Crescent Bar to celebrate with new River Fest

CRESCENT BAR - Crescent Bar Islanders, who will remain on the island until about 2052, according to an agreement with Grant PUD, are planning to celebrate with a grand re-opening named Crescent Bar River Fest.

The water festival, plus golf, will be held the weekend of June 26-28 at Crescent Bar Island. Those who wish to participate in the many contests that are planned, are asked to register online at CrescentBarRiverFest.com. You may go the same site for additional information.

Crescent Bar River Fest is the brainchild of Jacqueline Stocks-Banks, who grew up on the island. She and her parents are owners of INT League, a water sports event company in Seattle that sets up about 250 competitions a year.

Stocks-Banks was saddened to see the state of Crescent Bar Island last year when she visited. Because of the Wanapum Dam repairs drawdown of the lake, the island was desert-like.

Stocks-Banks thought the place needed to be livened up. She proposed the festival to Crescent Bar Inc. last November, and the leadership agree. All of the permits were recently secured.

"Crescent Bar residents have been an integral part of securing all the permits necessary," Stocks-Banks said. "It was a very long process."

Stocks-Banks, whose family has been staging these events since the 1990s, expects hundreds of participants to sign up for water skiing, wake boarding, wake surfing and other competitions.

"There will be many additional guests who will be attending with their families and friends just to watch," she said.

The golf was Stocks-Banks's husband's idea. He's a golfer. The tournament will pretty much be run by the staff at the pro shop. It will be held on Sunday, June 28.

"We are seeking volunteers to help with the water sports and the golf," Stocks-Banks said.

The festival will need help with traffic and parking on Saturday; ropers in the ski boats on Saturday morning; six to eight boats and crews to block the water way during the competition, two boats in three-hour shifts. If you'd like to volunteer, you may contact Stocks-Banks at Jac@intleague.com.

The water ski course will be set up on Friday, June 26, in the East Channel in front of the public park. There will be great viewing and photo opportunities with high, tree and shrub-dotted cliffs as a backdrop. The channel will be closed to regular traffic all day Saturday.