RivahFest Marine Events and Displays Saturday, June 18 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
		More exciting attractions at RivahFest 2009! Saturday June 18 promises to be an exciting and interesting day by the Rivah! Starting at the top of Prince Street, visitors can browse the Arts, Antiques & Crafts booths, stop for a bite or two at The Tastes of Tappahannock, make their way to the Beer Garden and main music entertainment stage then towards the Rivah through the Marine displays . The Rotary Crab Race Located on Water Lane, at the junction of Virginia Street, Tappahannock’s First Crab Race sponsored by The Tappahannock-Essex Rotary club. The live crab races start at 10:00 AM and runs as long as they have energy, refreshed by rotating visits to their crab trap in the Rappahannock River. Children will be delighted to choose a numbered crab and watch the exciting 7 crabby contestants line up - in a sideways crabby style - at the starting gate. Urged on by occassional water pistol squirtsthe crabs race to the finish to win a small prize - there is a entry fee of $1.00 per race. You may bring your own crab but only amateur crabs may enter! Rappahannock River Catfish Fishing Contest The RivahFest Rappahannock River Catfish Contest Fishing tournament opens at 7 AM and runs to 2 PM The June Parker Marina is Catfish Headquarters, a five minute walk from RivahFest - Prize money this year totals over $1,000 and will be awarded at the end of the Tournament for all fish weighed in by 2:00 p.m. in three categories: In the Adult category. First prize largest catfish $500, Second prize catfish $250, Third prize largest catfish $100. In the Youth (12 & under) category, first prize largest catfish $100, second prize catfish $75, third prize catfish $25. New this year, the RivahFest Special Prize for the Smallest catfish under 1 lb. $75. Entry fee for each boat is $100 if pre-registered, $125 on the day of the event. For more details and to pre-register your entry go to Contest Entry Forms. The Captain Thomas Cruise Take a cruise on the Rappahannock River and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Captain Thomas. This cruise is scheduled to depart at 5:00 p.m. for a one hour cruise on the Rappahannock River - boarding starts at 4:30 p.m. Departure is from the pier on Hoskins Creek on the South side of the Bridge on Route 17/360. There is a small charge of $5 per person and free for children under 5. Tickets may be bought at boarding time. The Captain Thomas has an enclosed cabin, air conditioned, snack bar, restrooms, U.S. Coast Guard licensed for 150 passengers. Marine Displays Five boat dealers from the local areas will be displaying their crafts - Wheelan's. Jett Marine, Garrett's Marine, Haynes and Mid-Atlantic will feature over 25 boats on the St. Margaret's campus on the Gilchrist hockey field on Virginia Street. Over two dozen displays will be in the Maritime Display. Check out the antique boat display manned by local boat owners exhibiting a collection of vintage classic powerboats including a Chris-Craft - admire the mahogany finish and original inboards! Virginia Marine Resource Commission river patrol will open their state fair booth and tell you about the role of their agency and their activities on the Rappahannock River, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science from the University of William & Mary will bring you up to date on their studies and research to keep us all in tune with our local river ecology. The US Coast Guard Sea Partners booth will offer info on its environmental education and outreach program focused on communities at large to develop community awareness of maritime pollution issues and to improve compliance with marine environmental protection laws and regulations. Also appearing at RivahFest will be the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Coast guard Auxiliary safety and boaters info booth, Garrett's Marina Inc. will have the latest Key West or Salt Water fishing boat on show, Mid-Atlantic Marine is displaying the latest jet-skis, and, keep a sharp look-out for the Coast Guard Milford Haven “Aids to Navigation Team” specializing in buoy maintenance who be on the hand to show you their 21 foot buoy tender #21530. Harborside Storage will on hand with information about their new boat motel storage facility at Garrett’s Marina just 10 miles down the Rappahannock River at buoy #19. RivahFest has something for all the family to enjoy a day in Tappahannock by the Rivah!
			Locate Marine Events on Water Lane
	Web page last updated: April 18, 2008 [Click here to report a correction or new information for this web page]