Topic starter
11/08/2010 1:38 am
The town of Vevay Indiana is planning their Bi-Centennial. One of the focus areas is the river. They are seeking ideas for events. Their mission statement is to highlight the past, focus on the present and look ahead to the future. Who better to solicit ideas from than this group.
Do you have suggestions for any of the following areas that highlight the river and provide a better understanding of the river of the past present and future? We are looking at all age groups.
Events
Games
Contests
Topics for Talks
Displays
Entertainment
Shows
Round table discussions
Art and Photographs
handouts
If you have ideas for these areas or have other areas to suggest let me know
11/08/2010 2:17 am
Maybe the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE can be chartered and brought up to Vevay for a few trips out of there.
11/08/2010 3:04 am
Many Moons ago there was a Grape Stomping competition.....Delta Queen was in town for the celebration whatever the occasion was. I have no idea if Vevay was once a Wine producing area possibly pre prohibition.
Topic starter
11/08/2010 11:13 am
Vevay still has the wine festival every August.
11/08/2010 2:24 pm
Hey Danny,
I'd like to suggest a steam launch meet. Perhaps Captain Walnut can bring his two boats and gather some friends from the launch community to host a "steam in" complete with whistle blows, races, old time steam powered fireworks show in the evening, etc.
Aaron
11/08/2010 3:31 pm
I'd like to suggest a whistle blow. I'm sure I could get some support from my Steam Whistles group if such an event gets approved.
11/08/2010 4:39 pm
Fun .....
Aurora, up river some miles, is having their "Thunder Over Aurora" this weekend- with a bunch of mini-racing boats that sound like clouds of angry hornets, but always seem to draw a crowd (but everything Aurora does brings in a bunch)... but can you spell B-O-R-I-N-G?
What I would promote in a small town would be Ski-Do (Jet-Ski) racing, trick riding, jumping, etc. events that would bring amateur boating enthusiasts to the river. Young people like those things. The race track would be small so the jet-skiis would be whizzing round and round at at dizzy pace.
"Pirate ship" rides. Paddlewheels are seen, now-a-days, as old hat-- again, boring. A pirate ship excursion boat would be a great attraction. They are out there. Of course, some slo-boat for the old-timers, but the river has to look exciting to young people.
Bass fishing contest to bring in those upscale boaters with prizes for the best-looking, fastest, fanciest, etc. boats, as well as for the fishing catagories.
Antique boat show with unique houseboats, cruisers, and run-a-bouts. Sponsor a boatbuilding contest like WoodenBoat magazine promotes where teams, families, and/or individuals can build small wooden row/sail boats in a short time. This could be the beginning of rekindling small wooden boat building on the Ohio River. Eventually, a school might come of it.
Row boat races, small sailboats races, guest river speakers, artists, etc. moving about the crowd or having a show/lecture on the riverbank.
Rope tossing, flat rock skipping for the kids. Anything to bring them down to the water. Trophies and prizes. Fun, Fun, Fun ... and they will come.
What people today, living on the Indiana and Kentucky shores along the Ohio, seem to have forgotten, is, until rather recenty, their closest neighboring community was the town across the river; not the next town, up or down the river. DNA tests of the old families on either side of the Ohio would confirm this. Ghent, Kentucky tried to have a river festival, but after three tries tossed in the hat. They do, however have the potential, with possible financial support by the heavy industrial base on that side. So there remains the reality of incorporating both sides of the river in one celebration-- just like the residents of both sides did before the deep and wide waters of Markland Dam made families and friends into strangers.
Willie and Buster's Whirlwind Tour of the World - Ghent, Ky. 2001
Topic starter
11/08/2010 8:11 pm
The date of the bi-centennial event is October 2013.
11/08/2010 9:51 pm
Ample Time to Plan ....
How many days will the event run? What kind of budget will they the event have for river stuff? With that kind of lead time, you can DO some planning. How deep is the water close to shore? What can you get in to the bank?
Also consider having:
* ORSANCO's traveling Ohio River Aquarium -always a big hit with live marine critters native to the Ohio River for folks of all ages.
* Old-time Showboat Melodrama. Wonder if the City Of Cincinnati /Univ. of Cincy would allow moving the SHOWBOAT MAJESTIC down to the Vevay city front?
* Run a ferryboat between Vevay and Ghent for the festival. It's a long way 'round the horn' from either city front to the other via the Markland Bridge. Twenty-some miles? The ferryboat ride, in itself, would be an attraction.
14/08/2010 12:43 am
Aaron et al: This is a possibility in that there was some interest shown in steam launches at the next Tall Stacks (which did not happen). Anderson Ferry has one or two "extra" ferry boats (see Shipyard's comment below) that are normally tied to the Kentucky shore. Having passed my own "diamond jubilee", I may need a bit of help. Cap'n Walnut.