The Potomac River Festival - a weekend of sun, fun and celebration in Colonial Beach
The annual Potomac River Festival has been taking place for nearly 60 years in Colonial Beach. It's a weekend-long event in mid-June with fun for the whole family. The gentle river breezes and warm sunshine make for a great time as you take in all the fun-filled events, sights and sounds of this wonderful festival.
Friday
The Potomac River Festival usually kicks off at 7:30pm with the Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department Parade. If you've never been, you should know that it's quite a sight, as well as quite an earful! Those engines will have their horns and sirens blaring, and lights flashing. The Miss Colonial Beach Pageant also takes place during the Friday evening festivities, and there's a Carnival too. It usually arrives on the Wednesday before Festival weekend.
Saturday
The Boardwalk Arts and Crafts Fair typically starts at 10:00am, on the boardwalk of course, and goes until 6:00pm. You'll find various vendors with all sorts of wares such as food, jewelry, wood sculptures, yard ornaments, furniture, antiques, sewn items, dolls, candles and other knick-knacks. Here's a tip: Buy it when you see it, because if you come back for it later, you won't be able to find it.
DJ on Town Hill provides music for your listening pleasure. Heck, you can even get up and dance if you feel like it. Oftentimes, line dancing will take place and it's a blast!
Grand Feature Parade and entertainment starts at 1:00pm and is so much fun! You'll see some great bands and floats as they make their way through the streets from their beginning point at the High School. Sometimes there's a Majorette competition on the schedule too.
Live Bands on Town Stage will provide the music for an enjoyable afternoon and evening concert.
A grand display of Fireworks cap off a great day of festival fun and usually begin at 9:00pm. Get there early as the beach area fills up quick! There's always a good turnout for this event because Colonial Beach always puts on a great fireworks show. I sometimes park near the BB&T bank branch and walk a few blocks. It's a good idea to bring chairs or a blanket to set down - especially if you're in the sandy part of the beach area. A flashlight is also helpful.
Sunday
The Boardwalk Arts and Crafts Fair usually starts at 10:00am and will last until 4:00pm on Sunday.
DJ on Town Hill around 1pm provides music for dancing and maybe even Karaoke.
Colonial Beach Yacht Club Boat Parade travels from Monroe Bay up to the Town Pier. Get your cameras ready for all the beautiful boats as they make their way to the Pier area.
Pet Parade usually begins at 2:00pm at the town stage. Ponder pretty pooches prancing past parade participants. It is so cute to see all these dogs in costume participating in a parade. Of course there's judging and your dog may even win a prize!
Potomac River Festival events and times are subject to change, so be sure to stay tuned to this page and the
blog
for the latest schedule!
58th Annual Potomac River Festival
(2009) Schedule of Events
|
DATE |
TIME |
EVENT |
PLACE |
|
Wednesday 6/10 |
5:00 9:00 |
Carnival Arrives (CBVFD Ladies Aux.) |
Behind Town Hill |
|
|
|
Family Night |
|
|
Friday, June 12 |
7:00 9:00 |
Fire Truck Parade (CBVFD) |
|
|
|
Following the Fire Truck parade |
Miss Colonial Beach (CBVFD Ladies Aux.) |
Town Stage |
|
Saturday, June 13 |
10:00 5:00 |
Arts & Crafts |
Boardwalk |
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
Food Vendors |
Boardwalk |
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
T-Shirt Sale |
|
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
50/50 Ticket Sale |
|
|
|
10:00 9:00 |
Water, Soda, Beer & Wine Sale (Chamber) |
Town Hill |
|
|
11:30 12:30 |
Luncheon for Dignitaries |
|
|
|
9:00 12:00 |
Grand Parade Lineup |
CB High School |
|
|
1:00 3:00 |
Grand Parade |
Parade Route |
|
|
Following the Parade |
Parade Awards Ceremony |
Town Stage |
|
|
4:00 5:30 |
Majorette Competition |
Fisheries Commission |
|
|
6:00 |
Majorette Awards Ceremony |
Fisheries Commission |
|
|
3:00 6:00 |
Entertainment Band: Old School |
Town Stage |
|
|
6:00 Fireworks |
Entertainment Band: Night Hawks |
Town Stage |
|
|
9:00 9:30 |
Fireworks (Dusk) |
Town Pier |
|
Sunday, June 14 |
|
Entertainment: Gospel Music |
Town Stage |
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
Arts & Crafts |
Boardwalk |
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
Food Vendors |
Boardwalk |
|
|
10:00 5:00 |
T-Shirt Sale |
|
|
|
1:00 |
Boat Parade |
River |
|
|
2:00 |
Pet Parade |
Town Hill |
|
|
2:30 |
Pet Parade Awards Ceremony |
Town Stage |
*Schedule is subject to change
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