8th Annual Back to the Chattahoochee River Race and Festival

June 12, 2010
8:00 am	to	2:00 pm

Paddlers of all ages and skill levels will take to the water on Saturday, June 12, for the 8th Annual Back to the Chattahoochee River Race and Festival. The race course begins at Garrard Landing Park on Holcomb Bridge Road and ends at Riverside Park in Roswell, the site of the festival, music and the awards presentation.

Organized and presented by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) in partnership with the National Park Service, Fulton County, and the city of Roswell, the event is designed to celebrate the Chattahoochee and foster a sense of community around the river that serves 3.5 million Georgians and 70% of metro Atlantans.

THE RACE – 9 a.m.

Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Chattahoochee River as you paddle from Holcomb Bridge to Riverside Park. Paddlers wanting a competitive race will traverse the 10-mile course, while recreational paddlers will take the 8-mile course. Both include exciting Class I-II rapids. Race fans can cheer on their favorite craft from several locations: Island Ford, Don White Park and Riverside Park.

Race Divisions: Open and recreational categories, various age divisions, solo and tandem canoe divisions, as well as kayak and sea kayak divisions. Plus awards for Best Costume, Best Boat Decoration and Team Challenge.

THE FESTIVAL – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the free festival, enjoy live music from the Donna Hopkins Band and the Watershed Project. Other festival highlights include Riverside Park’s new “spray ground,” face painting, balloon artists, an array of environmental exhibitors, great food, and much more. Click here to see a list of exhibitors.

About the Music . . .

From 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. – The Watershed Project, a band of Atlanta’s own singer songwriters donating their time and art to support the cause of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, featuring Gareth Asher, Emily Kate Boyd, Christopher Alan Yates, Brian Bisky, and more. Through the years UCR has attracted some of the music industry’s finest to participate in this wonderful cause. From Grammy award winning artists to artists on their way to becoming household names, you can always count on a UCR event to have the very best in local music.

From 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – The Donna Hopkins Band. According to Georgia Music Magazine, “Donna is a genuine triple threat as songwriter, singer and guitarist. As a songwriter, Hopkins seasons swampy, Gulf Coast funkiness with angular voicing of extended and suspended chords. It’s classic tension-and-release with a groove and lyrics that reveal mileage, honesty and soul. It’s survival music you can dance to. The grooves come courtesy of bassist Michael Hurwitz and drummer Richie Jones, who are in the pocket throughout and add convincing harmony and backing vocals. As a singer, Hopkins has a big, distinctive voice that effectively communicates varied emotions. As a guitarist, Hopkins can be at turns raw and articulate. She’s her own woman plus equal parts John Lee Hooker and Billy Gibbons, with a dash of Jimmie Vaughan and Robin Trower circa Bridge of Sighs.”

Chattahoochee River Race and Festival to Take Place This Saturday

June 13, 2009
10:00 am	to	2:00 pm

The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper hosts the annual river appreciation event this Saturday.  The festival includes live music, kids’ activities, environmental exhibits, and race awards presentations.

The race begins at Garrard Landing Park at Holcomb Bridge Road and finishes at Riverside Park which is where the festival is held.  Beginning at 9am the race includes open and recreational categories, various age divisions, solo and tandem canoe divisions and kayak and sea kayak divisions.  Competitive paddlers will take on a 10 mile course and recreational paddlers will race an 8 mile course.

New this year are two new categories of awards; Best Costume and Best Boat Decoration.

The festival at Riverside Park takes place from 10am to 2pm.  The live music i s provided by the Watershed Project and will feature local musicians; Gareth Asher, Christopher Alan Yates, Amy Gerhartz, Brian Binsky and Emily Kate Boyd.

The event which is organized by the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, is designed to celebrate the river and create a sense of community of the metro Atlanta residents that use the river.

Registration at the race costs $50 for solo and $70 for tandem boats and is available so long as spots are open.  All registered paddlers will receive a gift bag, race T-shirt, a boxed lunch and a one year membership in the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

Proceeds from the race will help protect and preserver the Chattahoochee.