If you’re looking for things to do this summer in Las Cruces NM, then Mark your calendar for the Southwest Environmental Center’s 14th annual “Raft the Rio” will be held Saturday, June 11, on the Rio Grande, near Las Cruces.
I blogged about this family-friendly Raft the Rio event last year in this post. I attended the event with my grandson and we had a blast!
The event is open to individuals and teams of all ages willing to get wet and have fun. Creativity and the use of discarded materials in building rafts are highly encouraged.
The 3-mile rafting adventure will begin at La Llorona Park beneath the Picacho Avenue bridge, and end upstream from the Calle del Norte Bridge (“Mesilla Bridge”). Refreshments, food vendors and live music will be available at the finish line.
Prizes will be awarded to homemade boats in the following categories: first to finish, least likely to finish (must be floating at start of race), best use of recycled materials, most spirited (most enthusiastic crew), best theme (most thorough application of a theme to vessel and crew), and Champion of the River (best promotes appreciation for the Rio Grande).
This year there are two divisions – kids and open. Prizes will be awarded in both divisions. The kids division race begins at 10 a.m, followed by the open division at 10:15 a.m.
To be eligible for the kids’ division, at least half the sailors on a boat must be under 13 years of age. Advance registration will open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Monday, May 23, at the Southwest Environmental Center, 275 N. Main St.
The river is expected to be full, due to releases of irrigation water from Caballo Reservoir. Teams may register at the starting line beginning at 8 a.m., or in advance by contacting the Southwest Environmental Center.
The entry fee is $10 per raft in advance or $20 on race day, plus $5 for each crew member 13 years and older (after the first two). Motorized crafts are not allowed. New Mexico law requires that children 12 and under wear personal flotation devices.
Participants who are also members of the Southwest Environmental Center will be entered in a drawing to win an exciting whitewater raft trip for two on the Rio Grande near Taos, N.M., courtesy of event sponsor Far Flung Adventures. In keeping with the environmental spirit of the event, participants are encouraged to minimize their purchase of new materials for making rafts.
For more information, visit www.wildmesquite.org or call the Southwest Environmental Center at 522-5552.
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