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May is locally known for the Boatnik festival, and in this article, Amber will be discussing the history of the event, as well as activities to participate in at Boatnik.
Boatnik 2022
Boatnik 2022
By Amber Medina-Montoya
By Amber Medina-Montoya
It’s May! While many people are excited about summer break, a lot of people around Grants Pass are looking forward to Boatnik. The mid-spring festival is highly popular with locals of Grants Pass, especially those who enjoy fairs and festivals. The event offers rides, games, live music, boat races, the chance to visit local vendors, and so much more! If you find yourself with free time on Memorial Weekend, Boatnik is a wonderful way to spend that time and participate in a local annual event.
Boatnik History
Boatnik History
Boatnik is an annual event planned by the Grants Pass Active Club, a non-profit organization, to raise funds for local youth programs and celebrate Memorial Day. It takes place in Riverside Park and almost the entire park is filled with fun activities to explore. The carnival aspect of the event is put on by Davis Shows N.W., who provides the rides for the carnival. The Grants Pass Active Club has been able to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to local youth and children’s programs over the last 50 years, according to the official Boatnik website. The event has been put on for over 60 years to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. The only time Boatnik ever had to be canceled was in 2020, due to the climbing danger of COVID-19. It was almost canceled again for the second year in a row in 2021 but ended up being put back on the schedule, which was controversial for some, but the festival still had many attendees and was enjoyed by many. Luckily, this spring seems to have mellowed out regarding the amount of COVID-19 cases that have been reported, and as of right now, Boatnik is still planned to be put on this year, from May 26 to May 30.
Events and Festivities
Events and Festivities
Boatnik is known not just for the carnival that takes place in the main field of Riverside park, but also for the wide variety of events that go on over the weekend. These events typically include drag boat races, fireworks, memorial services, a concert, and a large parade that goes on downtown. With events to cater to almost everyone’s interests, there is no shortage of ways to be entertained for Memorial Day weekend.
Photo source: https://travelgrantspass.com/boatnik/
The Boatnik Parade takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, marching down 6th street. It is a perfect opportunity to see local businesses and organizations, as well as see companies advertise themselves. Also featured in this parade are the school district's band and color guard groups performing live music and routines. It is a great chance to support the hard work the district music groups have put into their craft.
The carnival that is set up at Boatnik is a major attraction for attendees, as many people flood the field for a chance to get an adrenaline rush on the rides provided. There is a ride for almost everyone there, and there is even a section of the park specifically for younger kids who can’t quite go on the bigger rides yet. The carnival also provides many snack booths to purchase food while enjoying the festivities. There is also a wide variety of shops to visit to help support large and small businesses alike. Also featured in the Boatnik festival are firework shows that are put on at night-time. They can be viewed from the park, the two bridges on either side of Riverside Park or, if you live close enough, they might even be visible from the comfort of your own home!
After the decision to expand the list of events to take place at Boatnik, there have been concerts taking place since 2017. This year’s guest performer is Stephen Pearcy, the voice of RATT. The concert is on Friday, May 27. Those who are interested can find and purchase tickets on the Boatnik website.
Boatnik is a great event to attend for people looking to celebrate Memorial Day or are just looking for something fun to do. The endless amount of activities to participate in is a great way to spend time.
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