Friday July 30th After the Release Fun!!!

3-4 pm Kids Family Fun Race

Last year’s premier of our family fun kid’s race was a success. Many entries resulted in a very special occasion, separate and meaningful to those who participated. So special that we are featuring the race this year on it’s own day. Friday July 30th. Between 3 – 4 pm we will be registering children with guardians at the parking lot across the street from Mountain Surf . A $15 fee will cover the insurance and t-shirt. The race will start shortly there after. The race starting line goes from the rout 68 bridge to the Town Park take out. Practice up!!! There’s going to be some real competition this year. Just have your kid’s meet you when you get to the 68 bridge after your Upper run and go with them around the corner to the park. It’s a class 2; one mile run with interesting water features the whole way.

5:30 pm Kids race Awards ceremony

At the Hoe Down Barn we will be honoring our champions with Distinctive awards of honor and prizes for all. Kids, bring old clothing for scarecrow building contest. 

6 pm LVM’s (Lunch Video Magazine) latest release.

There will be a 1-hour showing at the Hoe Down barn of Lunch Video Magazine’s latest release. Than after the band starts a continuous silent showing of oldies but goodies.

Mechanical Bull

All night, Enough said, $5 for two rides. Your gonna get your _ _ _ kicked!

Rope IRoger the Rodeo kayaker Clown

Off to the Rodeo-Sometime during the evening IRoger the Rodeo clown will appear and ride the Mechanical Bull as well as run around it. Pay to rope IRoger with a real laso, win IR prizes and hog tie him if you can for the grand prize, these proceeds go directly to American Whitewater.

7-12 pm Upper Yough ?Hoe Down?, Ole Fassion Barn Dance

Yup! An OLE Fashion Barn Hoe down on July 30^th, Friday night from 7pm–12pm. $5.00 door fee. This is a real barn with hay bails and horse crap! We’ll have a free keg while it lasts you may want to b.y.o.m.b. that’s mud boots. Just outside of Friendsville. “From The Hip” will be firing up a special selection of foot stompin, heal kikin music for our enjoyment. Park and camp on the farm grounds. Or crash in the hay in the barn, no promises on snoring. Bring your flashlight; scattered darkness is in the forecast.

The Hoe Down Barn is 2.5 miles From Friendsville:

· From Mountain Surf go West ( toward the freeway)

· Turn right at the stop sign, go 1.5 miles on rout 42

· Turn right on Blooming Rose road at top of hill, go .6 miles

· Turn left at stop sign on unmarked road (old Morgantown) go .4 miles

· Park only in the field well marked to the right, Yee Haw, sees ya there!

Saturday July 31st

5 pm Festival, Boat Swap and Race Award ceremony

Welcome to the 2^nd Upper Yough Festival and used boat swap, Featuring a small town America, family atmosphere folk / bluegrass whitewater weekend. The release is scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm. We scheduled the race dam release this year on a Saturday so that more boaters could enjoy their lake water and festivities.

The festival is being held at the Friendsville Town Park. Your $5.00 entry fee will include booth presents of your favorite whitewater industry representatives. Hometown food venders will be service ready just after the dam release hit?s Town. And the official Upper Yough Band, “From The Hip” will be foot stompin the crowd all evening with it’s fast pace folk / bluegrass music. Bring your used boat, throw it out on the yard with a price tag and start fission for bites. Don’t forget!!! Unlike other festivals we have a huge open-air roof, which makes for a good, dry, foot stompin rain dance party. Rain or shine come on down.

4 pm The 24th Upper Yough Race

On Friday Night July30^th at the Hoe Down and Saturday morning July 31^st at 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, we will be taking registration for the 24^th Upper Yough Race at the Friendsville Town Park. Due to increased insurance costs entry fee is $30.00 and includes, insurance, timing with prompt printed results, T-shirt, Band, Prizes, finish line refreshments, and Festival admittance. Food will be available at your cost.

The race will start 4:00 PM. at Gap falls stretch rock to Kendell pool. The starter will set racers off at 1-minute intervals. Those who want to race with a friend for safety or fun purposes will need to present themselves to registration at the same time. Registration will END Promptly at NOON! The starting positions will be posted shortly there after. Driving and boating to the starting line will take you around 1 hour. Please give yourself plenty of time to get to the starting line.

Boat classes include Men’s, Women’s, Wildwater, Wavehopper, Slalom, K2, Creek boat, Play boat, Canoe, Ducky, Raft. The result publication will reflect all of these classes for your enjoyment and recognition. Notice that traditionally we tend to reward speed when it comes to prizes. We get into classes after the top 6 fastest men and women receive their prize and recognition. If you want to be in the top six you will probably need great boating skill, many runs down the Upper, a longer boat and good physical conditioning. You certainly need this formula to poses, for one year the coveted legacy Cup which is held by The Champ’s Jess Whittemore and Chara Whittemore at present.

Special request to the general boating public from Team Friendsville regarding the use of Saturday’s special “Upper Yough Race Dam Release”. We ask that you respect the desire of our racers to have an open and clear racecourse. The race starts near the end of the release, 4:00 pm. Please be aware of time pull over and watch our Countries finest citizen and U.S. team racers compete for the coveted Cup. If the race is pulled off with a clear course, look forwards to annual Saturday race water dates.

Team Friendsville is hoping for a large turn out. We are spending ambitiously on fun event features. Any proceeds above event expenses will split up three ways for donations to American Whitewater, Friendsville Volunteer Fire Dept. and a modest race purse. Big events need big help; if you frequent the Upper Yough and have a little time we would like you to join our group of volunteer members. We mostly like to go boating and eat and oh ya plan and execute this event.

Team Friendsville hopes you can make it! All that fun on the Upper Yough! Ask for your Friday off now and don’t miss it! Any Questions Call or e-mail Jess at: Day: 301-616-8479 Evening: 301-746-4040 or email at jess@iceweb.net.

Area Lodging:

Yough Valley Motel is in Friendsville and has graciously offered a 10% discount for July 30^th and 31^st off of their already great rate for Upper Yough Festival people. To reserve a room at the take out call: 301-746-5836

Click here for other area lodging and camping!