Powerboats soon will be zooming up and down the Bay City Riverfront, and so will thousands of local and out-of-town tourist dollars during the 2010 Dow River Roar.
The annual professional powerboat race, now in its 24th year, will begin this Thursday, June 24, with a weekend of professional powerboat racing and other festivities.
Last year's event drew about 300,000 people to Bay City. Organizers are expecting another well-attended race weekend this year.
Candace Bales, director of the
Bay City Downtown Development Authority, says the annual
River Roar is a real boost for downtown businesses and the local economy.
During the past few years, people who attend the event seem to be spending more time in the downtown area after the events, says Bales. In fact, quite a few decide to make a weekend of it and stay overnight, "and that's somewhat new," Bales says.
This year's event also will give those who attend the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items in exchange for free admission -- thanks to underwriting by Dow -- at Veteran's Park. The perishable items will go to Hidden Harvest, which helps feed the hungry in the Bay, Midland, and Saginaw region, says Jim Fox, who sits on the board of directors for the event.
For Fox, the highlight of this year's event will be the powerboats racing up and down the river at 120 mph. Fox, a former powerboat racer himself, is the father of Jay Fox -- a three-time Bay City River Roar champion.
The weekend kicks off with a Thursday golf outing at Maple Leaf Golf Course. Tesla and Great White will perform in an outdoor concert on Friday. Saturday night, there will be a silent auction to benefit local charities, and a live comedy show featuring comedian Pat Godwin.
General admission tickets are $25. For more information, go
here.
Writer: Jenny Cromie
Source: Bay City Downtown Development Authority, River Roar
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