Our Voice: Water Follies benefits whole community
It wouldn’t be summer in the Tri-Cities without the roar of hydroplanes in late July.
The Tri-City Water Follies HAPO Columbia Cup & Air Show is this weekend, marking the 51st year of boat races on the Columbia River.
The event has become such a tradition, it is easy to take it for granted. But it takes a tremendous amount of work and organization by Water Follies officials and volunteers to pull off this major attraction every year.
There are only five sites in the nation on the official unlimited hydroplane schedule and our community is one them. Boat race weekend is when the Tri-Cities hits the national radar, allowing us to show off our sunny weather and community spirit.
The lifeblood of the Tri-City Water Follies is the volunteers who prepare all year for this one amazing spectacle. Then, during the weekend, they devote countless hours to making sure the event is safe and runs smoothly. It is no small feat, considering the influx of 70,000 people on both sides of the river.
In addition to the boost the boat races give to hotels, restaurants and businesses in the community, the event also provides fundraising opportunities for many nonprofits. According to the Tri-City Water Follies Association website, more than $20,000 goes to community groups who help with parking cars, selling programs, taking tickets and traffic control.
The boat races also allow otherservice groups to sell food and beverages, giving them an opportunity to boost their budgets for the year and do even more good in the community.
The excitement gets going Friday when admission is free for everyone.
One-day admission for Saturday is $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Admission on Sunday is $25 for adults and $5 for kids.
A two-day pass is $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 6 to 12. Children age 5 and younger are free.
For an extra $10 a day, fans can buy access to the pit area and get a closer look at the hydroplanes. Three-day event passes with admission are $45.
In addition to the boat races, the air show will entertain crowds with performances from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m Friday through Sunday.
On Saturday and Sunday, kids can visit the free Kid Zone areas, which will be set up on both sides of the river with inflatable toys, arts and crafts, face painting and other activities. Helicopter rides and laser tag also will be part of the fun in Columbia Park.
And for those who may want a different kind of outing, the annual Art in the Park festival attracts hundreds of regional and national artists. They will be displaying their wares at Howard Amon Park in Richland on Friday and Saturday, and local entertainment also will be featured. Admission is free.
This is one of the best weekends in the year for the Tri-City community. So if you haven’t been to the races or the art show for a while, check them out and enjoy the fun.
For more information on this weekend’s activities, go to the Water Follies Association website at waterfollies.com. It can give you details about parking, bus service to the park, where to buy tickets and many other tips.
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 2:47 AM with the headline "Our Voice: Water Follies benefits whole community."