ORANGE — While the state’s recent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions didn’t come soon enough to organize a full-fledged Orange Solstice Riverfest, that’s not stopping Billy Goat Boats owner Jerry Whaland from cobbling together the traditional lighted boat parade in time for Saturday night.
The Orange Solstice Riverfest, typically organized by a nine-member planning committee, usually includes the main boat parade as well as food vendors, music, yoga, a 5K road race and, for the first time in 2019, a softball game.
“(The planning committee) wanted to put on a really good festival. They don’t want to throw it together last minute,” said Whaland, who joined the committee in time to help put together the sixth annual Orange Solstice Riverfest in 2019. The event was canceled altogether in 2020 in the wake of the pandemic.
Still, given that Billy Goat Boats already organizes monthly moonlight paddles for when the moon is full, Whaland said, “we felt like we could throw something together, quick and dirty.” Whaland, his wife Samantha Hakala-Whaland and two employees rent canoes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and paddle boats at the Orange Community Boathouse at 25 East River St.
“I basically asked if it would be stepping on anyone’s toes if we organized a very simple lighted boat parade,” he said. “We’re just trying to do our best to keep some part of it alive.”
Brenda Anderson, who also belongs to the Orange Solstice Riverfest’s nine-member planning committee, is pleased to see the lighted boat parade continue this year under Whaland’s direction, even if the full event wasn’t feasible.
“It’s just fun to see all the lights on the river and the fire pits and everything,” said Anderson, who owns Trail Head Outfitters and General Store with her husband, Paul. “Hopefully things will be back to full speed in 2022.”
Saturday’s event will retain the boat parade starting at 9 p.m. as well as music by The Can Collectors outside the boathouse from 8 to 10 p.m. and yoga led by Sara Anne of Yoga Plus Wellness Studio, also at the boathouse, at 7 p.m.
“As much as we can, we like to involve other people,” Whaland said, noting that Rick Innes, owner of Clear View Composting, is contributing a floating fire pit.
Whaland also invited a few food vendors, but hasn’t received confirmation on whether that will be a reality for this year’s event.
Those who are interested in decorating a boat for the lighted boat parade can arrive to the Orange Community Boathouse starting at 6 p.m. Participants can bring their own canoes, kayaks or other non-motorized watercraft, or they can rent one from Billy Goat Boats for a price of $30 for a kayak or $24 for a canoe, plus taxes.
“Canoes are much easier to decorate,” Whaland noted. “There’s a lot of area to them.”
In regards to what kind of decorations should be used, he said, “the brighter, the better.” Each participant is also advised to keep a glow stick and a working flashlight on hand.
Boats will start at the larger boat ramp about a half-mile upstream, then paddle down toward the Orange Community Boathouse and the Fire Station, circling until around 10 p.m. or until the judges have reached their decisions. Whaland said the judging categories haven’t been finalized yet, but gift certificates and possibly even small cash awards are the likely prizes.
“Generally, we don’t know what to expect,” Whaland said of the anticipated turnout for Saturday’s event. The goal, he said, is to “encourage people to get back out and try to feel normal for a day.”
Meanwhile, the Orange Solstice Riverfest planning committee can channel its energy into making a full return in 2022. Whaland himself has been “working really hard in the last six months to get a dragon boat race for next year,” which involves 22-member teams.
Anderson noted that Orange Solstice Riverfest can always use more planning committee members. Those who are interested in joining can call Trail Head Outfitters and General Store at 978-249-8500.
Reach Shelby Ashline at 413-772-0261, ext. 270 or sashline@recorder.com.