River Fest Special Edition, April 23, 2005 Page 1 River Fest History Years ago Vernonia Boosters sponsored a "Boat Race" on the river each year. Old timers re- member it as great fun. Due to insurance rea- sons, the boosters were forced to abandon this tra- dition. In 2004, with the suc- cess of the Salmon Festi- val the previous Fall, the Jamboree committee rein- stated the annual river festival with a new flavor. No longer a race, the event was touted as a family affair for canoes, rafts and kayaks. The first year 60 people went down the river (and 60 returned!) and many more people stayed on shore and enjoyed the events including; fishing, a chili cook-off, a home brew contest, an auction, kid’s games, rubber duck races and hayrides. Now the time has come to partake of the second year of River Fest. Join us for even more family fun at the 2005 Vernonia Riv- er Fest. We hope you’ll enjoy River Fest so much you’ll want to come back to Ver- nonia and enjoy the Ver- nonia Friendship Jam- boree the first weekend of August and return again for the annual Salmon Festival the first weekend of October.