The Bachman-Cummings Band took care of business on the Coca-Cola Stage, and the sky above Ross’s Landing blazed as more than 8,700 aerial bombs exploded in Riverbend 2008’s fireworks finale.

Some people came to the riverfront Saturday night for the music, some come for the fireworks, some come for both, but Randy Mann, of Whitwell, Tenn., came Saturday because he had to.

The 27-year-old was a finalist in the drawing for a Toyota Tacoma truck — he entered the contest at a Mapco Mart in Dunlap, Tenn. — and had to be present to win.

“It’s still sinking in,” he said after being selected the winner. “It’s my first time to ever come to Riverbend and my first time to win anything.”

Winning a new truck — “Now I can drop my Focus off at the buy here, pay here place,” he said — is the highlight of this year’s festival for Mr. Mann, but others have high points of their own to remember.

“ZZ Top was my favorite, but I’ve pretty much liked them all,” Mark Freeman, of Rossville, said as he sat in the shade, staking claim to a grassy spot near the Chattanooga Pier.

Mr. Freeman said he came early to find a spot with views of the main stage and across the Tennessee River to Renaissance Park, where the fireworks were ignited.

“You’ve got the band, and you’ve gotta have fireworks,” he said. “Life is good.”

David Robinson, 53, and his son Marshall, 14, arrived while the sun was still high in the sky, hoping to find choice spots to see Bachman-Cummings.

“He listens to all my stuff,” Mr. Robinson said. “I drag him to see my music, he drags me to see his.”

The teen was familiar with the Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, who fronted The Guess Who, a band with 1970s hits that include “She’s Come Undone,” “No Time,” “These Eyes” and “No Sugar Tonight.”

The Bachman-Cummings Band kicked off their set with “American Woman” and followed with a tribute to rock ’n’ roll legend Bo Diddley, who died June 2, by playing “Who Do You Love?”

Mark Igou, of Athens, Ala., and Rose Gienapp, of Rossville, were as interested in viewing fireworks as the main stage, but arrived early to assure good seats for both.

In the shade of a beach umbrella, the two sat alone amid row after row of empty camp chairs facing the Coke Stage.

“We’ll camp out in the sun for a while to see the fireworks,” Mr. Igou said, adding that nearly every night has been good.

“I took vacation just for Riverbend,” Ms. Gienapp said. “It has been worth it.”

Riverbend 2008 ended with a glittering show of sparklers, aerial bursts and submersibles synchronized to music from the festival’s headline performers — something that has become the traditional end to the nine-day event.

Even before the first rocket shot into the sky, Mr. Mann said, “I kinda like Riverbend now.”

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