by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
This year’s Festival of the Eno “critter†says a lot about the river this three-day event celebrates.
The 2008 logo – the mayfly – is more than just an insect design for a t-shirt. The mayfly can be found in the Eno River, which is a good sign of the health of the water.
“Mayflies don’t tolerate high levels of pollution,†said Maddiey Straubel, assistant coordinator of the festival. “The fact that they’re lurking about in our river means we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping our river clean.â€
The Eno River Association, started more than 40 years ago to protect the Eno River, sponsors the Festival of the Eno at West Point on the Eno City Park in Durham. This year’s festival is the 29th, and festival coordinators expect over 30,000 visitors.
“It’s great for the money it brings in [for the Eno River Association], but we really look at it as a community event and a way to spread our message,†Straubel said.
The festival features more than 100 performers and features craft demonstrations, dance workshops, a sustainable home and garden expo and canoe and kayak rentals.
The festival hosts a children’s area as well, with storytellers, puppets, a giant chess set, hands-on clay, games and more. Kids can also learn about water health and participate in macroinvertebrate catch and release.
A wide variety of food will also be available.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets at the gate are $15 for a one-day pass or $35 for a three-day pass. Children 12 and under and seniors over 65 are admitted free.
Free parking is available at Durham County Stadium at 2700 N. Duke St. Shuttle buses will run continuously to and from the festival.
For more information, visit www.enoriver.org.
