THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260509
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
As the Elizabeth City area's largest employer, the U.S. Coast Guard already is a strong presence here.
This weekend the government agency hopes to attract even more attention.
RiverSpree '95 - the largest outdoor festival in Northeastern North Carolina - will feature more Coast Guard attractions and, as one commanding officer hopes, more Coast Guard participation.
``We're a part of the community, and I like to see the Coast Guard take an active role,'' said John Miner, commanding officer of the Coast Guard's Support Center.
In addition to the search-and-rescue demonstrations on the water and a helicopter being pulled in a parade, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Point Bonita will head into harbor for tours.
The 82-foot coastal patrol boat is homeported at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia.
The annual Memorial Day weekend festival, which represents a rite of spring for the people living in and around the Pasquotank River, is expected to draw 70,000 visitors during its two-day run.
``We've gotten a lot of calls from the Greenville area, Tarboro and, of course, our neighbors in the Hampton Roads area,'' said Rhonda Martin, executive director of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber sponsors the Memorial Day weekend fete, now about a decade old. Hundreds of volunteer hours and tens of thousands of local dollars are invested in the celebration.
Begun in the mid-1980s as a downtown festival on Main Street, RiverSpree has moved up, both in location and popularity. The festival now occupies four waterfront parks and seals off several downtown arteries for two days.
Parking is tight, and RiverSpree officials suggest visitors drive to Southgate Mall on Ehringhaus Street and take a $1 shuttle to and from the event.
The festival begins Saturday with the Albemarle Hospital River Run 10K and River Walk 5K 8 a.m. at Charles Creek Park. Some of the area's swiftest athletes will run through waterfront neighborhoods and farmland on the out-and-back course.
Trophies will be awarded later in the morning at the Belk/Daily Advance Stage in Hobbs Park.
The festival officially opens with the annual RiverSpree Parade down Ehringhaus Street, at 10 a.m. at the Boys and Girls Club.
Grand Marshall Bob Brooks, who helped coach the 1957 state champion Elizabeth City High School football team will lead the floats, cars, local dignitaries, clowns, horses and marching bands toward the waterfront. The cavalcade turns left on Water Street and left again on Main Street before ending at Main and Road streets.
More than 120 food, arts, crafts and club vendors will vie for festival-goers attention and money. But not everything comes with a cost.
Back again by popular demand is the Scrap Exchange, brought by the Durham-based Events by the Truckload. Children of all ages can create their own hats, accessories and thingamajigs with industrial surplus materials at the children's pavilion in Charles Creek Park.
``It gives every child a chance to participate free of charge,'' Martin said.
The festival celebrates life along the river, so water attractions are always popular, particularly the ``Anything That Will Float But a Boat'' contest at 3 p.m. Sunday.
This year's contest for the best theme, best spirited and most unique design - in addition to first place in two categories - will be held at Charles Creek, rather than the Pasquotank River.
Other favorites include the ``Learning to Ski'' program by the River City Ski Club, a water ski show and Blackbeard the Pirate appearing throughout the weekend.
Landlubbers can also partake in local and regional entertainment performing simultaneously on the Hobbs Park and Waterfront Park stages.
On the Main Stage, local band August will perform from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by The Entertainers from 1 to 3 p.m. This beach-music band also will provide music for the sold-out RiverSpree dance the night before.
Saturday also will include Johnny White and The Elite Band from 4 to 6 p. m., with Captain Cook and the Coconutz - back for their third appearance - rounding up the evening from 7 to 9 p.m.
All eyes can then scan the skies for the first crackle and pop of ``Fireworks Over the Pasquotank.''
On Sunday, visitors can swing and clap to The Kays, an all-around entertainment ensemble, from 1 to 3 p.m. and then enjoy Nashville recording artist Bo Travis.
Local performers include Danceworks, poet Glendell Moore, Elizabeth City Middle School, Tidewater Pipes & Drums, Community Band and the Northeastern High School concert and jazz bands.
Other area entertainers on the schedule are Golden Slippers Dance Academy, RiverWind Aerobic Team, Tarheel Squares, Cedar Key and Hooker's Night Out.
On Sunday, the stage will be held by the Christian rock band Stand Up, country line dancing's Denim & Diamonds Show Line, the Pasquotank Arts Council's Children's Musical Program, RiverWind Aerobic Team, Eric & Friends and Norman Warden.
On Saturday, the 3rd Annual Beach Volleyball Competition will be taking place at Dog Corner Park.
Sports fans can also view racing team show cars, including the Budweiser Formula 1 car driven by NASCAR's Ken Schraeder. Driver Kenny Bernstein also will be on hand.
The Coors RiverPull is back again, with more entrants vying for trophies in various stock classes. That will be held at noon Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
RIVERSPREE '95
What: A family-oriented outdoor festival held throughout four
waterfront parks in downtown Elizabeth City. It's the largest in
northeastern North Carolina.
When: A 10 a.m. parade opens the festival on Saturday, and the gala
lasts until fireworks end around 9:30 p.m. Sunday's events open at 1
p.m. and end at 6 p.m.
Highlights: River Run 5K/10K, beach volleyball tournament, tractor
pull. Water Events - ski program, water ski show, U.S. Coast Guard
water-and-air rescue demonstration, tours of USCG Cutter Point
Bonita, Blackbeard the Pirate, Anything That Will Float But a Boat
race, Children's Scrap Exchange, Isabelle the Clown and Tim Nolan
the Juggler.
Live Entertainment: Waterfront Park Stage - August, The
Entertainers, Johnny White and The Elite Band, Captain Cook and The
Coconutz, The Kays and Bo Travis. Hobbs Park Stage - Danceworks,
Glendell Moore, Elizabeth City Middle School, Tidewater Pipes &
Drums, COA Community Band, NHS Concert Band, NHS Jazz Band, Golden
Slippers Dance Academy, RiverWind Aerobic Team, Tarheel Squares,
Cedar Key, Hooker's Night Out, Stand Up, Denim & Daimonds Show Line,
PAC Children Musical Program, Eric & Friends and Norman Warden.
by CNB