Baldwinsville Rotary welcomes the community to their 22nd annual Seneca River Day on June 11 at Mercer Park and Paper Mill Island. This all-day family festival offers free entertainment, activities and competitions for all ages. A popular feature that is integral to the river theme is the Anything That Floats contest. Would you be willing to take on this year’s competitors?
In Anything That Floats, participants are challenged to build a water-worthy raft from recycled materials, spending no more than $50, to race against other teams from Cooper’s Marina to Mercer Park. You cannot use anything that would pollute the river, so it must be a man-powered vessel. You also can’t cheat and use a kit. We want you to use your imagination and be inspired by the recycled materials you find! Teams also dress in costumes and have a theme for their boat for added fun.
A challenge like this is ideal for companies looking for team-building activities, service organizations that want to gain visibility, families that love to compete or anyone who just loves doing outdoor activities. Over the years the event has seen teams from various businesses, the Baldwinsville Public Library, local Lions Clubs and more.
If you think you could tackle this unique project, you can pre-register or register on site the day of the event. Boats will begin lining up at Cooper’s Marina at 3 p.m. with the race starting at 4 p.m. and prizes immediately after at Mercer Park. You can download the registration form, see all the rules and pre-sign your waivers at BaldwinsvilleRotary.org. There is no fee to register and if you win you get cash prizes provided by our sponsor, the Bucci Law Firm. You must be 16 or older to be in the race, with parental consent for minors, and all participants are responsible for providing their own life jackets.
In addition to Anything That Floats, this year’s Seneca River Day will have fun and entertainment for all ages, including an antique car show, food and craft vendors, live music, treasure hunts, a visit from Paw Patrol characters, balloon sculpting, and so much more.
The Anything that Floats contest will be at 4 p.m. and the Great Seneca River Duck Race will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Mercer Park until about a half hour before race time. Live music and food will also be available on Paper Mill Island starting at 6 p.m. and the evening’s fireworks display can be watched from either park.
A full schedule of events and more information is available at BaldwinsvilleRotary.org. All proceeds from this community event go to Baldwinsville Rotary for the service projects they do in our community and around the world.
