CEDAR FALLS - A choir festival on April 26 will kick off a season of music and entertainment at the Riverview Conference Center, 439 N. Division St.

The third annual Riverview Choir Festival will begin at 6 p.m. in the tabernacle. The event will feature area choirs performing a variety of religious music.

"The main emphasis there is to give recognition and exposure to some of the local church choir groups," said Randy Pfile, member of the planning and promotions committee for the Riverview Conference Center.

"This is the way we can offer the Cedar Valley an opportunity to get a flavor of … many of the different church choirs in the area," Pfile added.

The event will feature many returning groups, such as the Mount Carmel Baptist Gospel Choir with Bridgette Whitfield and Wilma Hodges directing.

Vocal choirs from Kimball Avenue United Methodist Church in Waterloo, directed and accompanied by Carita Pfaltzgraff, and Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, directed by Mike Augsburger, are also scheduled to sing.

Also scheduled is a performance by the bell choir at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls.

The Interfaith Men's Chorus, directed by Wayne Chamberlain, will round out the evening's entertainment.

Jean Kruse will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

The festival is free and open to the public. An offering will be collected.

Organizers with Riverview Conference Center plan another summer of Gospel music and more.

The nationally acclaimed Booth Brothers will return in July. Promoters of the Cedar Valley Sing also hope the Blackwood Brothers, new to Riverview, will draw a big crowd.

Next season, Pfile hopes to add more contemporary Christian artists.

Events scheduled for Riverview's 2008 season include:

May 30, 7 p.m., Legacy Five in concert.

July 14, 7 p.m., Journey Bound in concert.

July 15, 7 p.m., Forgiven Quartet in concert.

July 16, 7 p.m., Shiloh in concert.

July 17, 7 p.m., Higher Power in concert.

July 18, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Cedar Valley Sing. Gospel groups featuring the Blackwood Brothers.

July 19, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Cedar Valley Sing. Gospel Groups featuring the Booth Brothers.

July 26 to Aug. 3, Cedar Falls Bible Conference.

Sept. 20, 6 p.m., Riverview Music Showcase; local Gospel groups.

Oct. 11, 6 p.m., Christian comedian Ken Davis.

For additional information, contact Riverview Conference Center at (319) 268-0787, or visit www.riverviewconferencecenter.com.

Contact Karen Heinselman

at (319) 291-1581

or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.