Head of the Charles This Weekend

The Head of the Charles Regatta returns this weekend with its exciting boat races, big crowds of cheering fans, corporate sponsor tents -- and inevitable tearing up of the lovely fields along the southern side of the Charles River at Herter Park and Artesani Park.  One major change from previous years:  there will no longer be a Saturday afternoon practice time, since that short time slot had resulted in as many as 700 shells working out on the river in two hour time window!

The Boston Globe has a series of stories on the event, along with a schedule of the Saturday and Sunday races and a viewer's guide.  

Where to watch it?



My favorite spot is from the downstream base of the Eliot Bridge on the Allston side.  At that location, the boats are nearing the end of navigating a hairpin corner -- and this spot is late enough in the race that many faster boats are trying to pass the slower ones.  (The slower boat is required to yield the inside lane to the faster boat...  but that doesn't always happen.)  The result:  inexperienced, slow boats end up close to running aground on the outer corner at the Cambridge Boat Club, and the occasional boat scrapes the supports of the Eliot Bridge; once I even saw a boat make a much harder collision with the bridge.  Fun for spectators, but not for the coxswains who need a stiff drink at the end of the race.

Lots of people like to stand along the top of the various bridges along these corners and peer over the side:  the Weeks Memorial Footbridge, the Larz Anderson Bridge, and the Eliot Bridge.

In case you didn't figure it out:  avoid Memorial Drive all weekend, and also avoid much of Soldiers Field Road while you're at it.

Brighton-Allston Bicentennial Riverfest Last Saturday

Last Saturday was the Brighton-Allston Bicentennial's Riverfest at Herter Park along the Charles River. Event co-chairs Catherine McGarty and Tim Schofield put on a great event with lots of activities oriented towards families. Many, many volunteers contributed their time, too, so that the event seemed to happen without a hitch.

View of the festivities from the Charles River:


Boat ride on the Charles, with tour guide Charlie Vasiliades:

Many adults quickly figured out that this boat was the only place in the event that had a (cash) bar.

Pony rides:


And, of course, the requisite "moon walk" -- actually a castle:

Riverfest This Saturday (6/16) at Herter Park Along the Charles River

Brighton-Allston Bicentennial 2007

Riverfest at the Charles River
Saturday, June 16, 2007
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Herter Park
Brighton, MA
A-B TAB Community Notes listing

We expect thousands to attend this major outdoor family-friendly event, which will offer fun, food, and festivities for all ages including music, pony rides, face painting, clowns, art exhibits, and boat rides on the Charles River. The River Fair will take place in Herter Park, which hugs the Charles River in Allston-Brighton and includes playgrounds, picnic tables, a theater, and ample free parking.

How to find it? Located between the Arsenal Street Bridge and the Eliot Bridge on the south side of the Charles River. Direct access from North Brighton/Allston via Everett Street.

Children’s Activities 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Get free tickets at the “Welcome Tent.”

10 a.m.-4 p.m.(tentative) — Fishing lessons along river;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Pony rides-four ponies at the Children’s Grove;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — 20-by-20 moonbounce at Riverside;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Children’s Hi Striker Children’s Grove;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Speed Pitch-attended at Riverside;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Inflatable Obstacle Course at Riverside;

10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.— Magic Shows, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. at the Children’s Grove Tent; between magic shows— Additional child games and entertainment in the Children’s Grove Tent;

11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Face decorating and stamping in the Children’s Grove;

11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Bubble Entertainment and Bubble Blowing in the Children’s Grove;

11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Balloon entertainment in Wandering;

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Boat rides on the hour, $5, river dock (buy tickets at the Welcome Tent);

10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Adult Hi Striker at Children’s Grove.

Music Stage 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

10-10:55 a.m. — Phil Ayoub;

11:15 a.m.-12:10 p.m. — Grupo Chevere;

12:30-1:25 p.m. — Half Moon;

1:30-2 p.m. (tentative) Mayor Thomas Menino;

2-3:45 p.m. — Joshua Tree;

4:05-5 p.m. — Soul City;

5:15-6 p.m. — Sinha Capoeira.

Volunteers are needed. Please call Tim Schofield at 617-557-4545 or Theresa Hynes at 617-782-1718.