The Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Boat Docking Contest and Buyboat Race fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the East River at Williams Wharf Landing in Mathews.

Competition begins around noon, rain or shine. Parking will be available on Williams Wharf Road and at Mathews High School, with free shuttle buses to the site.

Fifteen deadrise workboats from up and down the Chesapeake Bay will compete to see which one can score the best time docking in an offshore slip delineated by poles. This will be followed by a race to see which of eight old Mathews-built Chesapeake Bay buyboats can go the fastest. The three fastest boats in each race will receive trophies.

Vendors will be on-hand all day, providing everything from food and drinks to clothing and jewelry. Anheuser-Busch is providing beer free of charge throughout the day, while spiked orange crush drinks will be available for purchase. There will be four food trucks.

Entertainment will be by two Southern rock and country bands—Part Time and Edison & Co.—along with DJ Tommy Eriksen. Hunter Owens will sing the National Anthem. For children, there will be a kids’ zone, with fire service-related inflatables.

A large number of workboats and pleasure craft are projected to be in attendance, anchoring in designated areas in the East River. Workboat personnel will be able to walk to shore, while a shuttle boat will be available for those arriving in pleasure craft.

Tickets are $40, with beer included. They are available in Mathews at the Mathews County Visitors Center or Ace Hardware, in Gloucester at Phillips Energy or Chimney Corner Lawnmower, in Deltaville at J&W Seafood, and online with the accompanying QR code. Children 10 and under are free of charge.