Yankton Riverboat Days

2025 Riverboat Days Entertainment!

The Yankton Riverboat Days Committee is excited to announce the bands playing on the Explorer’s Credit Union Main Stage, August 15 & 16 . Friday night’s lineup will include headlining rock band DOROTHY and The Lugnuts.

Saturday’s lineup will include headlining country artist Chancey Williams, BoomTown Saints and Elizabeth Jo.

Friday’s headliner, DOROTHY lead by frontwoman Dorothy Martin brings gusto, grit, and glory back to hard rock. She has unassumingly blazed her own trail with sold out tours, major collaborations, and over 1 billion streams already in the rearview mirror. Her vision really catches fire on the group’s fourth fulllength album, The Way [Roc Nation], introduced by the single “Tombstone Town” [feat. Slash].

Saturday’s headliner Chancey Williams is a Saddle Bronc athlete-turned neotraditional country music sensation. As one of only two artists (along with Chris LeDoux) to both compete in the rodeo and perform on the main stage at Cheyenne Frontier Days and the only singer/songwriter to be endorsed by CINCH®. The northeastern Wyoming native has toured the nation, taking the stage ahead of headliners Toby Keith, Cody Johnson, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and Parker McCollum, performing at a sold-out Ryman Auditorium, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, as well as headlining at The National Finals Rodeo.

Starting the night for DOROTHY on Friday is The Lugnuts. Hometown favorites, The Lugnuts cut their teeth in honky-tonks before heading to Hollywood where they performed at the famed Viper Room. Several albums and a tour with ZZ Top followed, including performances with the Charlie Daniels Band and Gretchen Wilson.

Opening for Chancey Williams on Saturday are Elizabeth Jo and Boomtown Saints.

Small town South Dakota native, Elizabeth Jo’s music incorporates classic country with modern influences to create a sound that is uniquely her own. Music Row Magazine’s 2024 “Independent Artist of the Year” and CDX Nashville’s 2025 “Group of the Year”

BoomTown Saints are known for their electrifying live performances. Chris Ramos and Ben Chism captivate audiences with their raw talent and undeniable stage presence. You will not want to miss this performance.

DOROTHY / Friday Night Headliner

Projecting a full-bodied voice with every inch of her being, Dorothy Martin kindles a spark of hope into a flame as bright as the sun itself.

The Budapest, Hungary-born maverick singer, songwriter, performer, and frontwoman of the Los Angeles-based eponymous band DOROTHY brings gusto, grit, and glory back to hard rock, exuding superstar-size confidence coupled with the quiet resolve of an old school Western anti-hero.

She has unassumingly blazed her own trail with sold out tours, major collaborations, and over 1 billion streams already in the rearview.

DOROTHY arrived with the force of a hurricane back in 2016, serving up the full-length debut ROCKISDEAD. Surging on DSPs, “Raise Hell” reeled in over 85 million Spotify streams followed by “Wicked Ones” with 77 million Spotify streams.

The band organically attracted a diehard global fanbase with 28 Day in the Valley [2018] and Gifts From The Holy Ghost [2022]. KERRANG! hailed the latter as “a hot-blooded rock ‘n’ roll record through and through,” and RIFF raved, “Holy Ghost serves as a triumphant battle cry and a return to form.” Perhaps, Outburn put it best, “it’s her most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet.”

Simultaneously, the singer took flight as the rare dynamo equally at home on a track with Slash and Nita Strauss of Alice Cooper or Staind and Scott Stapp of Creed. She even notably dueted with Stapp at the Grand Ole Opry. However, her vision really catches fire on the group’s fourth full-length album, The Way [Roc Nation], introduced by the single “Tombstone Town” [feat. Slash].

The Lugnuts / Friday Night Opener

The Lugnuts are brothers Ken And Zach Kasik and Drummer Hadley Moody. They grew up in Yankton, SD, playing Honky-Tonks at the tender age of 11, and have been burning up the road ever since.

In the summer of 2003 they relocated to Los Angeles, California to expand their ever growing fan base. Together the three piece have played all the Hollywood hot spots (The Viper Room, House Of Blues Sunset and The Key Club to name a few).

The Lugnuts have grown amazingly over last few years opening as direct support for everyone from rock n' roll legends ZZ Top to Top 40 Country artist James Otto.

The band creates Southern Rock, Honky-Tonk Sounds with a South Dakota country twist that makes it all their own.

The Lugnuts, hailed by many as America’s #1 party band, are out to show off their dedication to making quality soul filled American music...

Chancey Williams / Saturday Night Headliner

Saddle Bronc athlete-turned neo-traditional country music sensation Chancey Williams, has gone from competing on horseback to performing on center stage. As one of only two artists (along with Chris LeDoux) to both compete in the rodeo and perform on the main stage at Cheyenne Frontier Days and the only singer/songwriter to be endorsed by CINCH®, Williams is the next authentic cowboy of country music. The northeastern Wyoming native has toured the nation, taking the stage ahead of headliners Toby Keith, Cody Johnson, Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and Parker McCollum, performing at a sold-out Ryman Auditorium, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, as well as headlining at The National Finals Rodeo and multiple performances at the Grand Ole’ Opry.

“For us, it’s been a long journey of playing against what was popular in country music, but we just stayed the course,” Williams told People Magazine of staying true to his roots. “I always tell the band, don’t worry about whatever any other artist is doing. We have blinders on.”

Representing the western lifestyle and cowboy mentality in its truest form, Williams’ sound and subject matter has found its time in Nashville’s country scene, as demonstrated on his latest release, sixth studio album One of These Days. One of These Days released to rave reviews, supported by the likes of People, Billboard, Taste of Country, Whiskey Riff, Holler.

