News and Events
Boating and Bluegrass: Waterfront Festival Celebrates Chester River and 225th Birthday of Washington College
Chestertown, MD, September 12, 2007 — The Waterfront Festival, an event celebrating Washington College's 225th anniversary, will be held along the Chester River at Lelia Hynson Pavilion and Wilmer Park on Saturday, September 22, from 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Enjoy the sailfest, bluegrass music by Chester River Runoff, "survivor" kayak competition, wakeboarding demos, tug-of-war tournament, and the first annual cardboard boat regatta, followed by a picnic and steel drum band.
"Survivor" kayaking features a figure 8 course where competitors try to tip over their opponents without causing bodily harm. But they will get wet in the process of navigating! A cardboard boat regatta challenges participants to build a human-powered boat made of corrugated cardboard that is capable of completing a lap around a 300-meter course. Points are garnered by wearing costumes appropriate for the theme of the vessel and creativity is highly valued. Brave mariners will be competing for $1,125 in prizes:
- Cape Horn Award—1st around the course—$300
- Captain Cook Award—2nd best circumnavigator—$150
- Robert Peary Award—3rd across the finish line—$75
- Horatio Nelson Award—best overall design, name, costumes—$300
- Cutty Sark Award—best design & construction—$100 gift card to Subway
- Kon-Tiki Award—best theme & costumes—$100 gift card to Old Mill Cafe
- Linda Greenlaw Award—most team spirit—$50 gift card to Imperial Hotel
- Titanic Award—spectacular sinking—$50 gift card to Play It Again Sam
Immediately following the activities on land and water, there's a picnic in the park with the music of Ewabo, a Caribbean Steel Drum band. The music is free for all to enjoy. Dinner is free for students on the meal plan (no need to r.s.v.p. but student ID is required). The picnic cost is $10 for faculty, staff, alumni, community members and friends of the College. Reservations must be made in advance. Please contact broy2@washcoll.edu by September 17.
In case of foul weather, waterfront activities will regrettably be cancelled but Chester River Runoff will perform at the Student Center in Hodson Hall. The picnic and Steel Drum band will move to the Dining Hall on the main campus. For information visit http://ces.washcoll.edu "oar" call 410-778-7295.
Events are sponsored by the Washington College 225 Anniversary Committee, Admissions, Student Affairs, and the Center for Environment & Society. The Center works to instill a conservation ethic by connecting people to the land and the water.
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782