Auburn, Lewiston set to make a splash at 2-day LA Riverfest

LEWISTON — The L/A Riverfest is set to be a sensation again this year.

The kickoff will be Friday at Simard Payne Memorial Park, where all the activities will take place. They will begin with a kickball tournament featuring 14 teams and 200 players. While most of the teams are sponsored by employers, some are also formed by community groups like the Great Falls Comedy Club.

According to Shanna Cox, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the tournament is one of the most popular and lively events of the festival.

“It’s fun to watch. People get really competitive,” she said.

That’s not the only contest festival organizers have planned for Friday. There will also be a cornhole tournament and, for the first time, a whoopie pie eating contest.

Cox expects both competitions to be popular this year because “there’s been a lot of excitement” on social media. “People can register in advance or pick up a registration packet the day of (the event),” she added.

To register for the cornhole tournament, visit https://events.upliftlamaine.com/events/details/uplift-la-cornhole-tournament-23746. For those eager to chow down on Maine’s favorite dessert, register at https://business.lametrochamber.com/events/details/nutty-nettie-s-whoopie-pie-eating-contest-23838?calendarMonth=2024-07-01.

Friday’s lineup includes more than just contests.

There will be a beer garden, food trucks, a vendor fair and even guided paddle tours throughout the day.

Cox said the guided canoe tours are a great way to see “the city skyline from the river” and “explore the canals” while learning about the history of the Twin Cities. However, she stressed that the tours aren’t the only opportunity to explore the Androscoggin River and see Lewiston and Auburn from a new perspective. Since the festival offers canoe rentals starting at 10 a.m., people can paddle the river all day Friday, whether they own a boat or not.

For the fourth year in a row, the festival will host its signature rowing regatta on Saturday. With at least 16 rowing crews, the race will begin at 9 a.m. Rather than a regular rowing race, the Riverfest regatta features a unique course with a 180-degree turn. Not only does it test the skills of the rowers, it also provides a unique experience for spectators. Typically, Lewiston Rowing president Amy Smith explained, spectators cannot watch a rowing race from start to finish. However, because of the special turn in the course, spectators can see almost the entire event, provided they are watching from the Jenkins Memorial Footbridge between Lewiston and Auburn.

If spectators stand there, Smith said, “it’s the best show you can have for a rowing race.”

After the regatta, Smith said participants were encouraged to ride the same course and provide feedback to festival organizers. That feedback will be used to create a new event for next year’s Riverfest, tentatively called “Paddle Palooza.” It will feature three separate races for kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards, all competing on the same course as the rowers.

In exchange for their feedback on the course and ideas for the proposed event, participants will have the choice of a free drink at the beer tent or a free raffle ticket to win a kayak.

For more information on the regatta and the open course, visit https://lewistonrowing.com/riverfest-regatta.

On Saturday, there will be a rowing regatta and volunteers will have the opportunity to help the festival grow in the future. L.L.Bean’s Bootmobile will also make its first appearance at Riverfest. L.L.Bean is one of the sponsors of this year’s festival and employees who run the company’s iconic attraction will be handing out free merchandise and giveaways to festival-goers from 9am on Saturday.

But the festival is not just about having fun.

Riverfest aims to celebrate the “river that connects our two cities and has long supported our communities,” Cox said.

For most of the 20th century, the Androscoggin was known for its pollution and foul odors. Cox said the river’s infamous reputation is now over.

“We currently have a Class B water quality and people can swim and fish in the river safely,” she explained.

One of the goals of Riverfest is to show the community that the river is not only safe, but also a great source of recreation and enjoyment, and not just during Riverfest.

Cox said that “two years ago the city of Lewiston added a dock and boats have been able to access it from the Auburn shore for quite some time now.” Those additions “have really increased the ability for everyone to use and paddle the river at any time of the year. It doesn’t have to be Riverfest for people to bring their boats and we want people to see it and experience it.”

For Cox and the Lewiston Auburn Chamber of Commerce, getting more people on the river is important “because it’s a big part of why it’s such a great place to live, work and play here in Androscoggin County.”

To learn more about Riverfest and view the full festival schedule, visit https://discoverlamaine.com/the-riverfest/.

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