51st annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta kicks-off Friday
BAINBRIDGE – The 51st annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta is set to kick-off Friday with the festivities continuing through Monday.
Home to the longest single-day flat water canoe race in the world, the The General Clinton Canoe Regatta begins at the source of the Susquehanna River on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, finishing at General Clinton Park in Bainbridge.
An estimated 3,000 amateur, professional and Olympic hopefuls will participate in the races over the course of the weekend, and $25,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded in total.
There are more than 50 races in one- or two-person categories throughout the weekend. According to co-chair John Harmon, any age can participate in one race or the other.
“We have added a four-person canoe class ... larger boats carrying four people,” said Harmon. “It’s the first time ever in the Clinton.”
Harmon shared another new addition to the weekend: a Bike Nite, which kicks-off at 6 p.m. Friday. Bike Nite is sponsored by the Red Knights Chapter 40 Motorcycle Club. Entertainment will be provided by the Roundhouse Rockers from 7 to 10 p.m. Parking and admission are both free for the evening.
The Sixth Annual Dan Elwood Memorial 5k Run and 1 Mile Walk for Hospice kicks-off Saturday’s events at 9 a.m. A craft and flea market will take place all day.
In addition to the races scheduled, Saturday features Kids Day, including a bicycle giveaway by Main Event Amusements. Events geared toward children will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. The Ross Park Zoomobile, the Dancing Bear Puppet Show, and the Amazing Magicians will all be on hand to provide entertainment for children of all ages.
The Pam LeFever Memorial Canoe Parade on the River begins at 1 p.m. and starts in Sidney.
“This year, I am very excited again about the canoe parade,” said Harmon. “This year’s parade is especially exciting since we are honoring long-time Regatta supporter and past chairperson, Pam LeFever. Pam passed away since the last Regatta and we are naming the parade in her honor. She did so much for the Regatta. She is greatly missed.”
There is still an opportunity to sign up for the parade, said Harmon. Interested persons can register at noon on Saturday on Main Street in Sidney, at the Old Whitaker’s parking lot. You must have your own canoe and personal flotation device.
Saturday will also feature the 2013 Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at 4 p.m. Music by the Beadle Brothers Band will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until approximately 11 p.m. Fireworks presented by NBT Bank are slated to kick-off around 10 p.m.
Dundee Ales and Lagers Music Festival will present the fourth annual Regatta Music Festival from 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday. Endicott-based Prelude the Ruin will open up the music festival, the group described as progressive rock playing mostly originals. The band recently won a Battle of the Bands in Binghamton. Highline will then take the stage at 4:30 p.m., performing hits by Cinderella, Whitesnake, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns & Roses, Twisted Sister and others.
Headlining this year will be the Woodshed Prophets, of Bainbridge, who will bring their very own version of “Power Twang” to the stage at 7:30 p.m. The Woodshed Prophets are a blend of rock, country and blues, and will perform until the fireworks begin around 10 p.m., returning for another short set after the fireworks.
The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday on Main Street in Bainbridge.
General Clinton Park will open at noon on Monday and thousands of spectators will be on hand to watch the action and the races. WCDO on AM/FM will provide updated reports. New this year, WCDO will be streaming live online - so those who cannot attend are able to remain in the loop.
Harmon added that people who come from all over for the regatta mostly love the challenge of the 70-mile race, and said he hopes they see what a great area this is and how much it has to offer.
The Regatta donates money to many local organizations in exchange for what he calls “paid volunteers.” Donations are made to the B-G Student Council, B-G Honor Society, Bainbridge Girl Scouts, Bainbridge Lions Club, Bainbridge Rotary, and the Bainbridge Soup Kitchen. The individuals from those groups then perform garbage pick-up, assist with parking, race-monitoring, and help in the chamber food booth.
“That has been a great way to get people from the community involved,” said Harmon.
Admission to the Regatta is free Friday through Monday. Parking is $7 per car-load on Saturday and Sunday, and is free Friday and Monday.
