By Everson Taveras
Washington Street blocked off, vintage cars ranging from familiar and popular to peculiar yet eye catching, and 92.5 The River. These were but a few of the many things that took place at the 2013 River Ruckus on Saturday, September 7th in Downtown Haverhill.
When the event began at 2:00 p.m, the attendance appeared scanty at first. But as the heat rose and the music blared from the riverfront behind the Blue Finn Restaurant, it grew exponentially. Over 1,000 people were estimated to have attended the event. Prior to the event, Mayor James Fiorentini arranged for the festival area to be sprayed by early Friday morning, to minimize mosquito activity. All updates and changes regarding weather and mosquito activity were posted accordingly.
“We really try to keep Haverhill as safe and clean as possible for people, so that when they look onto this city, they have something to call their own without shame,” said Bill Chaisson, a member of the Board of Directors. With Washington Street closed from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the parking lot behind The Tap closed from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the full fledged River Ruckus made its presence known throughout the day with performances by the Jason Spooner Band, Marina Evans, Skinny Cleveland, and headliner Aldous Collins Band.
Parking was offered at a rate of $1 for the entire day on Granite Street. The MBTA parking lot was also open to free parking from 2:00 p.m. and on. River Ruckus sponsors consisted of the following: HTM Credit Union, Pentucket and Haverhill Bank, Lowell 5, Pentucket Medical, Whole Foods Market, Rockingham Boat and Trinity EMS. Local food vendors, as well as neighboring restaurants, presented a variety of choice, some even offering specials. Children were kept busy and entertained with activities that included face-painting, balloon animals, sidewalk chalk art, among other things. All activities were organized and provided by Girls, Inc., Trinity Episcopal Church, and the Haverhill YMCA.
“We have a lot of events that take place because of the city. This is one of the events that attempts to extend past Haverhill, to reach other neighboring communities in the Merrimack Valley and beyond,” said Alice Mann, President of Team Haverhill an independent, volunteer action group dedicated to making Haverhill a better place to live, learn, work and play.
But not everything that took place at the River Ruckus was confined solely to land. Kayak Rides on the scenic Merrimack River were available and sponsored by Plum Island Kayak. And to top it all off as evening set, fireworks lit up the night sky as the 2013 River Ruckus came to a close, with a bang loud enough for anyone in the City of Haverhill on September 7th to hear.
Be the first to comment