|
|
||
Friends of the Rappahannock holds its 19th annual Riverfest to celebrate and support the Rappahannock River Date published: 9/17/2009
BY AARON RICHARDSON
Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, music, fellowship and The event will be held at Farley Vale Farm, situated on a bluff overlooking the tidal Rappahannock in King George County. Riverfest features live music, an open bar and two auctions--and helps fund education and advocacy efforts to protect and celebrate the Rappahannock River. Rebecca Kurylo, FOR's development director, said Riverfest funds about one-third of all the organization's activities during the year. While lots of planning goes into Riverfest each year, FOR Executive Director John Tippett says the opportunity to make a difference fuels his involvement. "The biggest reason I do what I do is a grassroots organization like this presents an incredible opportunity to make a difference everyday," he said. "We've got a remarkable river and our goal is to keep it clean and scenic." Kurylo, for her part, said she is honored to be a part of a group like FOR. "With such a small budget, they do amazing, wonderful things--that's why I work for them," she said. FEEL CRABBY! Riverfest's main draw is an all-you-can-eat crab feast. "Part of Riverfest is celebrating the bounty of our rivers," said FOR Executive Director John Tippett. "We make it a point to get the biggest and best crabs we can." In keeping with the event's environmental theme, Friends of the Rappahannock only buys sustainably harvested crabs. Riverfest gets only large male crabs that have already bred, Kurylo said. Additionally, FOR does not purchase dredged crabs. Dredging is a harvesting method where fishermen drag a cage along the bottom to trap crabs. "Dredging is detrimental to the environment in general, and particularly all other living resources in [the harvested] area," Kurylo explained. ODE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK While crabs may be the event's biggest draw, Riverfest also features top-notch local musicians. This year, the fundraiser features music from Lori Rose Griffith and Peter Mealy, the Glass Onion Band, the Riverside Four and, as always, local folk singer Bob Gramann. "Bob is a tradition at Riverfest," Tippett said.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 9/17/2009
There is no all you can eat crabs at Riverfest anymore.
|
|
||||||||||||||