For a complete list of events and this year’s race schedule, visit canoeregatta.org.
Home to the longest single-day flat water canoe race in the world, the The General Clinton Canoe Regatta begins at the source of the Susquehanna River on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, finishing at General Clinton Park in Bainbridge.
An estimated 3,000 amateur, professional and Olympic hopefuls will participate in the races over the course of the weekend, and $25,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded in total.
There are more than 50 races in one- or two-person categories throughout the weekend. According to co-chair John Harmon, any age can participate in one race or the other.
“We have added a four-person canoe class ... larger boats carrying four people,” said Harmon. “It’s the first time ever in the Clinton.”
Harmon shared another new addition to the weekend: a Bike Nite, which kicks-off at 6 p.m. Friday. Bike Nite is sponsored by the Red Knights Chapter 40 Motorcycle Club. Entertainment will be provided by the Roundhouse Rockers from 7 to 10 p.m. Parking and admission are both free for the evening.
The Sixth Annual Dan Elwood Memorial 5k Run and 1 Mile Walk for Hospice kicks-off Saturday’s events at 9 a.m. A craft and flea market will take place all day.
In addition to the races scheduled, Saturday features Kids Day, including a bicycle giveaway by Main Event Amusements. Events geared toward children will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. The Ross Park Zoomobile, the Dancing Bear Puppet Show, and the Amazing Magicians will all be on hand to provide entertainment for children of all ages.
The Pam LeFever Memorial Canoe Parade on the River begins at 1 p.m. and starts in Sidney.
“This year, I am very excited again about the canoe parade,” said Harmon. “This year’s parade is especially exciting since we are honoring long-time Regatta supporter and past chairperson, Pam LeFever. Pam passed away since the last Regatta and we are naming the parade in her honor. She did so much for the Regatta. She is greatly missed.”
There is still an opportunity to sign up for the parade, said Harmon. Interested persons can register at noon on Saturday on Main Street in Sidney, at the Old Whitaker’s parking lot. You must have your own canoe and personal flotation device.
Saturday will also feature the 2013 Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at 4 p.m. Music by the Beadle Brothers Band will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until approximately 11 p.m. Fireworks presented by NBT Bank are slated to kick-off around 10 p.m.
Dundee Ales and Lagers Music Festival will present the fourth annual Regatta Music Festival from 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday. Endicott-based Prelude the Ruin will open up the music festival, the group described as progressive rock playing mostly originals. The band recently won a Battle of the Bands in Binghamton. Highline will then take the stage at 4:30 p.m., performing hits by Cinderella, Whitesnake, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns & Roses, Twisted Sister and others.
Headlining this year will be the Woodshed Prophets, of Bainbridge, who will bring their very own version of “Power Twang” to the stage at 7:30 p.m. The Woodshed Prophets are a blend of rock, country and blues, and will perform until the fireworks begin around 10 p.m., returning for another short set after the fireworks.
The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday on Main Street in Bainbridge.
General Clinton Park will open at noon on Monday and thousands of spectators will be on hand to watch the action and the races. WCDO on AM/FM will provide updated reports. New this year, WCDO will be streaming live online - so those who cannot attend are able to remain in the loop.
Harmon added that people who come from all over for the regatta mostly love the challenge of the 70-mile race, and said he hopes they see what a great area this is and how much it has to offer.
The Regatta donates money to many local organizations in exchange for what he calls “paid volunteers.” Donations are made to the B-G Student Council, B-G Honor Society, Bainbridge Girl Scouts, Bainbridge Lions Club, Bainbridge Rotary, and the Bainbridge Soup Kitchen. The individuals from those groups then perform garbage pick-up, assist with parking, race-monitoring, and help in the chamber food booth.
“That has been a great way to get people from the community involved,” said Harmon.
Admission to the Regatta is free Friday through Monday. Parking is $7 per car-load on Saturday and Sunday, and is free Friday and Monday.
For a complete list of events and this year’s race schedule, visit canoeregatta.org.
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