Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990 TAG: 9007030023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRISTINA MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Activities - in addition to the Pedal, Paddle, Splash and Dash Quadrathlon - include Hands-on Water Fun, the Great American Outdoor Barbecue Contest, Radford's New River Raft Race, live music, arts and crafts, and more.
"This event will be unique to Radford and the park is perfect," said Rosemary Middleton, Chamber of Commerce executive director. "Radford is the only city on the New River, the second oldest river in the world next to the Nile. We should celebrate summer along its banks."
The Riverfest is a collection of various summer events held in the past, Middleton said.
Radford's 5th annual Quadrathlon, a multisport - biking, canoeing, swimming and running - endurance event will kick off the day at 7:30 a.m.
Beginning at 10 a.m., Hands-on Water Fun is for kids of all ages, Middleton said. The event, consisting of swimming pool activities, is sponsored by the Council for Community Enrichment.
The second annual Great American Outdoor Barbecue Contest, also at 10, encourages creative outdoor recipes, Middleton said.
Anyone can enter, cook or non-cook. The only requirement is that all food be prepared on a charcoal or gas grill. Recipes will be rated according to the food's visual appeal, aroma and taste. Prizes will be awarded, Middleton said.
A special "Spirit Award" for the contestant who portrays the most enthusiasm will be in the great American tradition of cookouts, she said. The event is sponsored by Main Street Radford.
The second annual New River Raft Race, noon-2 p.m., will reveal the most original, personally built rafts, Middleton said - "the funnier the better."
The "I-can't-believe-it-floats" awards include categories of the most original non-commercial raft, the fastest craft, the best raft by a non-profit organization and more, she said.
Regional arts- and craftspeople - basket weavers, jewelry makers, silk flower arrangers, wreath makers and more - will display their handiwork throughout the day, said Kathy Sink, the arts and crafts coordinator for Riverfest.
Live remote music - including Radford bluegrass musicians Olen Smyther and John Viers, Rock 105 and Christiansburg's Golden Oldies 1260-J AM - will sound throughout the park, Middleton said.
"We hope the Riverfest will become a major tourist event in the New River Valley," she said.
Patterned after Roanoke's Annual Festival in the Park, the Riverfest is one step toward revitalizing downtown Radford, Middleton said.
Radford's Riverfest also is part of Virginia's Main Street Program, a 1985 affiliate of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
by CNB