Page 130 - Clackamas County Watertourism Strategic Plan. Final.v3

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WATER-BASED TOURISM IN CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON THE OPPORTUNITIES
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Recommendation 40: Create the Oregon River Celebration
Oregon City and West Linn should combine forces to create a river festival unlike any other the state has seen. The Oregon River Celebration should be a two
Put Clackamas
or three-day event to celebrate the Willamette’s heritage and its role in founding of the State of Oregon. It will celebrate the Falls and its importance to
“On the Map”
Native American culture and the industrial revolution. It will celebrate the river’s natural history from the power of the hydraulics, to the mysteries of
spawning salmon. The Oregon River Celebration will remind people why this location was so important to so many people for such a long time. In so doing,
the event will highlight and promote all that is fun about the river. It will bring together the wide range recreational activities that occur on the river and
possibly introduce new ones. The event will become a cross-sectional rally of all river users from the local water ski clubs to rowing teams, to fishing guides,
to river tour operators and paddling guides. Each organization will take advantage of the visiting crowds to promote its sport and each sport will attract
spectators in its own way. Together they will create an upward spiral with river providers
attracting visitors, and visitors building up new river tourism markets for the entire county. The
local water ski club, Portland Water Spectacular, will perform; the Lake Oswego Community
Rowing can hold a regatta; kayak, canoe and dragon boat races can be held; fishing guides can hold
casting lessons and teach about the unique elements of Willamette River fisheries, and non-
motorized paddle sports can be available all day. A river parade can be used to get everyone on
the water. In addition to recreation, the working river history should be remembered. Tug boat
operators can give tours and talk about their work; and ours of the paper mills and hydroelectric
plants can be held. Nighttime events can include riverboat tours, music, art walks, and talks in
venues scattered throughout downtowns of West Linn and Oregon City. The museums will stay
open late and have special events. Restaurants can participate by hosting events and creating
special menus. Like the Falls itself, the celebration will have multiple purposes and attract groups
across a wide spectrum of interests. It will be used to attract attention to the river, build a market,
and eventually create a new tradition and annual destination for all Oregonians. Most river
celebrations start small with a dedicated following. Eventually they grow with corporate
sponsorship and public support. Over time, a river celebration at this location, for these historic
reasons, and with this wide range of sectorial interests, can be combined to become Oregon’s
largest and greatest river celebration.