8 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
REGATTA AT
125
Window display documents
festival history, memorabilia
By LUCY KLEINER
FOR COAST WEEKEND
F
or 125 years, princesses, anchors and
admirals have paraded through the
streets of downtown Astoria through
pouring rain, thick mist and searing heat
in the Astoria Regatta Grand Land Parade.
“The parade is the cornerstone of
the festival,” said Charlene Larsen, who has
been involved with Regatta for 49 years.
Regatta kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 7,
and runs through Saturday, Aug. 10, with
historic traditions and celebrations includ-
ing the Queen’s Coronation on Wednes-
day, Astoria-Warrenton Kiwanis Junior
Parade on Thursday, Seaman’s Memorial
and Admiral’s Reception on Friday with
the Fun Run, Highwater Boat Parade and
Columbia River Symphony pop’s concert
concluding the festival on Saturday.
Community support
Initially established in 1894 as a way
to celebrate the conclusion of a lucrative
fishing season, the Regatta Festival has
long brought citizens of Clatsop County
together for more than a century.
It has also attracted a national and inter-
national audience throughout its history,
including high-speed cigar boats from
Florida and the Canadian and US Navy.
The festival continues to thrive because
of the year-round dedication from local
volunteers.
Nancy Kennell, a second generation
Regatta Association member and current
board member, has been involved with
the festival since 2000. She, along with a
small team of Regatta members, dedicated
countless hours to the festival chaperoning
events, listening to Regatta court speeches
and organizing fundraisers.
This year, the team planned a bingo
night that filled a local venue and raised
nearly $3,000 for the festival. Kennell got
the idea from her mother, Betty Cunning-
ham, who chaired Regatta Bingo when she
was on the board years ago. Cunningham
and her best friend made the trip back to
Astoria for the event.
“It becomes part of who you are,” said
Kennell. “My mom’s 87 and she’s still
helping.”
“It’s about who we are,” Kennell con-
tinued. “It’s a way of celebrating and shar-
ing memories.
It’s something to be proud of.”
Documenting festival’s history
The anniversary has refocused Regatta
members on documenting and archiving
the festival’s history.
Irene Baltimore, one of this year’s
Grand Marshals, spent weeks digitizing a
comprehensive list of Regatta queens and
dignitaries.
Regatta Board member Kevin Leahy
donated archival photos and historic
Anchor Club memorabilia of his mother’s
to the festival.
See Regatta, Page C9
IF YOU GO
ASTORIA REGATTA 2019
Wednesday, Aug. 7 through Saturday,
Aug. 10
For a full schedule of events and more
information, visit astoriaregatta.com
Astoria Regatta
ABOVE: A window decorated with historic
Regatta memorabilia in the former Thiel’s Music
space at the corner of 14th and Commercial
Streets in Astoria. BELOW: The 2019 Astoria
Regatta court. From left: Princess Serena Moha,
princess Mara Dowaliby, Queen Catherine
Tapales, princess Kayla Helligso and princess
Caitlin Hillman.