This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Yampa River Festival. In 2008, we combined our efforts with the Paddling Life Pro Invitational and today we are gearing up for the best River Fest to date. Here are is an outline of this years festivities. We encourage everyone who is in Steamboat during the Memorial Day weekend to attend or participate in the River Fest. For more information, call Pete at Backdoor Sports (970) 879-6249.

All funds generated from the Yampa River Festival go towards putting on this event and funding the efforts of the Friends of the Yampa. Event T-shirts are sold at the event and a silent auction is held at the River Fiesta on Saturday night. Once again, funds from this event go towards putting on this event and helping in the efforts of the Friends of the Yampa.

Memorial Day Weekend event calendar:

Friday May 28, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm or later – Registration Party at Sunpies Bistro. Register for all events $30 or individual events entry fees see below. Enter all events and compete for the coveted River King award with special shwag package!

Saturday May 29, 11:00 am – Registration continues at Charlie’s Hole for all events. Participants are encouraged to register the evening prior at Sunpies but we will have someone at Charlie’s Hole from 11:00 am on if you wish to register for other events. Raft Race registration is done at Fetcher Pond only.

Fastest sponsored raft team wins $785 prize!

Saturday May 29, 11:15 am – Raft Race signup at Fetcher Pond. Race will begin at Noon. The raft race is a great event for those who are not kayakers. We will have 5 rafts available for first come first serve and please call Kent (970-846-7933) if you wish to reserve a raft. Cost for participants is $10 per paddler and you can have as many paddlers in your raft as you wish. We will launch at noon and rafts will be released every 30 seconds after that. Race is from Fetcher Pond to when you hit the Charlie’s Hole. In 2009 we had 15 rafts compete. Call up your work buddies, have your restaurant or office fund your entry fee and come participate in the River Festival. Costumes are highly recommended. Winning team will be rewarded with the Yampa Paddle (think Stanley Cup) that will be engraved with your team name and will be yours until next seasons race. All participants are required to wear PFD’s. No alcohol permitted on rafts. No shuttle from Fetcher or the Charlie’s hole is provided so line that up yourselves, thanks.

Saturday May 29, Noon – Riverboard Surf Competition at Charlie’s Hole. Entry is free. Riverboards will be provided.

Saturday May 29, 1:00 pm – Crazy River Dog Contest. Register at Charlie’s Hole and event will be held just downstream. Humans will toss a stick into the river at pre determined location and dogs will have to retrieve stick from river then place stick in humans hand. Dogs are timed and fastest dog wins. Dogs and humans get only one chance. $10 per dog. Humans free.

Saturday May 29, 2:00 pm – Tube Rodeo. $10 per participant. Held at Charlie’s Hole. Tubes provided or bring your own. Competitors are judged on longest ride and best trick, similar to a kayak rodeo. Everyone must wear a PFD and helmets are recommended. Everyone is welcome to participate. Golden Tube award and $100 Grand Prize to the winner, courtesy of Hog Island Boatworks.

Saturday May 29, 3:00 to 6:00 pm – Kayak Rodeo. $15 per participant. Register at Charlie’s Hole. Event held at Charlie’s Hole. Guys and Gals welcome. Different classes and a whole lotta throwin’ down.

Saturday May 29, 6:00 pm to ? – River Fiesta at the Depot. Silent auction, food, music, dancing and good times. Every year our River Fiesta gains more and more traction from the public. This year we will have “Newgrass Party” with Randy Kelly and Sundog playing their Steamboat style of bluegrass. The Depot is a great venue, located on the south side of the river at the 13th street bridge and allows all of our participants and spectators an evening to recap the days events and tell tall river tails over beer, brats and bluegrass. $10 donation includes dinner, drinking, dancing and debauchery.

Sunday May 30, 10:00 am – KayakSlalom. $15 per participant. The kayakslalom is held at the Dr. Rich Weiss Park named after past olympic paddler and the late Dr. Rich Weiss who grew up in Steamboat Springs (on the river across from the Steamboat Hot Springs pool near 3rd Street). Slalom, sport and canoe classes. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate even if you are a rodeo rider, come out and participate in this great event.

Sunday May 30, 2:00 to 4:00 pm – Junior Rodeo. $10 per participant. 18 years old or younger. Different classes. Watch the juniors rip the Charlie’s Hole.

Sunday May 30 – PL Pro Invitational begins

Sunday May 30, 4:00 pm – Practice runs at Fish Creek and Charlie’s Hole. The pro’s start getting readyfor tomorrows competition.

Sunday May 30, 8:00 pm – Registration/Competitor’s meeting at the Charlie’s Hole

Monday May 31, 10 am – Fish Creek Race. Watch some of the worlds top professional kayakers sprint down middle Fish Creek. It is a great spectator event. Please park along Steamboat Blvd and walk upstream to watch. Competitors will launch at the Water Treatment plant and race to the Fish Creek bridge at Steamboat Blvd.

Monday May 31, 1:00 pm – Freestyle Event. Watch some of the worlds top promen’s and women’s rodeo kayakers rip up the Charlie’s Hole.

Monday May 31, 6:00 pm – Apres Awards Party at the Boathouse Pub.