RICHLAND, Wash. – The Richland Regatta is set to take place this Saturday and Sunday at Howard Amon Park, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with lunch from 12-1 p.m.).
The event will feature races throughout both days, ensuring excitement for all attendees.
The regatta aims to be a family event. Charlie Grigg emphasized the event’s accessibility, saying, “It’s a free event, and we’re trying to make it so that families can come down here. Whether you can afford to buy tickets or not, it’s free. You come down, bring your family, bring food if you want, set up chairs and a blanket, and enjoy the racing.”
The Richland Regatta will also be broadcasted by SWX for those who cannot attend in person.
John Culver, the race director, emphasized that around 30-40% of the racers and crew members at the regatta will be part of Unlimited or GP teams during the Water Follies.
The regatta also highlights the familial culture of boat racing. Culver mentioned that many racers come from family-owned teams.
“Mike Kelly owns a boat and his son drives it. Jeff Bernard will be down here. Kit Brown, we’ve raced with them for 10 years,” he said.
Stan Johnson and Julie Piper from the City of Richland explained the extensive preparations required for the regatta.
“Boy, it takes a lot of different organizations and parts of the city to prepare for this event,” Johson said.
He emphasized the involvement of police, fire, and Parks and Recreation, noting, “We come in and we prepare the facility so that people, you know, it’s beautiful and people will enjoy their stay here.”
Preparations include everything from tree trimming to road closures.
Johnson added that there are “quite a bit of meetings and emails that fly around making sure that everything is just perfectly prepared for this event.”
The regatta is a significant event for Richland, attracting tourists and benefiting the local economy.
“We’ve got the tourism impact with people coming in from out of town, staying in the hotels, checking out this event,” Piper stated.
She highlighted the presence of “world-class racers coming to our doorstep on our river” and the opportunity for the community to enjoy the event for free.
The weekend will also see the opening of the local pool and a music festival at John Dam Plaza, offering plenty of activities for attendees.
For more information, you can head to the regatta’s Facebook page.
