before launching into fundraising and reviewing artist applications for the next one.
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