THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240713
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 85 lines
Up to 70,000 visitors are expected for RiverSpree '96, the annual Memorial Day weekend celebration that has grown into northeastern North Carolina's biggest outdoor bash.
To accommodate all the foot traffic, sections of several streets will be closed to cars for the event. They include Water, Ehringhaus, Riverside, Southern and Shepard streets.
Those routes, along with boat ramps at Waterfront Park and Dog Corner Park, will be closed from 5:30 p.m. today through 8 p.m. Sunday.
Marine ramp traffic should use the Pelican Marina boat ramp.
Crowds will depend primarily on Mother Nature's cooperation, said Doris Creps, the coordinator for the festival.
``We are real thrilled with what the forecasters are predicting for the weather. We hope it will be right on the money,'' she said Wednesday afternoon.
Some meteorologists since then have hinted at a few sprinkles to go along with the mid-70s-to-low-80s temperatures.
This is Creps' fifth and final RiverSpree. She's moving to Burlington, Vt., in two weeks.
``RiverSpree started out as a way to promote our downtown and to give the area some recognition,'' Creps said. ``But I think it's become a real homecoming event.
``People come from Virginia, Raleigh, Charlotte. We have a huge draw. We get race applicants for our 10K from as far away as Maryland.''
The 10K RiverRun and 5K RiverWalk will kick off events at 8 a.m. Saturday. Late registration and packet pickup will be at Charles Creek Park off Riverside Avenue. Awards will be presented at 11:30.
Next comes the annual RiverSpree parade. The theme this year is ``Olympic Spirit On Parade.''
The cavalcade begins on Ehringhaus Street at Brooks Avenue and ends on Main Street between Cobb and Dyer roads.
RiverSpree is billed as a family festival, and organizers have added three new events to increase family participation.
A sandcastle contest for ages 6 and under will be held Sunday afternoon at the beach volleyball courts. The volleyball tournament runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The River City Cycling Club is coordinating the first RiverSpree Criterium on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.
Cyclists in eight different categories will race distances of .56 to 10 miles along downtown streets, with laps starting and finishing at the Pasquotank County Courthouse.
Kids will find new entertainment at the Kids Pavilion, courtesy of ``The Pirate Show'' by Midway Caravan Co. of New York.
Children from the audience will help Captain Kidd defend his ship against Redbeard, the pirate. Shows are at noon, 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
``I'm really excited about this because you know how hard it is to entertain kids unless they're involved,'' Creps said.
Other Pavilion activities include Blackbeard the Pirate, Isabelle the Clown and Looney Lanny, a magician and balloon sculptor.
The Scrap Exchange will be back for a third time on Sunday to help kids create free souvenirs from fabrics and factory parts.
Other perennial events include the ``Anything That Will Float But A Boat'' race, a Learn to Ski program by the River City Ski Club, a U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue demonstration, and the relatively new freestyle bicycle show.
Much of the live entertainment also may sound familiar to RiverSpree regulars.
On stage Saturday at Waterfront Park will be local band August from 10 a.m. to noon; The Band of Oz from 1 to 3 p.m.; BS&M - Unplugged from 4 to 6 p.m.; and Super Grit Cowboy Band from 7 to 9 p.m.
Sunday's regional entertainment will include Bill Deal and Ammon Tharp - The Original Rhondels from 1 to 3 p.m.; and TFC Band from 4 to 6 p.m.
Competing for an audience on the Hobbs Park Stage will be local talents, led off by the Golden Slippers Dance Studio at noon Saturday.
The dancers will be followed throughout the day by the Currituck Cut-ups, Young Intelligent Sisters, Denim and Diamonds Dance Club, Native American/African Drumming, RiverWind Aerobic Team, Brad Payne, Moments Notice and Danceworks.
Sunday's lineup includes Stand Up, RiverWind Aerobic Team, Moments Notice and Stake Out.
RiverSpree began in the early 1980s with a small fair along Main Street. It now draws an average of 50,000 to 70,000 guests and has an estimated $80,000 budget.
About $30,000 in revenues comes from sponsorships. The rest is raised through drink sales, vendor booth fees and various registration fees, Creps said. by CNB