Port pledges $500 for RiverFest

The Port of Whitman County two weeks ago voted to give $500 for the RiverFest event slated for Sept. 30 at Granite Lake Park in Clarkston.

The event is planned jointly between the cities of Clarkston and Lewiston, as well as their chambers. The ports of Clarkston and Lewiston also sponsor the event and approached the Port of Whitman to donate $500 to help with the funding for it this year.

Before deciding to go ahead with the $500 commitment, the commissioners wanted to know how much each of the other ports had contributed to the Snake River Family Festival that the Port of Whitman County put on at Boyer Park & Marina in May. The Port of Clarkston had contributed $2,000, while the Port of Lewiston had contributed $3,000.

“I would be in support of it for reciprocal purposes,” said Port Commissioner Kristine Meyer. Commissioners Tom Kammerzell and John Love agreed.

The vote to give the full request of $500 was unanimous.

Commissioner Kammerzell noted RiverFest will essentially be “a toned-down” version of the Snake River Family Festival.

RiverFest is booked from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Granite Lake Park in Clarkston. It will include vendor and food booths at the park, children’s and adult games, watercraft and water safety demonstrations, live music and entertainment and a beer and wine garden for those 21 and older. It will kick off Saturday morning with the Rivers and Ridges Cycling Event. The century ride (100 miles) will line up at 7:30 a.m. and begin at 8 a.m. The 50 and 25-mile start is slated for 12 p.m., and the 15 and seven-mile start will follow at 12:15 p.m.