In the early 20th century, the municipal improvements of the
City Beautiful movement included construction of the riverfront steps and esplanade on
Riverfront Park as well as the
Dock Street Dam to allow better river recreation.
Vance McCormick as
mayor advocated river festivals, and the city held boat parades and galas from 1907 to 1915; a large aquatic carnival in 1915 celebrated the city's achievements. Business rival Edward J. Stackpole Sr. of the
Harrisburg Telegraph stole the idea the following summer, enlisting councilman
M. Harvey Taylor and prominent banker George W. Reily to help implement an annual aquatic festival to generate revenue for the city and increase civic pride toward the city and the Susquehanna River. The name was chosen from a city-wide competition, where "Kipona" was proposed by Dr. Hugh Hamilton of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies, who later composed a song entitled "Ki-po-nah". The Greater Harrisburg Navy organized it, and an estimated 50,000 attended. There were cancellations since its revival in 1941-45, and 2020. During the 2025 festival, a motorist drove a minivan through the crowd, resulting in multiple injuries. ==Attractions==