The staff of the Neuse River Foundation is hard at work preparing for the annual Neuse River Days festival. Scheduled for Saturday June 2 and Sunday June 3, this year's event is shaping up to be the best ever! On land at Union Point Park will be Environmental exhibitors, vendors, arts and crafts and more. On the water (and in!) will be kayak and canoe races, the Great Twin Rivers Raft Race, a Sunfish Flotilla and back by popular demand, the Cardboard Canoe Race and the Great Rubber Duck Race. Plan to come and cheer them on as they row and paddle their way to victory! For further information, or to volunteer contact us at: 252-637-7972 events@neuseriver.org.
Race Schedule
Saturday
7:00 am All Neuse River Days Race Registration Opens
8:30 am 8-mile Neuse River Classic
9:00 am 4-mile Trent River Classic 9:30 am CGA "Water Safety" Raft Skit
1:30 pm Raft Race Captain’s Meeting (Union Point Band Stage)
2:00 pm Great Twin Rivers Speed Raft Race
2:30 pm Great Twin Rivers Regular Raft
3:00 pm New Bern Cup “Corporate Challenge Raft Race”
3:30 pm Rubber Duck Race
Sunday
7:30 am Race registration and meeting for 17-mile marathon (at Pollocksville Public Boat Ramp at Hwy. 17)
8:30 am 17-mile (27K) Trent River Canoe and Kayak Challenge
11:00 am "Kayak Fishing" Workshop begins at Union Point Park
12:30 pm River Dawg Relay Races
2:00 pm Cardboard Box Race
3:30 pm Rubber Duck Race
CHANGES/ADDITIONS
• Sailboard/Wind Wing Demonstration – could be scheduled during the workshop period
• Awards: Prizes will be handed out to the winners immediately following the races.
• The "JoyBoy" a large powered touring vessel will be available for Neuse River tours on Neuse River Days weekend. Tour times on Saturday and Sunday will be 10am to 12pm and 12pm to 2 pm. Tours will depart from the public pier at Union Point Park. A donation of $5.00 per adult and children over 8 years of age is requested. Children 8 years and under are free. All persons on board are required to wear a PFD (personal flotation devise.)
The 13th Annual Neuse River Days will be held on Saturday June 2 and Sunday June 3 at Union Point Park in New Bern.
Two fun-filled and educational days will include activities for all ages including a fossil dig sponsored by PCS Phosphate, and amusement rides such as the Acro-Spring bungee trampoline and the Wild Thing and the Buccaneer inflatables. Arts & Crafts vendors, environmental displays will offer something for every interest, and food vendors will be selling everything from funnel cakes to fried Twinkies to ice cream as well as traditional fare such as hamburgers, BBQ and more.
Kayak, canoe and raft races are scheduled throughout the day beginning at 8:30am with the Neuse River Classic, an Eastern Carolina race must for serious racers.Back by popular demand are the kayak River Dog Relays featuring 3- person teams, and canoe Broom, Switch and Pick Up races. The highlight of every Neuse River Days, the Great Twin Rivers Raft Races, once again will delight spectators with imaginative and colorful handmade rafts, some of which actually float!The audience should expect to see perennial favorites such as the Elmira Z, Lickety Split, Deliverer, Ole’Yeller and more!An evening of baseball at New Bern High School’s baseball field will cap off the day with the River Rats.Tickets for the game may be purchased at the festival, and several team members will be available for pictures and autographs. Come out and cheer for Lower Neuse Riverkeeper® Larry Baldwin as he throws out the first ball!
Sunday’s activities begin with the 17-mile Trent River Canoe and Kayak Challenge, a marathon race from Pollocksville to Union Point Park.Free, informative workshops will begin 12:30pm and include beginner kayaking, fishing techniques and more. Two exciting races highlight Sunday’s events; The Rubber Duck Race and the Great Cardboard Box Canoe Race. Here is your chance to adopt a duck!Tickets will be available throughout the weekend, with a race taking place at 3:00pm both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased in advance from the Neuse River Foundation.The more ducks adopted, the more ducks are launched and the greater the chances for great prizes!Tickets are $5 each with prizes awarded to first, second and last duck to cross the finish line, as well as random drawings from the pack during the race.This is an excellent opportunity for children to be involved in a water activity as they can choose their own duck and root for its progress!You need not be present to win, but you’ll miss all the fun. If you’ve never seen a flock of yellow rubber ducks floating down the river, now’s your chance!
Capping off the day will be the Cardboard Box Canoe Race.That’s right – cardboard!Boats can be made at home in advance or assembled at the park Sunday morning.The only rule is that the canoe cannot be made of anything other that a cardboard box(es) of any size, duct tape and plastic sheeting.First place goes to the canoe that actually finishes the course!Other fun prizes will be offered including best decorated, most ingenious, most outrageous, and more! Registration is now being accepted for canoe/kayak, raft, and cardboard box races.You may register at Union Point Park, but early registration is recommended.Rubber Duck Race tickets are also now available for purchase.For Neuse River Days information, brochure or registration forms, please contact the Neuse River Foundation at 252-637-7972 or visit the website at www.neuseriverkeepers.org.
Interested arts & crafts merchants, environmental and educational organizations and other non-profits may contact the Neuse River Foundation office at 252-637-7972 for booth information. Neuse River Days is a fun, family festival sponsored each year by the Neuse River Foundation in an effort to develop river, environmental awareness and appreciation.The festival is only one of the ways in which the Foundation seeks to fulfill its educational component of its mission to advocate for the Neuse and Trent Rivers and their tributaries. The Neuse River Foundation is celebrating its 26th anniversary of river protection.The Foundation sponsors two Riverkeepers®:Larry Baldwin, Lower Neuse based in New Bern, and Dean Naujoks, Upper Neuse based in Raleigh.The mostly volunteer organization, along with the Riverkeepers®, are determined to halt present abuses, to help remedy past ones, and to ensure future protection of the river.The Neuse River Foundation’s River Protection Program provides for regular patrol of the Neuse and its tributaries by boat, truck, aircraft, and foot.
