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” Wivell of the Lady Lynnae, and Captain Sydney “Dock It Like a Girl” Hughes aboard the Wild Child.
Captain Dereck Hoy and his boat The Crusher will be back to defend last year’s title; while local sisters Captain Karen Townsend and Debbie Smith will once again compete on the Miss Karen.
Other names familiar to those who follow the boat docking circuit are Captain Lee Smith and wife Cindy aboard the Island Pride 2; Captain Jamie Marshall aboard the Heather Nicole; Captain Kenneth Heath on the Thomas Jaiden; Captain Bobby Matthews of the Heaven Sent; Captain Shannon Gay aboard the Rainbow Chaser; Captain Treavor Green on the Gwynn’s Island-built Lady Luck; Captain Tye Burns on the Blown Away; Captain Danny Haddaway of the Hard to Handle; Captain Brandon Gough aboard the Naomi Ash; and Captain Darryl Pittman on the Miss Jo Lynne.
Entertainment will include tunes by DJ Tommy Eriksen throughout the day, with local band Part Time taking the stage from 6-10 p.m. to start off the fireworks show.
Nearly a dozen food vendors will be on hand with a wide variety of foods—Captain Harrell and Sons Seafood Kitchen, with everything from crab cakes and soft crabs to scallops, shrimp, and fish; Maddy May’s with charcuterie, parfaits, and freshly squeezed lemonade; Two Salty River Chics with burgers, wraps, Philly cheese steaks, flounder, shrimp, fried Oreos, and more; Turn’t Teas, with a wide range of flavored teas to choose from; On the Flip Side, with Asian American cuisine; and more.
Other booths will include the T-shirt vendor Chesapeake Cowboys, Canine Companions, and sales of the event T-shirts. A boat will be selling event T-shirts on the river, as well. They will be available in four colors—salmon, yellow, teal, and heather grey—for $25 each.
More than 50 businesses have signed up to be sponsors of the event, said Hudgins, and more are welcome.
Attendees are welcome to bring chairs, said Hudgins, but coolers and umbrellas are not permitted. Tents will be set up for shade, there will be bleachers for spectators, and lawn seating will be open for watching the fireworks. ID will be required so organizers can receive proof of age, with wristbands provided for re-entry if needed; anyone 21 and over will get a different color bracelet.
Shuttle boats will operate throughout the day to give people anchored in the East River a ride to the landing, said Hudgins. Crews will be available on VHF channel 18. There will be security on-site, and Mathews County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be present throughout the day.
Tickets to the boat docking contest are $35 for adults, available online at mathewsvfd.org/index.php/boat-docking-contest or in person at Southern States in Gloucester, Hurd’s True Value in Deltaville, Hudgins Horn Harbor Marina in Port Haywood, and all three M&M Building Supply locations—Mathews, Port Haywood and Hartfield.
Fireworks
The fireworks show is open to the public free of charge, with gates opening for entry at 7 p.m. The fire department took on the fireworks this year, hiring a company from Roanoke to stage the display.
Mathews County had $15,000 set aside for fireworks, said Hudgins, and that will be used for the show, along with $6,000 in MVFD funds. He said a fireman’s booth will be set up for donations to help offset the cost.
Parking will be at the field at Williams Wharf Road, until full, and all day at Mathews High School. Shuttle buses will be shuttling people to and from both spots all day.
