By Justin Fedich
The Selma Times-Journal

After over three decades, the Alabama River Raft Race is finally back in Selma.

The race is scheduled to begin Monday between 9 and 9:30 a.m. with rafts expected to pass under the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 10 a.m. The head of the river raft race, Victor Shaw, said there should be around a total of 60 rafts, canoes and kayaks on the water Monday.

“Everyone is just bubbly and excited and looking forward to it, especially now that we know that the weather is going to be good that day,” Shaw said. “There is not one team that isn’t just giggly about the amount of fun this is going to be.”

Shaw said the competition will be just as fierce as it was in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He’s seen some rafts that he’s heard will be quick on the water.

“The winners will make it to the finish line, turn around and come back I’m sure,” Shaw said. “Some of them are quite hydrodynamic.”

The race not only plans to be competitive, but also safe. Unlike in past years, the river raft race will not allow tubes to race down the river.

There will be also be boats allowed on the river while the race is taking place, but they will be out of the way of the rafts racing down the river.

“I’d expect to see a hundred people on the water and hundreds of people on the bridge looking down,” Shaw said.

The race is expected to end around noon at the city marina. The day’s fun will be far from over when the rafts get off the river.

After the race, several bands will play at the new Riverfront Park Ampitheater as part of the Riverfront Music & Arts Festival.  The night will be capped off with fireworks over the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 8:15 p.m.

Gates open at 10 p.m. for the festival. A kid zone workshop and tent will be set up from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Bands will begin playing with the Dead Fingers at 2 p.m., followed by the John Bull Band at 3:15 p.m., the Kenny Brown Band at 4:30 p.m. and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Shaw said the high level of participation surrounding the raft race has lived up to his high hopes, but has far surpassed his expectations.

There are still many people around Selma who remember the raft races from over 30 years ago.

For Shaw and plenty others in Selma, however, this will be the first experience of the Alabama River Raft Race. Shaw doesn’t expect the extravagance of the rafts nor the event itself to disappoint.

“Some of them are quite big with barbecues on them cooking hot dogs,” Shaw said. “It’s becoming quite the event.”

Tickets to attend the Riverfront Music and Arts Festival are $10 and can be purchased at the gate.