Get ready to mark up your calendars — there’s a lot in store for Riverboat Days in Terrace this year.
Beginning the August long weekend, the festival will again bring together a huge variety of activities, from live music to drag racing and sports tournaments over the course of 10 days.
“We have a big Riverboat Days this year,” said Andrew Webber, advertising coordinator with Terrace Riverboat Days Society. “With two art festivals and over 70 events… it will certainly be one of the largest.”
The events schedule was released July 1, featuring both old favourites and brand new postings.
Check out the inaugural Skeena Salmon Art Fest with their gala opening and juried art show on August 3, featuring newly painted murals downtown and carving demonstrations throughout Riverboat Days.
The Terrace & District Arts Council Summer Arts Festival is back this year and will host several artsy events between August 7-10, including a tie-dying workshop and oil painting demonstrations.
“Those two festivals alone are 16 out of 70 events, so lots of arts and culture,” Webber said. “I think it’s wonderful because we’ve been kind of lacking that for a few years.”
Other new events include the Terrace Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) soapbox derby, a fundraiser for community programs on August 5. Race around soapbox cars donated for the day from NASKARZ, a youth program in Vancouver, and watch teams battle it out for bragging rights.
The Skeena Valley Rotary Club, along with Coast Mountain School District 82, will be hosting a Starfish Backpack fundraiser on opening night to kickstart the launch of a program to help hungry students in local schools.
And on the second Saturday, the King of the Mountain Foot Race will return to Riverboat Days, starting at the Sportsplex and continuing nine kilometres up, over and around the Terrace Mountain.
READ MORE: First Riverboat weekend a blast
Longtime crowd-pleasers like the Legion Parade, the fireworks over Ferry Island, Beach Blast Volleyball, Skeena Valley Country Music Festival and “Hot August Nites” Drag Racing will be also back again. Then as per tradition, the Captain and Queen for Riverboat Days will be Bob Park and Clara Dalfouco, two long-term contributors to the Terrace community.
To top it off, a flashback to the 1980s with five-time Juno-nominated rockers Platinum Blonde, headlining Concerts in the Park at George Little Park on August 4, 7 p.m., free of charge.
“That’s almost the hallmark of River Boat Days, it’s all about affordability,” Webber said. “Most events are free or they’re minimal cost to get involved, which I think is what makes it so beautiful. Doesn’t matter your income level, you’re going to be entertained for a whole week.”
For a full list of events, check out the schedule below:
2018 Riverboat Days Schedule of Events - August 3-12 by Anonymous WUrl0YG on Scribd
brittany@terracestandard.com
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