International powerboat festival a roaring success

Troy Shantz Sarnia residents were treated to live music, great food and exciting powerboat racing when the 6th annual Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat festival landed at the St. Clair River on Aug. 12 to 14.

Troy Shantz

Sarnia residents were treated to live music, great food and exciting powerboat racing when the 6th annual Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat festival landed at the St. Clair River on Aug. 12 to 14.

The weekend included two nights of live music, including The Down River Band and Monster Truck on Friday, and I Mother Earth and Silver Stone Satellite on Saturday.

Daytime festivities were geared to the whole family, with craft vendors, buskers and various kids’ activities such as inflatables, face painting and balloon artists.

But the big draw was the powerboats: loud, bright, and achieving speeds of nearly 100 mph (160 km/hr.).

The festival is a popular destination for powerboat fans, as the races are a part of the 2016 Offshore Powerboat Association schedule.

The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators, and through sponsorship has raised nearly $100,000 for local charities. This year’s proceeds will go to The Chris Dawson Foundation, Bluewater Taekwondo, St. Clair Taekwondo, Bluewater Boxing and The Jim Stokley Foundation.

Mason Anderson, 4, plays with a balloon 'light sabre' at the Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat Festival, on Sunday. The event included buskers, inflatables, crafts and balloon artists. Troy Shantz
Mason Anderson, 4, plays with a balloon ‘light sabre’ at the Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat Festival, on Sunday. The event included buskers, inflatables, crafts and balloon artists.Troy Shantz

Lead singer and guitarist Valley Gilhuly, left, and Travis Bernard of The Down River Band performed on Friday night. Troy Shantz
Lead singer and guitarist Valley Gilhuly, left, and Travis Bernard of The Down River Band performed on Friday night.Troy Shantz

Accompanied by her sisters and mother, five-month-old Aalyiah Charron wears ear protection during the boat races. Troy Shantz
Accompanied by her sisters and mother, five-month-old Aalyiah Charron wears ear protection during the boat races.Troy Shantz

From left, Cohen, Corbin and Emerson Beaudoin, all from Sarnia, take a closer look at classic Canadian Powerboat Miss Supertest III, which was on display at the Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat Festival. Troy Shantz
From left, Cohen, Corbin and Emerson Beaudoin, all from Sarnia, take a closer look at classic Canadian Powerboat Miss Supertest III, which was on display at the Sarnia-Port Huron International Powerboat Festival.Troy Shantz

Photographer Mike L'Heureux checks out a photo he took during a powerboat race. Troy Shantz
Photographer Mike L’Heureux checks out a photo he took during a powerboat race.Troy Shantz

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