St. Clair Riverfest Off, St. Clair River Classic Still A Go

Mild to severe panic and fury rippled through the offshore race community this afternoon when Funfest Productions, Inc., the producers of the St. Clair Riverfest happening, set for July 31-August 1, in Southern Michigan announced less than an hour ago that this year’s event is cancelled. A weekend of concerts and more, the event runs concurrently with the August 1. St. Clair River Classic, the fourth race of the second-year American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship Series.

Despite the cancellation of a concurrent event, the St. Clair River Classic offshore powerboat race is on this year. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

But while Riverfest is off, the St. Clair River Classic is still on. Bob Currier, the lead organizer of the longtime race on the Offshore Powerboat Association schedule,.confirmed late this afternoon.

“We are moving forward, with a scaled-back venue and entertainment based on what’s happening with COVID-19, to still be able to give the racers a place to race and for the fans who want come down and watching great racing,” he said via telephone interview.

The Riverfest announcement was made through the 15th annual event’s Facebook and Instagram social media portals. Currier and other members of his organizing team and the locally based Bluewater Offshore Racing Association had been informed the announcement was coming. But the posted event-cancellation message, he said, was incomplete.

“We ask them to pair that announcement with a message that the boat race was not cancelled,” he said. “Obviously, that didn’t’ happen.”

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