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One of the most anticipated events of the year is officially underway – Port Neches RiverFest, Thunder on the Neches – at Port Neches City Park (620 Grigsby Ave.), near Port Neches-Groves High School, through Sunday, May 5. Neches Federal Credit Union and Port Neches Chamber of Commerce, this unique event features powerboat races thundering down the Neches River, fantastic food, vendors, carnival with a popular variety of live music. Gates will open at 5pm (close at 10pm) on Thursday 1st May, with free entry until 10pm. Performing at the Entertainment Complex Riverfront Stage at 7pm is local band Pea Patch Orchestra followed by Cajun legend Wayne Toups at 9pm Carnival and Vendor hours on Friday are 5pm to midnight. Entrance fee for entertainment is $10 (free for children 12 and under). Scheduled to perform at JT Reserve (6 p.m.), Uncle Lucius (8 p.m.) and Texas Country star William Clark Green (10 p.m.). Also on Friday, from 3pm to 5:30pm, testing of the SPORT (Southern Professional Outboard Racing Tour) boats produced by John Schubert begins. Watch four classes of boats race down the Neches River in thrilling races at speeds of up to 120 mph. The water speed demons will start on Saturday (9am) and run all day until 5pm. Gates are open from 8:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday, with a full day of festivities including a Super Hero Meet and Greet, Cutest Baby Contest, Coloring Contest, demonstrations and more. Live music at the Entertainment Complex Riverfront Stage consists of Cade Latiolais (6:30 p.m.), Scotty Emerick (8:30 p.m.), grand fireworks display (9 p.m.) and headliner Mac McAnally, country legend and former guitarist for the late Jimmy Buffett ( 10pm). Entrance costs R$10 until 5pm and R$15 afterwards. Customers can enjoy free entry all day on Sunday from 8:30am to 6:30pm. The speedboat races start at 9am. Also scheduled for Sunday is a horse show tournament, washboard shootout, Miss Port Neches pageant, pet show and mother of the year. Festival goers are encouraged to park in the PNG High School parking lot and then be picked up by golf carts. There will be two gates again this year – the main gate is on Grisgby Avenue and the second gate is located on Park Street. Organizers also announced that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Tugboat Island Reconstruction Project. For detailed information, see pnriverfest.com or call (409) 727-9154.
