With one of the world’s most valuable resources running through town, Carman is gearing up to celebrate another World Rivers Day.
World Rivers Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of September. A “celebration of the world’s waterways,” the day highlights the value and importance of rivers, raises awareness of them, and encourages their stewardship.
The Boyne River Keepers (BRK) have been celebrating World Rivers Day for a few years, each celebration growing in size and attendance. This year, the group is hosting Carman’s biggest World Rivers Day celebration yet, with festivities happening all day in Ryall Park on Saturday, Sept. 21.
BRK will be hosting a poker derby on the Boyne River. Anyone with a water vessel is welcome and encouraged to join, registration being just $10 a person. Starting at the trestle bridge on 4th Street SW, there will be five stops along the Boyne River, each with a poker hand to give participants. At the end of the derby, the person with the best hand wins a kayak, which Trish Middleton has donated with REMAX and Carman RBC.
Tracy Enns with BRK said last year, even with pouring rain, they had 55 participants in the water poker derby, and the group is expecting to double that at least this year, weather-dependent.
For those without a watercraft but wanting to participate, BRK is also hosting a “land lubbers” poker derby. This derby will work in similar fashion to the water one, just with stops around Carman instead of on the river. Entry to this derby is $20 a person. Both poker derbies start at 11 a.m. and run until 2 p.m.
On Sept. 21, Carman’s one-way street downtown will be closed to accommodate the Wheels Car Club car show and vendor market, both of which run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. A free treasure hunt will also be held at this time.
Carman’s World Rivers Day celebration this year has a pirate theme. To encourage everyone to dress up, there will be a costume contest at 3 p.m. on Sept. 21, sponsored by Toews Printing.
Once the day activities are done and the festivities wind down, the Carman and Community Chamber of Commerce will take over and open their hospitality tent at 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., they’ll offer beverages for people to enjoy while listening to live music by the Dirt Road Pilots. The entire day is family-friendly.
World Rivers Day festivities typically raise funds for BRK and its accessible dock. Now that that project is nearly done, though, the group has shifted its focus this year to fundraising for the Clearwater family memorial playground project. All funds generated from World Rivers Day will go toward that.
“It’s going to be a fun community event,” said Enns. “The proceeds are going to a wonderful cause. We are so fortunate to have the natural resource of the Boyne River running through the the middle of our town. It’s very unique. I’m so glad that people are embracing it.”
BRK is still looking for more sponsors for World Rivers Day. To learn more, contact a group member.
