38th ANNUAL – JUNE 17-24, 2023
Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Bill Trout, both having slipped through the time portal, will engage in conversation on batteaux and canals, and will answer questions posed by Moderator Jeff Taylor and the audience. Jefferson is portrayed by Bill Barker, courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Monticello. In 1977, Dr. Trout founded the Virginia Canals and…
The role of the canal society in this year’s Autumn festival was different from last year when we displayed a batteau artifact and set up a table with VC&NS merchandise. This year, we provided volunteers to sell beer and wine at the old Short Pump garage, which has been relocated to Rassawek Vineyards along with…
On July 9th from Noon to 4 PM we will be selling 2022 JRBF T-shirts at the Virginia Canal & Navigations Society Headquarters at 3806 South Amherst Highway Madison Heights. Virginia. Here’s a map link – https://goo.gl/maps/wFmSmPVmfE7buHQ88 Sales at the Festival were cut short this year and we have a large inventory. NO INTERNET SALES…
The enjoyment we’ve had over more than three and a half decades, along with the attention we’ve brought to the James, the Batteaux, and this interesting and exciting period in our history, make the festival a totally unique event for everyone involved. It’s the ONLY historic reenactment of its kind that we know of in…
Have you ever thought about taking a canoe or kayak down the James during the Batteau Festival and then been confronted with questions and obstacles? The JRBF can provide answers—and a truly unique experience for anyone who enjoys the river I don’t know the river. Is it safe for novice boaters and kids? Everyone must…
SATURDAY June 18th – Lynchburg to Galt’s Mill Stapleton Batteaux leave Percival’s Island in Lynchburg at 11:00am. Public is invited to the island which is in Downtown Lynchburg to see the batteaux and cheer as they leave for Galt’s Mill/Stapleton. Saturday’s trip is approximately 14 miles and the festival participants will be camping the the…
It was a really great and beautiful day to drive from New London to Madison Heights to Batteau House and drop off some Slate River Atlases I bound for Pete Runge for an event coming up this month. (More details on the event to come.) I dropped of the box inside Batteau House and just…
The 45th Annual Conference & Membership Meeting of the Virginia Canals & Navigations Society and the Spring Meeting of the James River Batteau Festival will be held on May 7-8, 2022. Location: Rassawek Vineyard, 6276 River Road West, Columbia, VA 23038 Please click here to download the registration form. You may pay the fee online…
The 36th annual James River Batteau Festival ended on a nice day at Maiden’s Landing in Powhatan, Virginia. The new batteau built by Andrew Shaw and his friends came poling in looking great and was the first to arrive. Bill Trout was up on the bank overlooking the bridge and boat ramp area. He was…
The Cartersville site of the 36th annual James River Batteau Festival was quiet when I set up my tent on Thursday so I could attend a dinner with the Lady’s Slipper at Betty’s house on Church Street. The ladies had a very nice spread of food under an ez-up tent and had chairs spread across…
The Slate River site of the 36th annual James River Batteau Festival was nice and the point provided beautiful views of the river. The boats came in and lined up into the Slate. Some lined up at the private put-in just up-stream. Friday morning the fog was beautiful on the water and the boats left…
The 36th annual James River Batteau Festival was very nice in Scottsville. Ashby Denby from James River Reeling and Rafting was real nice and gave me space #1 for me to set up the Batteau History Tent. A really great fireman named Raymond Patterson was very helpful with setting up the tent and fly. I…