RiverFest gets people on the water

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - There are many things people can enjoy on area rivers.  RiverFest at IPFW is one festival that shows what activities people can do on the river.

“If you think about lake activity, you can do just about everything that you do on the lakes in the rivers with the exception of going swimming,” said Dan Wire, Friends of the River.

Photos: RiverFest 2012

People were out on pontoons, canoes, standing paddle boats and kayaks all day.

The pontoon boat rides was one of the most popular activities to do.  Last year there were only three pontoon boats. This year there were eight.  When asked how busy the rides had been, one worker said 38 boat rides had taken place the three hours she had been there.

Wire expected activities on the water to expand next year.

“Every day there seems like there is something new coming out,” said Wire.  “The latest craze right now is standup paddle boards, and people are having a blast.  The traditional ways are still good, canoeing, kayaking, row boating, do a little fishing.  Anything works on the river."

The pontoon station was just one of three educational stations at RiverFest providing information on water regions in the region and how to become involved in water related activities.

Nate Richman and some of his friends were out on river on their raft for a third year.

“We have a lot of fun,” Richman said.  “We sit here, grilling, hanging out, having a good time."

Rafts must also follow river and lake regulations.  Richman says he was fined last year for not having enough life jackets on board. He also hopes more people build rafts and bring them out next year.

Irene Walters, a founder and organizer for the one-day festival, said RiverFest wants to expand what people do out on the rivers.

“We want to expand this and grow it and expand the interest in the rivers and we are so open,” said Walters. “I love everybody’s ideas. It takes a village to make this work. The community is so behind it.”

You can send any ideas for new activities at next year’s RiverFest to walters@ipfw.edu and you can contact any of the organizers at RiverFest by clicking here .