Leslie Schuller, back, paddles as Randy Kerns plays the steel drum on their Jumble Jammer cardboard boat during the Cardboard Boat Regatta Aug. 20.

Leslie Schuller, back, paddles as Randy Kerns plays the steel drum on their Jumble Jammer cardboard boat during the Cardboard Boat Regatta Aug. 20.
RiverDays drew a large crowd to the New Richmond riverfront Aug. 19 – 21with a variety of activities and entertainment including the 19th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.

“RiverDays was fabulous, it was very reminiscent of the ‘80s, when we had very large RiverDays,” Richard Feldkamp, president of New Richmond River Fest said. “There was something for anybody to do all the time.”

Feldkamp said the festival ran smoothly, and aside from the rain storm Aug. 21, there were no problems.

RiverDays featured activities for all ages including carnival rides, shopping booths, a variety of food vendors and two stages with musical entertainment.

In addition, Aug. 20 marked the 19th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, one of RiverDays’ most entertaining traditions.

The annual race requires participants to race cardboard boats, made out of corrugated cardboard and Duct tape, 200 yards down the Ohio River.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Paige Berry, a participant from Cincinnati said about the race. “And it’s an experience just seeing all the things people can make out of cardboard.”

No two boats looked the same on race day. There was a boat that looked like a tea cup and one that looked like a giraffe. Some boats resembled kayaks and some looked like boxes. One man even went down the river in a boat that looked like a tiki hut while playing a steel drum.

“This is a tradition,” Kathie Griffin, of Pierce Township, said about the boat race. “It is fun to watch, we come to see the creativity.”

And although the event is a competition, even participants who come in last have a good time.

Ten-year-old Tyler Dabney of New Richmond, who participated for the first time in his boat shaped and painted like a peacock, said even though he hopes to do well, the race isn’t all about winning.

“It’s about having fun and saying good job to others,” Dabney said before he raced.

The boat regatta featured several heats and drew a large crowd. People sat along the shoreline, watched from front street and even anchored their boats in the river to watch the festivities. Awards were given for winning a heat, creativity, best sinking and more.

In addition to the regatta, Feldkamp said the bands were great, the car show was fantastic and he even had local business owners call him to say their sales were up because the event was such a success.

“I think it was probably one of the best,” Feldkamp said about RiverDays. “And I’ve been involved for 30 years.”

Feldkamp said he hopes they will make a profit from the event, which they will put toward community projects and the 2012 RiverDays.