Riverfest 2008

Taking place over the course a long week from Thursday, August 28th through Sunday, September 7^th, Riverfest is a new Portland signature event to celebrate the Willamette River running through the heart of Portland, and inspire residents to deepen their connection to, and understanding of this working river. Event elments include:

Thursday, August 28^th – Oregon Symphony & Riverfest Opening Remarks

Sunday, August 31^st – Portland Triathlon & Riverfest Opening Day Celebration

Friday, September 5^th – Riverfest Field Trips (Restoration & Wildlife Tours w/School Groups) & Celebrate the River Event (partner with TBA, PCS and/or MusicFest NW)

Saturday & Sunday, September 6-7^th – Dragon Boat Races, Muddy Boots Festival (Community Fair & Lecture Series) & Portland Paddle (Sat. only)

+Related Community Partner Events (co-branded as Riverfest events) (e.g. Sailing Regatta, S. Waterfront/OHSU Event (free tram rides), Breakfast on the Bridge/Bike Tours (SHIFT), Community Mermaid Parade, Cerebral Palsy Event, Active Oregon Adventure Race etc.)

Oregon Symphony & Riverfest Opening Remarks: (tentative)

Lead: Unknown

Partners: OR Symphony

Location(s): Waterfront Park

Day: Thursday, Aug. 28

Time: Evening

Questions: confirm with Symphony leadership, link with marketing and outreach, coordinate for Riverfest opening remarks

Notes:

Portland Triathlon & Riverfest Opening Day Celebration:

Lead: Jeff Henderson

Partners: OR Trout

Location(s): Waterfront Park

Day: Sunday, Aug. 31

Time: 7:30am-10pm (Triathlon 7:30am-Noon, Awards at 12:30pm – in water til 8:30am)

Questions:

Notes: opening day includes the following elements: 1) Community Fair - focused on river safety, water quality, river clean-up, recreation and industry partners etc. – not your usual sustainability suspects but instead focused on river/water related orgs and efforts (11am-5pm) 2) Opening Ceremony/Speakers on the Mainstage –native american elder to perform opening ceremony and keynote speaker (possibly Robert Kennedy Jr., Chet Orloff from the Historical Society etc.) to share thoughts on the importance of healthy rivers and waterways (Noon-2pm) 3) Community Mermaid Parade – community river-themed parade along waterfront esplanade, culminating on mainstage at Waterfront Park during Triathlon Award Ceremonies (11am-12:30pm) 4) Boat Parade on Willamette (2-3pm) – see details below 4) Music and Performance – family friendly music that doubles as celebration for Triathlon participants and Riverfest goers, ongoing announcements about Riverfest events happening throughout the week (2-10pm) 5) Free/Discount Water Tours on Willamette (9am-5pm)

Notes:

-Jerry talked with… Andy Moss Willamette Jet Boats, hold 60ppl, $5/tour, 30min trips til 11am – also talked to 4-5 other groups…

-Steph and Sara to lead community mermaid/river themed parade along waterfront park similar to Coney island mermaid parade or Olympia procession of the species

-Dragonboats open to hosting river tours

-independently produced – ‘Ride to the River’ hosted by Bud at Cerebal Palsey…

-roses to river (rose parade to riverfest)

Boat Parade: Organized boat parade on Willamette River, boats parade in like-groups (sailboats, motorboats, ‘working’ boats, tugboats, yachts, art boats, etc.). Link Columbia River Yachting Association with local artists for creation of ‘art boats’ – provide matching funds of $500/boat with prizes for best in category!

Lead: Jerry, Columbia River Yachting Association

Partners: Jerry from Columbia River Yachting Association, Trey from OR Marine Board, Ken McCarty from Columbia Crossings + Artistic Community

Location: in development

Day: Sunday, August 31

Time: 2-3pm

Questions: start/end point, staging area, route

Notes:

Riverfest Field Trips: field based restoration and wildlife observation activities with school groups

Lead: OR Trout

Partners: WRK, OMSI, BES, Audubon, SOLV, Lower Columbia River Estuary… (Chris Hathaway – Giant Canoes), JCWC, Columbia Slough Watershed Council, City Repair

Location(s): Oaks Bottom, Willamette Park, Kelly Point Park, Columbia Slough

Day: Friday, Sept. 5

Time: 10am-2pm

Budget:

Questions: outreach to schools to coordinate participation

Notes:

Portland Paddle: get people on the water, portland boathouse put-in, three paddle lengths (building off of ‘bridge paddle’ plan – urban loop, ross island and cathedral park/kelley point)

Lead: Amy Morrison, WRK

Partners: WRK, Portlandboathouse, Wasabi, Alder Creek Kayak, Portland Kayak, Sportcraft Marina, Audubon, Greenspaces Institute, OR Trout, SOLV, Portland Harbor Clean-up Citizen Advisory Group, Oregon Ocean Paddle (OOPS)

Location(s): Portland Boathouse Dock

Day: Saturday, Sept. 6th

Time: 10am-3pm

Questions: river safety, coordination with water taxis, coordination with restoration & wildlife tours, Dragonboat race route (along westside river from Riverplace to Hawthorne Bridge 500m, 45-50 teams with 25ppl in each team, Sat & Sun, 8 boats in water, 4 racing, 4 on deck, 8am-5pm)

Notes: 200-250ppl in past years…

Muddy Boots Festival: (tentative)

Lead: Julie Gefroh, Muddy Boots Coordinator

Partners: Phillip St. Neri Church, Muddy Boot Organizers

Location: Division & 16^th, Phillip St. Neri Church

Day: Saturday-Sunday September 6-7^th

Time:

Questions: confirm ability to shift theme from ‘food’ to ‘rivers/water’ and interest in being co-branded as part of Riverfest!!

Notes:

Celebrate the River: (tentative)

100-500ppl, includes VIP/special invite component, music/film/theater on the water

Lead: Tim at PCS

Partners: TBA, PCS, MusicFest NW

Location: in development

Day: Friday Sept. 5^th or Saturday September 6^th

Time: evening

Questions: Confirm with Tim re: lead, contact Erin at TBA

Notes: safety, permits from Coast Guard for performance on water, barge partner might be Working Waterfront Coalition (industry sponsor – possibly Zydell)