By Amanda Anastasia
Elm Staff Writer
With cooler weather quickly approaching, many students are disappearing inside, favoring studying and other indoor activities over Frisbee or tanning on the green. For those individuals who are not ready for the warm weather to be gone, the fourth annual Waterfront Festival will provide an opportunity for some additional fun in the sun.
Taking place this year on September 25 from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Waterfront Festival is a favorite amongst students, professors, staff, and members of the local community. With music, kayaking, sailing, and countless other activities, the Festival is the perfect excuse for the community to come together to celebrate the outdoors, and especially the lovely views of the Chester River from Wilmer Park, where the festival is being held.
Possibly the most well-known event at the Festival is the cardboard boat regatta, which has drawn larger crowds each year. Pictures from last year’s regatta entrants can be found on the Center for Environment & Society’s website. Festival Coordinator JoAnn Fairchild gives some tips on her favorite event of the day, the cardboard boat regatta.
“It’s a good idea to start building your boat at least a week or two in advance. Remember to seal the open corrugations with caulk and get a coat of paint on your cardboard. Every year there’s a crew that enters at the last minute – no caulk, no primer – and they sink. They go down fast, which means they do not get the Titantic award for most spectacular sinking,” Fairchild said.
When asked what her favorite award given at the regatta, Fairchild said it is the Linda Greenlaw Award for the most team spirit. “She’s a real live swordfish captain and lobsterwoman. There aren’t many women captains, past or present, so she’s an inspiration to us all.”
Additional activities this year will include pony rides, a demonstration on prehistoric net-making, tours of the Callinectes, and tug-o-war. The band Chester River Runoff will perform live music throughout the Festival, which is free and open to the public.
This is one experience that new students and visiting families do not want to miss. A detailed list of events and activities can be found on Washington College’s website under the calendar of events.