Mathews Volunteer Fire Department’s East Riverfest Boat Docking and Fireworks Celebration, to be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at Williams Wharf in Mathews, promises to be a day of excitement, entertainment, food, and family fun for the thousands of people expected to attend. It will end with a free fireworks display over the East River.
Event coordinator Neal Hudgins said that, after the success of last summer’s boat docking contest, this year’s all-day event is projected to draw around 5,000 people. He urges those attending to purchase their tickets in advance to minimize the wait on the day of the contest.
The boat docking contest is a timed race, with each boat seeking to have the fastest time from a dead stop to tying off in a slip. Boats have to take off, approach four pilings that represent a slip, back into the slip, and tie up. Fifteen boats will vie for this year’s title, with crew names that are often colorful and descriptive, including Captain Scott “Wild Man” Wivel...