THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506050033
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
The riverfront rocked as popular demand apparently canceled ``laid-back Sunday'' in favor of some heavy-duty partying to make up for a slow, soggy Saturday at Norfolk's Harborfest and the Portsmouth Seawall Festival.
The two festivals wrapped up with boisterous crowds on each side of the Elizabeth River enjoying the classic rock of the ``Guess Who,'' rousing country with Toby Keith and Beatle revival with ``1964 The Tribute.'' ``We missed Saturday, man. We didn't get down here until the fireworks. So I'm working on my collection today'' said Charlie LaPorte, 23, of Norfolk as he balanced a growing tower of beer cups in one hand and a freshly poured brew in another at Harborfest.
Traditionally, Sunday is the calmer of the three festival days on both sides of the Elizabeth River. But monsoon-like rains early Saturday morning and threatening skies that didn't break until mid-afternoon appeared to have taken a toll on attendance.
LaPorte counted himself among those who delayed coming down Saturday. ``I've been caught in the rain here before,'' he said. ``It's a mess.''
There was nary a threat of rain Sunday, however, and LaPorte was among thousands who jammed along the side of Waterside to whoop it up with Toby Keith on the country stage. And all through Town Point Park, crowds appeared to be heavier than normal on the festival's closing day.
Several busy and happy vendors said Sunday sales seemed to be running ahead of normal and that, overall, they anticipated a good bottom line for the weekend.
``Without looking at any concession receipts yet, I think it was a very successful weekend,'' said Harry Worley, Harborfest's chairman, moments after the flag-lowering ceremony closed the festival.
``We had a rather inauspicious start on Friday,'' he said, when a vendor was injured when a propane tank flared.
``But things improved from there. We dodged the rain and, overall, I'm pleased.''
Today, Worley and all the other volunteers who make both festivals possible will begin to reclaim their lives.
``I'll try and sleep in late and I'll reacquaint myself with my wife, who has been very patient,'' said Worley, adding that festival workers give up a lot to make it all come off right. ``You have children, jobs and the rest of your lives to deal with.''
For most folks, however, the only thought on Sunday was given to finding ways to squeeze one more bit of fun out of the last day - and find a way to beat the heat in the process.
Ray Koon, 34, had the best seat in the house at the Seawall Festival when it came to keeping cool. And there wasn't an air conditioner in sight.
Koon was the target at the dunking booth where he said the ``punishment'' of getting dropped in a vat of cool water was a penalty he could more than happily live with on a day when the temperature felt like it was almost 100.
Koon was among a slew of volunteers who worked the booth, proceeds from which went to Portsmouth School System's Safety Town Program.
The police chief, the fire chief and some members of City Council - including one in a tuxedo - took the seat and were dutifully dropped during the weekend.
Even Mayor Gloria Webb took the plunge.
``Everybody dunked the mayor,'' said Karen Karpowski, 29, of Portsmouth, who helped organize the event.
``She got soaked. I felt real sorry for her.''
Koon, a member of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service who came up from Spartansburg, S.C. to help out, also had been on the wet seat Friday night. ``It was a little chilly then, but it's great today,'' he said.
Koon was the consummate target, taunting those who missed and not even sparing those who hit the mark and sent him down in a splash.
``The first time was luck. Can you do it twice?'' he told one successful thrower. ``I love to talk trash,'' Koon confided. Then he turned on the next contender: ``Can you do any better? It's not strength, it's finesse.''
While Koon's seat was reserved, another wet spot at the Seawall Festival was open to the public. And it was one of the best bargains for a buck: an arm band that got you into a cooling, man-made rain storm - actually, more of a tropical mist - as many times as you wanted.
Soak them and they will come. And hundreds did.
``It's really fun. A lot of fun!'' said a sopping wet Patrick Robert, 23, of Portsmouth, after exiting from the steam-like cloud pouring from the tent's entrance. He said he had been in the tent a couple times Sunday. ``As soon we dry off, we go back in.''
Even a moment in the tent left one soaked, so what does a person do with things like a wallet?
``I'm the holder,'' said Robert's girlfriend, Kate Martinez, 21, of Portsmouth who insisted she would not be going in for a spray, thank you. ``Yes she will!'' promised her dripping, grinning sister, Kelley Martinez, 12.
``This is the thing to do,'' said Kate Messner, 31, as she ushered new customers into the green tent. Asked if business was good, she pointed at a bulging cash bag.
While her tent was busy, the longest lines by far were for another water-based activity that also cost a dollar: crossing the Elizabeth River.
Huge queues, sometimes numbering more than 100, lined the ferry docks on both sides of the river. But the wait was usually short. The cruise ship Carrie B joined the two Elizabeth River ferryboats in shuttling crowds back and forth between the two events.
``I like the festivals,'' said Mary Anne Crump, 57, of Petersburg as she leaned on the railing of the Carrie B, a cool river breeze tangling her hair. ``But this is nice. Very nice. Can we stay out here?'' ILLUSTRATION: SLIP, SLIDING AWAY
RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Staff
Three youths enjoy a slide at Portsmouth's Seawall Festival Sunday.
[Color Photo]
RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Staff
Ray Koon, 34, from Spartanburg, S.C., had the coolest seat in the
house at the Portsmouth Seawall Festival - the dunking booth. Others
who, ahem, volunteered were: the police chief, the fire chief, some
members of City Council and the mayor.
by CNB