Please help us to work within the Game and Inland Fisheries enforcement division guidelines if you are attending or participating in this year's festival.  We use state property at  Wingina, Scottsville, Cartersville, and Maiden's Landing  and need to be aware of and comply with the following simple rules.

                1.   Public display of alcohol is prohibited on state property and or around the ramps.

                2.   Camping is not permitted on the state property. (we obtain permission to camp on private property adjacent to the DGIF land.  Please be sure you are camped in an appropriate place, if you're not sure please ask someone.)

                3.   No swimming is permitted at the ramp or off state property.

                4.   Festival participants need to comply with all personal flotation rules the same as any boat.

                5.   The ramp area must be kept open and clear for the general public to use during the festival.

Remember that the festival relies on the use and state property and needs to cooperate with the various state agencies who manage them.  Please don't create problems for future festivals by ignoring these rules.

Friday PM June 13th:  There are no activities Friday evening.  Some batteaux will be moving to Percival's Island from the Amherst County side of the river but there will be no dinner, music, etc.  WSET 13 the local ABC affiliate TV Station is having a 50th anniversay birthday party at the Jefferson St. Pavilion near Percival's Island.  This event is not associated with the Batteau Festival but if you are in the are you may want to consider attending.  There will be 50's music from 8:00PM until Midnight.

Festival participants will be permitted to camp on Percival's Island Friday PM, at this point we are not sure if fires will be permitted.

Saturday June 14th:  Festival in Lynchburg starting at 10:00 AM with the batteaux scheduled to leave for their 120 mile trek downriver at 11:00 AM sharp.   "A River In Time" will be the theme for the Lynchburg Festival again and will include period re-enactors, music, vendors, Historic Hand-on village, free Horse-drawn carriage rides, tons of kids activities, and the Colgate Country Music Showdown.  The festival will continue after the Batteaux leave and end at 4:00PM.

There will be no shuttling of vehicles across the bridge onto Percival's Island Saturday AM.  Boats can be loaded at the ramp at Smiley Block at Amherst County and should be brought to Percival's Island by 10:00AM.  We ask that everyone remain on the Island and begin together as the Batteau Roll Call is announced at 11:00 AM

Saturday PM June 14th:    The batteaux  will begin to arrive at Stapleton around 5:00PM.  Dinner will be provided by Amelon United Methodist Church and will be Hot Dogs and Bar-B-Que.  This and all other dinner meals will be $6.00.  Breakfast will be available, ice will be available in AM, water is  not available.  (Note that this is a site change from 2002 and a return to the Stapleton area for the first time since 1998.  There are 2 potential sites at Stapleton, one is the site used in 1998 and the other is about 1 mile further downstream.  The final decision on where we'll camp will be made soon.  The site change was made in response to participants who felt the first days were too long.)

Sunday PM June 15th:  The Sunday stop will be at the Bent Creek in Amherst County.  The site is on the Nelson County side of the river, just downriver from the bridge.  The dinner and breakfast will be provided by the Vietnam Vets, the dinner meal will be spaghetti.  Ice  will be available in the AM, water will not be available. (Please be careful entering this site by car, Rt. 60 is a busy road and the entrance is at the bottom of a long hill and had significant truck traffic.)

Monday PM June 16th:  Wingina will again host the festival for our Monday night stop.    Dinner and breakfast  will both be available.    Ice will be available.  Drinking water will be available at Wingina.

Tuesday PM  June 17th:  The Howardsville site will again be held on the property just upriver from where the Rockfish River meets the James.  The Howardsville General Store is located just a short walk from the site, water, ice, and other supplies are available at the store.   Dinner and breakfast will be available.  Drinking water will be available at Howardsville.  

Wednesday PM  June 18th:  The traditional Wednesday stop in Scottsville will be similar to past years.  Again we will get showers at the school and the experience of dining and enjoying the evening in Scottsville's restaurants.  The Scottsville Site will feature food, music and historical demonstrations.   There will be demonstrations of spinning, weaving, and basket making, as well as discussion of soap making and candle making.  Drinking water is available by walking the short distance to the James River Reeling and Rafting company, there is a spigot on the side of the building which is available for camper use.  Since they support us by letting us camp at their property, please consider purchasing any supplies possible from them.

There are still openings in Scottsville for vendors and skill demonstrators, please e-mail laurel_green@hotmail.com immediately if you are interested.   

After 5 days on the river the comforts of Scottsville are always welcomed.  Dinner, breakfast, ice and water are available at various stores within walking distance.

Thursday PM  June 19th:  Again in 2003 we will be hosted by the Solite plant at Slate River.   Dinner will be prepared by the youth group from Dilwyn Baptist Church.  Breakfast is not planned at this point but that may change, ice will be available.  Breakfast will not be available at the Slate River Site.

Friday PM  June 20th:  Cartersville will again be our "coming down the home stretch" stop Friday night.  Mo Duncan will again prepare the wonderful meatloaf dinner and hot breakfast.  Ice and water will be available.

Saturday June 21st:  The festival ends and the boats will be loaded on trailers at the Maidens Adventure boat landing.  The first boats should arrive sometime early afternoon and the boats should all have finished the 120 mile 7 day trek by dinner time.  

Maps of the roads connecting these sites are available on this web site on the HOME PAGE or click here. (MAPS)

Fees for the 2003 James River Batteau Festival are available on this web site on the HOME PAGE or click here. (FEES)

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