Saving Country Music wrote, “If we could wave a magic wand and instantly remake mainstream country music into something much better than what it is today, Chancey Williams and his new album One of These Days would not be a bad wish at all.”

“The time has finally come for Chancey Williams,” declared People Magazine. “Cowboys are cool again"

BoomTown Saints / Saturday Night Opener

Named Music Row Magazine’s 2024 “Independent Artist of the Year” and CDX Nashville “2025 Group of the Year,” as well as Billboard’s “...vying for household name,” BoomTown Saints are taking the country music scene by storm, not only with chart-topping hits but with their electrifying live shows. Chris Ramos and Ben Chism are quickly becoming fan favorites, known for their high-energy performances that captivate audiences from start to finish.

From the moment they hit the stage, their raw talent and undeniable stage presence make it clear that this duo is one to watch. Their debut single, “All Trucks Go To Heaven,” set the stage for even bigger things, quickly winning over fans across the country. Their subsequent radio singles, including “Blacktop Don’t” (12weeks #1 most spun independent song in 2023), “Good Day To Get Gone” (2 weeks at #1 in 2024), and “Heart Breaks You” (2 weeks at #1 in 2024), have solidified their place on country radio.

However, it’s the live performances where BoomTown Saints truly shine—bringing their hits to life with a contagious energy that fans can’t get enough of. Signed to 8 Track Entertainment/ADA Warner Music Group, BoomTown Saints have earned praise from major outlets like Billboard, CMT.com, and Taste of Country.

Their journey began in 2018 when Chris and Ben met at the gym, both initially following different career paths—Chris in healthcare and Ben in medical school. After Ben’s success in the Texas Country Showdown, he made the bold decision to pursue music full time. With Chris’s experience as a songwriter, the duo was formed, and BoomTown Saints was born. Known for their undeniable chemistry and passion for performing, BoomTown Saints have earned a reputation as a duo fans simply cannot forget.

Whether playing intimate venues or large festivals, their energy is infectious, making every show an unforgettable experience. With a growing fan base and a string of chart-topping hits, BoomTown Saints are set to take 2025 by storm as one of country music’s most dynamic and exciting acts.

Elizabeth Jo / Saturday Night Opener

Elizabeth Jo grew up on a farm right outside of Tabor, SD and attended Bon Homme High School.

She was influenced by country music at a young age with influences such as Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood.

She started playing guitar and writing music around the age of twelve. She then went on to get her BSN, RN degree from the University of South Dakota. After graduating college, she decided to make the jump to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her passion of music.

While in Nashville she has played at bars such as Tootsies, Honkytonk Central, Kid Rocks and Rippys on Broadway. She has also recently recorded and released her first single "Ride Away Cowboy" that is streaming on all platforms.

She is excited to get to play for an event that she grew up enjoying and share her passion of country music with Yankton.

Our 2025 Captain & Belle are Barry & Judi O'Connell!

Barry and Judi have lived in Yankton most of their lives. Barry graduated from YHS and from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Judi graduated from Mount Marty High School and Mount Marty College. During this time, Judi started her dance studio in Yankton.

After college, Judi and Barry married and moved back to Yankton to raise their 3 wonderful children: Kerri, Kristi, and Michael. Judi and Barry now have 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and 1 more on the way.

Barry worked for 40 years in industry in Yankton. He is the past president of the Sertoma Club, where he received the Sertoman of the Year Award. He volunteered for many of their events and projects. He was very involved with the Sertoma Free Hearing Program in schools and the building of the Sertoma Baseball Complex. Barry is the past president of AIIE (American Institute of Industrial Engineers) of Northern IA and Eastern SD. Barry has been the backstage, behind-the-scenes support for all of Judi’s Dance productions, recitals, performances throughout the community, and Riverboat Days.

Judi ran her dance studio (Judi's Dance Studio) for 49 years. She believed in sharing the gifts of dance and movement with the community, so her dancers and gymnasts performed for many events in Yankton and the surrounding areas. They danced in the nursing homes, at the hospital ice cream social, at Czech Days, for community arts functions and service organizations, in the mall, at Crazy Days, and of course at Riverboat Days. In fact, the dancers were one of the first groups to perform at RBD 42 years ago and have performed at every RBD since then. Judi started the first RBD Can Can number, which has become a RBD tradition. Dance performances and RBD have gone hand in hand since the beginning; what a wonderful shout out to all of the talented dancers, gymnasts, and teachers of the Yankton area.

Judi is past president of the Yankton Area Arts Association, the Dance Network of South Dakota, and the Yankton Area Concert Association. She is co-founder of the Dakota Dance Association. Currently, she is a board member for the MMU Gregorian Fine Arts Committee. Judi has received various awards including the YAA Award, the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, and the Outstanding Women's Achievement Award. As well, she is in the Fine Arts Hall of Fame at YHS and MMU. Judi is still teaching dance exercise classes 3 times a week. Barry continues to golf and paint.

Barry and Judi are very honored and proud to represent and promote the Yankton Community and Riverboat Days. They hope everyone has a fun and safe celebration. Come join us at Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival!

View Past Captain & Belles

No pets, no bikes, no coolers, no motorized vehicles at Riverside Park.

Riverboat Days Parade

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Parade Information

2025 Captain & Belle

Congratulations to our new Captain and Belle,
Barry and Judi O’Connell!

View Past Captain & Belles

Schedule of Events

So much to see and do this year, you don't want to miss your chance to do them all!

2024 Schedule