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The recently renamed Showboat Musical Festival will be held Saturday, July 7 through Saturday, July 14, with six nights of amphitheater concerts kicking off Monday, July 9.

Tri-County Citizen readers can read about the announcement on the newspaper's website, www.tricountycitizen.com on Tuesday, with a complete story following in the April 15 edition.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, April 14 at 9 a.m. at the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce office, 218 N. Front Street. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.chesaningshowboat.org and at all Star Ticket Plus outlets. Phone sales will begin at noon on Sunday, April 15 - call (989) 845-3056 to place ticket orders.

2007 Showboat Committee General Chairperson Mary Kay Hoerner believes music fans will be pleased when they hear the line-ups for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The Monday, Wednesday and Friday headliners - "more great acts" she said - will be announced in upcoming weeks.

"We are all very excited about this year's schedule. We have something for everyone - every age range and musical interest," she said. "We really diversified the line-up."

Showboat festivities will start one day earlier this year, with the Praise Day in the Park moved to Saturday, July 7. The all-day contemporary Christian music festival will be held in Showboat Park, which will serve as the hub for many of the week's attractions.

The popular Riverbend hospitality tent, Rock on the River Battle of the Bands and the daily arts and crafts show will return to the park for a second year, along with a small carnival to boost the festival atmosphere.

Late last year organizers made the switch to a new booking agent in an effort to build a profitable concert series, a goal that has evaded Showboat in recent years. Kevin Meyer of the Meridian Entertainment Group has brought a fresh approach to the planning process, Hoerner said.

Meridian Entertainment is best known for producing Lansing's Common Ground festival, considered one of the nation's premier outdoor music festivals. Other Meridian clients include the National Cherry Festival, Holland Tulip Festival and the Michigan State Fair.

Hoerner said traditionalists shouldn't worry that the event is losing its unique hometown flavor. The committee is bringing back time-honored Showboat week attractions, including Sunday's Showboat Parade, arts and crafts show, athletic tournaments, the Rock on the River Battle of the Bands, Showboat Park camping and other festival mainstays.

"We've got some changes in store, but change is good. We've been working very hard to put together a successful show, but we will always remain true to the Showboat identity. That won't change," she said. "We hope everyone will be patient and work with us to build a stronger Showboat."

For more information on the Showboat Music Festival, call (989) 845-3055.