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July 12 from 9 am to 5 pm
Tapawingo Park, West Lafayette
Picture yourself, along with a group of friends and / or business associates... even family members... reviving an ancient pastime practiced by some of the individuals who were instrumental in settling this, the midsection of North America. You have the opportunity to race the great longboat against another department of your organization, perhaps a business competitor.
Riverfest, a celebration of the majesty and might of the Wabash, offers you a chance to paddle in voyageur canoes as a friendly challenge, as a team building exercise, as a morale booster for your staff, as a unique family outing, or just for the fun of it.
Consider issuing a challenge to the other team! If you bring in a ready-made match, we will even come up with a traveling trophy you can fight for on an annual basis. |
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Riverfest was begun in 2001 to promote greater awareness of the role the mighty Wabash River has played in the history and culture of our community and to highlight the natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and other advantages it offers us today, Originally featuring dragon boat races, the event moved to voyageur canoes in 2007 to better connect our participants with this rich history.
In addition, Riverfest features food, music and plenty of activities for younger children. A special feature is the presence of various environmental groups with displays and information on responsible use of the river and other natural resources.
Riverfest is intended to be a family friendly event. Admission is free so no one will have to miss this opportunity to spend a peaceful and pleasant day on the banks of our Wabash River.
Riverfest also offers a unique opportunity for you and your friends to become "voyageurs for a day", and paddle the majestic longboat in the very waters it cruised so many decades ago.
So join us in 2008, and consider getting your own team together. But watch out for those pesky beavers, they're always looking for payback.
Riverfest 2008 will be held on Saturday, July 12. We hope you will be here with us to celebrate the Wabash and honor it for bringing us together here in this beautiful land.
Enter your team today!
The part of North America in which we live was once a vast wilderness of mostly forest, almost impenetrable by anyone other than the Native Americans who had lived here for centuries. The demand for quality furs, however, brought European trappers in search of the abundant beaver and other fur bearing animals that were so plentiful in this area. These trappers were dependent on the services of a hale and hardy breed of wilderness pioneer, the voyageur, to provide transport of supplies in and pelts out from this densely wooded land. Those pelts were taken along our waterways to Canada and out the St. Lawrence en route to markets throughout Europe. The Voyageurs worked hard and they played hard. They ate, they drank, they sang songs, they played competitive games, and they raced their canoes. Today you can see replicas of the Voyageur canoes being raced on the Wabash once again by trappers and traders, but by bankers, firefighters, city workers, and many others who love to compete and who love the river. You could be one of them!
Remember... You paddle, you don't row. The course is two heats of approximately 300 yards each, right out in front of Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette and you will be on the water about 40 minutes.
Entre fee is $250/team
For more information, contact event chair Gene Hatke at erhatke@purdue.edu
Admission to the event is FREE, so your friends and family
don't have to pay to see you paddle.
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