ATHOL — When asked how she felt heading into the final week of preparations for the annual River Rat Race, event coordinator Jeanette McIntosh summed it up in one word: “Nervous.”

Still, she added, “Excited. Like a mother watching her baby go off” into the world.

McIntosh said organizers feel better prepared this year than last. The 2022 race took place following the death of longtime race organizer David Flint months earlier.

“Last year, we didn’t know [much],” she said. “We were trying to read David’s notes, which were written sideways, upside down, on envelopes and pieces of paper, and trying to figure out what his notes meant. It was almost mission impossible.

“This year, we’re set up better as far as where we need manpower and where we need to get things done. So, I’m much more relaxed as far as preparedness, instead of pulling my hair out.”

One challenge facing the event is the need to attract more paddlers. McIntosh said there should be hundreds, but the race isn’t at that point. As of the date of the interview, McIntosh said about 62 teams had signed up for the race.

“That’s upsetting to me because I really don’t want to see this stop,” she said. “I’d like to keep this going, but I have my doubts, unfortunately.”

When asked about the possibility of including kayaks, McIntosh said she had agreed with the original organizing committee to keep it the same way as before — 18-foot canoes. In past years, there have been Pro-Am canoe and kayak races on Sunday morning. But, due to the Easter holiday, this won’t be happening.

“The folks who travel two or three hours — they’re not, because there’s no second race for them to enter the following day,” she noted.

Despite any concerns, however, River Rat Race weekend will proceed similarly to recent years. The post position draw will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 7, at Athol Town Hall. In addition to receiving their post number, paddlers will be given a custom shirt from Girardi Distributors. Anyone missing the post draw can pick up their number between 8 and 11 a.m. at Else Where, located at 1485 Main St. in Athol.

Paddlers will line up at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the South Main Street Bridge over the Millers River, along the edge according to post position numbers. Pre-race ceremonies, including singing of the National Anthem, will begin at 12:30 p.m. and at approximately 1 p.m., a single cannon shot will signal the start of the race. Awards will be presented at 5 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Orange, the site of the finish line.

The annual carnival at Lord Pond Plaza will take place on Thursday and Friday evenings and will run from 6 p.m. to closing. The carnival benefits the Disabled Veterans Home of Athol.

Other activities taking place this weekend include:

■April 7, 4:30 to 7 p.m., Athol-Orange Chuck Stone Little League Spaghetti Supper at the Athol American Legion, 325 Pequoig Ave.

■April 8, 7 to 11 a.m., pancake breakfast at the North Quabbin Lodge of Masons, 336 Main St. in Athol.

■April 8, 9:30 a.m., YMCA Big Cheese 5K road race, starts on School Street; registration from 8 to 9:15 a.m. in front of Athol Town Hall.

■April 8, 9:35 a.m., River Rate Promenade, sponsored by the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, proceeds down Main Street after the start of the Big Cheese 5K.

An event that was added to the weekend festivities last year will take place again in 2023. The North Quabbin Community Coalition’s Sober Block Party Event will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Butterfield Park, site of the bandstand, in Orange. It will include games, snacks, a DJ and other family fun.

North Quabbin Community Coalition Executive Director Heather Bialecki-Canning said, “All events will feature messages of youth alcohol and drug use prevention, how this region is recovery friendly.” The block party will also “provide educational statistics and highlight how we are a community that cares.”

Teams of paddlers can still register online until 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at riverratrace.com/register. In-person registration closes at 5 p.m., April 7. Forms can be filled out and submitted at Else Where, 1485 Main St. in Athol. The cost is $42 per team. The event is organized and overseen by the Athol Lions Club.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.

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