Since 1959, The Grants Pass Active Club has held Boatnik every Memorial Day weekend along the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon. For more than 50 years families have enjoyed this five day event that supports the children and youth programs of the communities of Southern Oregon.

The activities start Thursday evening in Riverside Park with the Davis Shows Carnival featuring food, rides, games and family fun. The excitement continues Friday which includes a spectacular fire works display on the river. Saturday morning features the well-known Boatnik parade that travels through downtown and ends at Riverside Park. Throughout the weekend the festivities continue in the park where there are a whirlwind of activities that include: Sprint and Drag boat racing, carnival rides, arts and crafts, Papa John’s pizza eating contest, children’s activities, Bingo, food vendors, Monday Sundaes, the Chevy Drive It Home Golf Shoot Out and a second night of patriotic fireworks. Monday is the highlight of Boatnik featuring the World Famous Tom Rice Memorial White Water Hydroplane Race. Thousands of locals and visitors from around the world come to share the tradition and unique experience of Boatnik.

The Growers’ Market is community in action. For growers and artisans it is a way of life. Our customers experience a sensory extravaganza; spicy petunias, roses and chives, rosemary, thyme, and lavenders, fresh peaches, ripe tomatoes, coffee brewing and donuts frying, wind chimes, hand-scented soaps. There is a silversmith, and an artist in oils, stained glass; the riches of the region shared by friends and neighbors. Fresh eggs, specialty breads, cakes, pies, honey, natural organic beef, seafood, and wood products round out the variety. Members attend from Medford, Butte Falls, Winston, Canyonville, Gold Hill, Roseburg, the Illinois Valley and the Oregon Coast.

SUMMER MARKET (Mar 16 – Oct 26, 2019)
Normal Hours of Operation:
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Downtown Grants Pass, OR
4th & F Street
Grants Pass, OR

Sara and Kenny
May 30th, 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30)
Sara, a classical guitarist from Italy, joined Kenny, a jazz guitar player from Wisconsin in 2015 to form a duo that creates “a sweet rapport with nothing more than their expressive voices and guitars.” Their sound is a meltdown of classical music (Bach, Satie), jazz (Snarky Puppy, Gilad Hekselman, Billie Holiday) and folk (Joni Mitchell, Neil Young). Their diverse and yet unique style portrays music as a form of constant dialogue between our intimate selves and the universe, between the strings of a guitar and the emotions of an audience. $15.00.
www.saraandkenny.com

Southern Oregon Trail Alliance (SOTA) is partnering with the City of Grants Pass to celebrate National Trail Work Day on June 1st at Dollar Mountain. The plan is to do trail maintenance on several sections of the Historic Dollar Mountain Trail.  Meet June 1st at 8:30am at the Dollar Mountain trail head on Crescent Drive.

The trail is steep and the work will be strenuous, so come prepared.  The poison oak is plentiful, so wear pants and sleeves.  Also boots, gloves and glasses are recommended.  Hard hats are not necessary for tread work, but highly recommended.

Dutch Bros is donating coffee, chocolate, Cold Brews, and waters. The City is providing food.  Volunteers will need to sign the City of Grants Pass Volunteer Agreement and listen to a brief safety talk to participate. Until trail improvements can be made this fall on the upper section, bikes are not recommended on the trail. Bikekraft will be providing a free bike safety check and a $3 pint or 10% discount on a one time purchase for volunteers. These can be redeemed at Bikekraft June 1st-June 8th with a voucher. After trail work social will be at Weekend Brewery starting at 4pm.

Contact SOTA via their Facebook Page or email cthorson51@gmail.com. City Parks wgiordano@grantspassoregon.gov or 541-450-6160.