It’s a whitewater weekend, plus a lot more

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

An exciting weekend of outdoor fun is expected as the community celebrates its eighth annual Charles City Whitewater Challenge and numerous other events.

The festivities begin Friday night with the Party in the Park at Central Park. Live music will be provided by WildCard, and Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas (formerly Mitas Tires) will provide free inflatable rides.

Double G Line Dancing will give free line-dancing lessons, and there will be the usual kids activities, food and refreshment vendors, beer garden and more.

The 2019 Floyd County Fair queen will also be coronated during Party in the Park.

Saturday there are almost too many events to keep track of, beginning with the PAWS Cedar Dog Jog early in the morning and ending with the Smoke on the Cedar BBQ competition.

To help get the river area looking its best, a special volunteer riverbank cleanup will be held Friday afternoon, beginning at 3 p.m.

Throughout the day Saturday there will be action on the Cedar River, with competitions for various types of watercraft in several skill levels.

In the “no skill needed” category, the free Hooligan River Run will take place at 12:30 p.m., where teams of two to five are invited to bring innertubes, inflatable rafts or vessels of their own making (using cardboard and other “river-friendly” materials) to see who can run the rapids in the quickest time. There’s also a “Paddlers’ Pick” award for the most original entry.

Other events Saturday will be the Smoke on the Cedar BBQ competition with ribs available for public purchase.

One bit of “official” business will be taken care of Saturday morning when AARP Iowa presents the community with its official plaque for being selected as the second Age Friendly Community in the state, as the Press has previously reported.

If this Saturday isn’t enough river action, the Iowa Games return to Charles City next Saturday, June 29, for the Whitewater Slalom events pretty much all day long.

Here is the list of events planned this weekend:

Friday

• 3 p.m. – Gather at the riverfront plaza behind the library and City Hall to help clean up the Cedar River riverbanks. Bring garbage bags, gloves and buckets.
• 5 -9 p.m. – Party in the Park “country night” in Central Park with live music by WildCard, free inflatables sponsored by Trelleborg, and also including the coronation of the new Floyd County fair queen.

Saturday

• 8:30 a.m. – PAWS Cedar Dog Jog at the end of Leland Avenue, near the concrete slide. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.
• 9 a.m. to noon – Farmers market in Central Park.
• 9 a.m. – Whitewater Challenge events registration at riverfront plaza.
• 10 a.m. – Paddling events begin on Cedar River whitewater course.
• 10:30 a.m. – Awarding of the Age Friendly City designation plaque to Charles City, represented by Mayor Dean Andrews, by the AARP Iowa.
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Book Walk on the riverfront trail, sponsored by Friends of the Charles City Public Library.
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Vendor show with various merchants, on riverfront Plaza.
• Noon and 1:30 p.m. – Iowa-themed Paint & Take painting class, sponsored by Rustic Corner and Art Box Painting.
• 12:30 p.m. – Hooligan River Run.
• 3 p.m. – Whitewater Challenge awards and prizes.
• 4-6 p.m. – River Surfing Clinic: Learn the art of SUP (stand-up paddleboard) from Hannah Ray J and crew.
• 4:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. – Tasting for the Smoke on the Cedar BBQ competition. VIP ticket tasting begins at 4:30, followed by general a la carte rib sampling at 5:15.