Here in the River Cities of Clinton, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois, we are one community joined by bridges and by our love for the Mighty Mississippi. In the winter, we eagle watch. In the summer, we boat. When it’s beautiful, we walk and bike. When the temperature doesn’t cooperate, we stay in our cars and have lunch next to the river. Don’t know where to start? Here’s what locals do along the river! 

Go For a Ride

Rental bikes are available for $1 an hour at multiple locations along the river front in Clinton. (We hope to be adding a bike location on the Fulton side mid-2024!) A 10-mile loop will take you north to gorgeous Eagle Point Park, where you can find hiking trails, a stone castle you can climb, and expansive views of Iowa’s widest portion of the Mississippi River. Bike rentals are available seasonally, generally from May through October. 

Sunshine Serenade
The Showboat Theatre

Be part of the river’s history in this uniquely fantastic theatre, housed in a historic riverboat! Professional stagecraft is here every summer, with cast and crew from the Actors Equity Guild, as well as local experts. The 2024 season will be bringing you high energy singable hits all summer! Shows are Friday and Saturday nights, as well as matinees on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Festival Fun

So many events and festivals take place on our riverfronts! In Fulton, catch Dutch Days the first weekend of May, and celebrate our windmill and Dutch heritage. Clinton’s Riverview Park is the home of June’s annual Tailgate N Tallboys festival, with 2024 headliners Jelly Roll, Baily Zimmerman, and Shinedown, plus many more. In August you can catch Christian music at the annual Bound for the Kingdom festival. And autumn is the perfect time for the Fulton Fall Fest (first weekend of October) and Clinton’s Riverview Bacon & Brew Fest. 

Candlelight Inn 

Before or after your show, stop by the Candlelight for dinner or drinks. Famous for their Chicken George and river views! Every table has a view of the Mississippi, or you can enjoy the gorgeous outdoor deck. 

Boat & Float

The Clinton Marina has 30 courtesy slips for overnight berth and ship store customers, all in a gorgeous setting. Guests get key fob access to laundry and shower facilities. Walk to Riverview Park and catch live music, a festival, or a minor league Lumberkings Baseball game!

Sunshine Serenade, Mississippi River
The Freedom Rock

Every county in Iowa has a Freedom Rock, a large boulder designed to honor our nation’s veterans. The artist, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, paints each of these rocks with murals usually depicting local connections to the armed services. Clinton County’s rock is prominently displayed on our riverfront, near the Showboat Theatre.

De Immigrant Windmill

On Fulton’s riverfront you can’t miss the nearly 100-foot-tall authentic Dutch windmill. Originally manufactured and assembled in the Netherlands, the mill was then painstakingly disassembled, shipped across the world, and lovingly rebuilt on the edge of the Mississippi River. The mill is fully operational and if the wind is right, you might even find them grinding grain on the day you visit!

Selfie Stations

Local artist Tracy Frahm designed and manufactured three giant selfie-stations for usage during the city’s 2021 visit by RAGBRAI, with 20,000 bicyclists converging at our boat docks. Two of these stations can be found along the riverfront, and one is in Riverview Park past the Lubber’s Fountain. Tag us in your selfie and remember, “It isn’t a frame, it’s a Frahm.” 

Join us on the East Coast of Iowa and chase the sunshine down the Mississippi River!