Published: June 09, 2009 09:59 pm      

River festival to feature food, contests, parade

The Ronceverte River Festival gets under way Thursday evening with carnival rides and food from 6-10 p.m. All of the activities take place on Island Park.

According to Barbara Sweetwood, a longtime festival volunteer, the highlight of the weekend is the Great Rubber Duck Race, which will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, with a flotilla of yellow ducks bobbing down the Greenbrier River.

“And while you’re waiting for the ducks to come down the river, you can buy a strawberry shortcake from the Friends of the Ronceverte Library,” Sweetwood invited. She said 12,000 strawberries have been purchased for this year’s sale, one of the group’s major fundraisers.

The grand prize for the rubber duck race is the winner’s choice of $14,000 toward a new Buick or Chevrolet at Bill Lewis Motors in Lewisburg or $10,000 cash plus a $500 bonus if you are present for the drawing. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased until 3:30 p.m. Saturday under the tree at the amphitheater.

“One thing that hasn’t gotten much publicity is that the city police are going to fingerprint children,” Sweetwood noted. “They’ll have a trailer set up at the park entrance, just as you come across the bridge.”

Friday’s main event is the annual grand parade at 7 p.m., followed by the crazy legs contest at 8 p.m. and a performance by the Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band at 8:30 p.m.

Early risers will enjoy breakfast served by Trinity United Methodist Church starting at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday’s events include an all-day antique tractor show, a fishing derby for children, the “Fire on the River” chili cook-off at 10 a.m., and performances at the amphitheater by both Grandstaff and the Good Time Express Band.

Sunday is nearly as busy as Saturday, with the “Run the River” poker run at noon, the “Thunder on the River” mud bog at 1 p.m. and Irish road bowling at 2 p.m. Gloryland Quartet will perform in the evening, and a grand fireworks finale at 9:30 p.m. will cap the weekend in fine style.

No vehicles are permitted on the island during the festival. Visitors may park on Monroe Avenue and Railroad Avenue, both a short walk to Island Park.