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Unlimiteds Madison Regatta This Weekend
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Madison Regatta weekend has southern Indiana city bracing for excitement
MADISON, Ind. (WDRB) -- All is quiet in Madison this week, but that's going to change coming up in a few days when the races begin down the Ohio River, a marking of time in the historic Indiana city.
More than 25,000 people will visit for one of the top boat races in the world, and preparations for it began more than a year ago. The races bring in more than $5 million to the city, three days of music, vendors and race fans, many who started setting up Tuesday.
"I can’t put it into words," said Jake McCormick, president of the Madison Regatta. "As someone who is part of it and boat racing my whole life, the event itself and just the people coming together and the mass movement and change of a city is pretty amazing."
Alexus Gulley opened her ice cream shop in downtown Madison just four months ago, but this weekend will be her first taste of the Madison Regatta and the crowds of fans that come with it.
Alexus Gulley is preparing for large crowds at her ice cream shop during Madison Regatta weekend. July 2, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
"They told us to be prepared," she said Tuesday. "They said it is all day, everyday, non-stop business."
The Madison Regatta is one of the largest hydroplane races in the U.S. For many fans, it's a tradition and a reunion.
"It’s just sense of community and just seeing a lot of other people that I don’t get to see a lot in Madison," said Chuck Stewart, who is camping waterfront in advance of the races. He often books his camping spot along the river a year in advance.
Gulley said all of her extended family will be working at her ice cream shop this weekend, which makes up her whole staff. She's not from Madison but knows to be prepared for crowds.
"We have probably tripled what we normally order this weekend," she said. "It’s exciting for us, just being new to Madison and then having potential people come in that haven’t been here yet. We are pretty excited for it."
Since 2018, regatta day has been accompanied by the Roostertail Music Festival. The schedule for this year's festival is below:
Friday
4 p.m.: Gates Open
5-6 p.m.: Erin Vaincourt
6:20-7:20 p.m.: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
7:45-9 p.m.: The Steel Woods
9:30-11:15 p.m.: Blackberry Smoke
11:20 p.m. to 1:20 a.m.: Isaac Rudd & the Revolvers
Saturday
2:30 p.m.: Gates Open
3:30-4:20 p.m.: Taylor Hunnicutt
4:40-5:30 p.m.: Ritch Henderson
5:50-6:50 p.m.: Stephen Wilson Jr.
7:10-8:25 p.m.: Mike and the Moonpies
8:45-10 p.m.: Wyatt Flores
10:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.: 49 Winchester
12:05-2 a.m.: Hot Brown Smackdown
https://www.wdrb.com/news/madison-r...cle_e1b77592-389e-11ef-ae67-234d4ab93166.html
MADISON, Ind. (WDRB) -- All is quiet in Madison this week, but that's going to change coming up in a few days when the races begin down the Ohio River, a marking of time in the historic Indiana city.
More than 25,000 people will visit for one of the top boat races in the world, and preparations for it began more than a year ago. The races bring in more than $5 million to the city, three days of music, vendors and race fans, many who started setting up Tuesday.
"I can’t put it into words," said Jake McCormick, president of the Madison Regatta. "As someone who is part of it and boat racing my whole life, the event itself and just the people coming together and the mass movement and change of a city is pretty amazing."
Alexus Gulley opened her ice cream shop in downtown Madison just four months ago, but this weekend will be her first taste of the Madison Regatta and the crowds of fans that come with it.
Alexus Gulley is preparing for large crowds at her ice cream shop during Madison Regatta weekend. July 2, 2024. (WDRB Photo)
"They told us to be prepared," she said Tuesday. "They said it is all day, everyday, non-stop business."
The Madison Regatta is one of the largest hydroplane races in the U.S. For many fans, it's a tradition and a reunion.
"It’s just sense of community and just seeing a lot of other people that I don’t get to see a lot in Madison," said Chuck Stewart, who is camping waterfront in advance of the races. He often books his camping spot along the river a year in advance.
Gulley said all of her extended family will be working at her ice cream shop this weekend, which makes up her whole staff. She's not from Madison but knows to be prepared for crowds.
"We have probably tripled what we normally order this weekend," she said. "It’s exciting for us, just being new to Madison and then having potential people come in that haven’t been here yet. We are pretty excited for it."
Since 2018, regatta day has been accompanied by the Roostertail Music Festival. The schedule for this year's festival is below:
Friday
4 p.m.: Gates Open
5-6 p.m.: Erin Vaincourt
6:20-7:20 p.m.: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
7:45-9 p.m.: The Steel Woods
9:30-11:15 p.m.: Blackberry Smoke
11:20 p.m. to 1:20 a.m.: Isaac Rudd & the Revolvers
Saturday
2:30 p.m.: Gates Open
3:30-4:20 p.m.: Taylor Hunnicutt
4:40-5:30 p.m.: Ritch Henderson
5:50-6:50 p.m.: Stephen Wilson Jr.
7:10-8:25 p.m.: Mike and the Moonpies
8:45-10 p.m.: Wyatt Flores
10:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.: 49 Winchester
12:05-2 a.m.: Hot Brown Smackdown
https://www.wdrb.com/news/madison-r...cle_e1b77592-389e-11ef-ae67-234d4ab93166.html
