By Kasi Patten

The Pioneer Pub and Point Place Marina will host The Rockin’ Regatta fundraiser to benefit the Hannah Willis Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Rockin’ Regatta will be held Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Point Place Marina. Attendees can anticipate boat and paddleboat demonstrations and rides, a volleyball competition, refreshments, live music and an assortment of raffles.

Hannah Willis was a Natchitoches local and daughter of Joan Willis, owner-operator of the Pioneer Pub. She was a graduate of Lamar University where she studied mass communications before passing away in May 2015. In her honor, Joan Willis began a memorial scholarship fund. Earlier this year, Willis and many other in the community began planning what they hope will be one of the largest fundraising events of this year.

The Rockin’ Regatta will have a host of opportunities for attendees to donate money including raffles for gift certificates to The Pioneer Pub and Cane River Kitchenware and a two-day stay at the Brooklyn Sam Rayburn KOA camp ground. Also up for grabs are a Yeti cooler and swag from an assortment of alcohol distributors such as Abita Brewing Company. There will also be a Split-the-Pot, but you must be present at the event to win. As well as raffles there will be paddleboat rides and demonstrations, boat rides from downtown Natchitoches to the Marina courtesy of Dr. Ron McBride and a volleyball competition. Food will be provided by the Pioneer Pub and the Marina will provide a cash bar.

Raffle tickets are on sale prior to the event at the Pioneer Pub and will be on sale at the Marina the day of the event. If there are any bands that would be interested in playing a set at the event, contact Joan Willis at 318-352-4884. To participate in the volleyball competition, teams can sign up at the Marina, but spots are limited.