Fourth Annual Waterfront Festival and Cardboard Boat Race

The fourth annual Waterfront Festival along the Chester River is Saturday, September 25th, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM in Wilmer Park. Sailing excursions, kayaking, river cruises and tours of the College's new 46-foot research vessel, Callinectes, are all free and open to the public.

Popular attractions from last year return, including pony rides, the Horn Point Lab Touch Tank, Scales and Tales, Native American artifacts, and demonstrations of pre-historic fishing technology with Dr. Bill Schindler from Washington College. A competitive tug-o-war tournament, more games in the park, wooden boats and the Phillips Environmental Center "Fish Mobile" round out the entertainment. There is also a fish fry and funnel cake lady, home made ice cream, pit beef sandwiches and other concession stands. Prior to the festival, Sultana Projects is offering a 10 AM paddling trip with Chris Cerino and a 11 AM sail aboard Sultana. (To register for those paid activities, call 410-778-5954.)

The free open air festival offers a family-friendly chance to come down by the riverside, try your hand sailing or kayaking, take a cruise along Chestertown's historic waterfront, enjoy the music of Chester River Runoff, learn about the river's history and environment, and cheer on your favorite raft in the cardboard boat regatta.

"The regatta is attracting a wider circle of boat builders," says festival coordinator JoAnn Fairchild. "People are getting craftier and more competitive" now that the race is open to residents of Kent & Queen Anne's counties. Initially the regatta was intended as a one-time only event in celebration of Washington College's 225 anniversary (in 2007), she notes, "but it was so popular that the Center for Environment & Society has sponsored it every year since." For information, contact www.ces.washcoll.edu, jfairchild2@washcoll.edu or call (410) 810-7161.

2010 Schedule of Events

* 10:00 AM Sultana kayaking on Radcliffe Creek
* 12:00 Waterfront Festival starts
* 12-4 PM Boating, sailing, and kayaking on the Chester River, live music by Chester River Runoff, games, watershed ecology exhibits, and food vendors
* 12:30 Cardboard boat captains must sign in at the check-in table in Wilmer Park
* 1:00 Pony rides
* 2:15 Cardboard boat Captains’ meeting
* 2:20 Crew meetings and team photos
* 2:30 Parade of cardboard boats
* 3:00 Cardboard boat regatta
* 3:30 WC rowing team exhibition
* 3:45 Tug-of-war
* 4:00 Awards and 50/50 drawing

CES in What's Up? Eastern Shore

WC in the News

CES gets some appreciation in What's Up? Eastern Shore for their work connecting people to the waterfront. The annual Cardboard Boat Regatta and Waterfront Festival will take place on Saturday, September 25, from 12-4 in Wilmer Park.