MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rick Bastasch

City of Portland Rivers Officer

503-823-0275

rick.bastasch@portlandoregon.gov

www.portlandriverfest.org

 

Portland announces its Third Annual RiverFest Celebration

 

Celebrating the Willamette at RiverFest 2010

 

PORTLAND, Ore., - The Portland river community is excited to host a successful third annual Portland RiverFest 2010 at various locations along the Willamette River, Friday, August 20 - Sunday, August 22.

 

"Having the Willamette minutes away from wherever you live in Portland also means you're just minutes away from some great canoeing or kayaking; fishing; spotting bald eagles, osprey, herons, or beaver; enjoying food and drink on river cruises; or just taking in awesome views of forested hills, sea-going freighters or city lights reflected in the country's 13th largest river. There are lots of Willamettes to experience - just a walk, cycle or ride away. It would be hard to find such a variety of river fun than RiverFest." says Rick Bastasch of the City of Portland 's Office of Healthy Working Rivers.

 

RiverFest allows Portland to celebrate one of the foundations of its economy and community, the Willamette River. Portlanders will get the opportunity to learn about important ecosystems and water health, promote economic activity on the river and enjoy the community with family-fun activities.

 

The celebration will begin on Friday, August 20 with the Endurance Swim/Relay. A full day of activities follows on Saturday, August 21 with opening ceremonies hosted by Commissioner Amanda Fritz starting at 12:30 pm at Waterfront Park. Other events will be held at various locations along the Willamette, ending with "Mamma Mia" playing at South Waterfront's new Caruthers Park (the fun starts at 7 p.m.). The Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon and the 5K Run for the River will conclude the festivities on Sunday, August 22.

 

For more detailed information on the list of events, please visit portlandriverfest.org.

 

Other events during the celebration include the Willamette Endurance Swim and Relay, DragonSports USA races, rides on the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership's Native American big canoes, the Port of Portland tour of Portland's working harbor, Portland Spirit cruises, displays of hand-crafted boats from RiversWest, the U.S. Geological Survey's "science" boat used to sample the river, Family Boat Building, among many others.