Portland’s First Big Float This Weekend: 1,000+ Attendees Float Willametter River, Food, Music
July 25, 2011 — PDXPIPELINEThis weekend, over 1,o00 of the bravest and boldest Portlanders will ford the Willamette River in inner tubes, rafts and assorted other river-worthy vessels to raise money for Willamette Riverkeepers. The inaugural Big Float is meant to reclaim the cleaned-up city river as a suitable place for water activities (and not just a dumping ground for nastiness).
According to the city’s Bureau of Environmental Services, the river is fine for swimming as long as no combined sewer overflows (aka poop in the river) occur, and this happens only during heavy rainfall. With sunny weather predicted for this weekend, you should feel safe to grab your floaties and swim in Portland’s urban river.
------------
Portland Big Float press release & info:
The Big Float
Sunday, July 31
FREE, $5 Suggested Donation | All Ages
9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
www.thebigfloat.com
@ East Bank of the Hawthorne Bridge, (1515 SE Water Ave Parking Lot)
This first annual Willamette River event, presented by Willamette Riverkeeper, is a celebration of our river - highlighting the recreation it offers as well as the restoration it has undergone in recent years. The idea is to have fun on the river, inspire Portlanders to have positive aspirations for the river, and engage people to create lasting, meaningful change to the river.
People of all ages (1,000+ participants anticipated, registration will be cut off at 2,000) will enjoy a one-hour river cruise down the Willamette in the ¬Å“float-worthy apparatus¬Â of their choice, collecting at the east bank of the Hawthorne Bridge, parading west across the Hawthorne, due south on the Esplanade to final disembarking at the west bank beach of the Marquam Bridge. Floaters will head northeast to cross the river and ¬Å“take out¬Â at the starting point of the parade, at the east bank of the Hawthorne Bridge (taking out at the public boat ramp adjacent south of Hawthorne Bridge).
An after-party will be held following the float with food carts, exhibits, a ¬Å“pool party¬Â at the east base of the Hawthorne Bridge, beer garden and live music. If you just want to watch you are welcome to meet up with the floaters at the ¬Å“take out¬Â at the after party area at the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge, cost to see the bands and be part of the after party is $7 for non floaters.
The cost for the float is free, but participants are encouraged to make a $5 donation to Willamette Riverkeeper.
Schedule of Events
9:30am-11am On site registration (bring your printed on line registration form or start from scratch) We suggest you bring your printed form, it will save you time - preregistrants get express service.
11am - Inner-Tube Parade led by the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Parade Route: Across the Hawthorne Bridge, South on the West Esplanade to the Marquam Bridge Beach.
11:30am Inner-tube crossing Begins!
If you missed the inner-tube parade at 11:00 meet us at the West Bank of the Marquam Bridge where registration will continue.
12:00pm-3pm After-float Pool Party (Southeast Base of the Hawthorne Bridge)
Noon-6:30 After Float Party
Free for all inner-tube floaters and volunteers, $7 for non floaters. Five bands starting at Noon. See TBF Bands
