Boatnik History
In this article, Kaylee talks about the history behind Boatnik and how much it has affected Grants Pass's future events.
What is the history behind boatnik? is it worth it?
By Kaylee Brazzle
Boatnik has always been such a fun and entertaining field day everywhere we walk. There are parades, a festival and endless amounts of funnel cakes that will give you stomach pain. However, so many people are unaware of the history behind the quaint fair that is Boatnik.
Boatnik originally was meant for boat races in the late 1940s but, sadly, there had been multiple incidents and, in 1997, the boat racing sport suffered three deaths and was shut down for a short period of time. According to the California Oregon River Racers website, “Starting with the Labor Day Grants Pass race in 1997 till present, all racing has been conducted point to point with restarts at both ends. There is no two-way racing allowed unless the course is divided by a buoy line”. Currently, these boat races are the largest events ever held in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Around 10 years after the boat races started, the Active Club (A Non-Profit Organization that helps the youth of Southern Oregon) created a fun festival to celebrate the boat races and all the glory that came with it. They made the festival throughout Memorial Weekend to celebrate all of the soldiers that have fought and served. This has continued for more than 60 years, making it one of the more well-known events in Oregon.
For the past 20 years or so, Boatnik has been hosted at Riverside Park and the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The events that are hosted are the Brewfest, the Carnival and, most importantly, the parade. The parade showcases important groups in Grants Pass, like the high school teams, the theater companies, and so many different sports in our area. According to The Boatnik Official Website, “Throughout the weekend the festivities continue in the park where there are a whirlwind of activities that include: Sprint and Drag boat racing, carnival rides, arts and crafts, children's activities, Bingo, etc.”. There will always be a fun time if you indeed attend this very festivity that our state thrives on.
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