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The Anything But a Boat Race returns to Woods Hole and summer returns for locals! The Woods Hole Business Association and the world-renowned Woods Hole science community invite ocean lovers and science enthusiasts of all ages to celebrate “The Sea Around Us,” a weekend of free, family-friendly events on September 15 and 16 to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson. All events are open to the public; no reservations required. This weekend will kick-off on Saturday morning at 9 A.M. with a training ride hosted by the Buzzards Bay Coalition for the September 30 Watershed Ride, followed by self-guided tours throughout the day of Woods Hole Historical Museum’s Rachel Carson exhibit. The afternoon includes hands-on discovery with an outdoor splash lab beginning at 2 p.m. on the Redfield patio hosted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Ocean Science Discovery Center followed by kids’ activities on Redfield lawn presented by the Coalition for Children and lawn games for adults. Photo bomb by Falmouth actress Annie Hart Cool, appearing as Ms. Carson herself. The evening will continue in Redfield Auditorium at 6 p.m. with a family screening of “Wild Kratts” featuring a segment filmed in Woods Hole that showcases a WHOI scientist and the research submarine, Alvin. The running time for this program is 50 minutes. The evening will close with a special feature of presentation of “Acid Ocean” sponsored by the Woods Hole Film Festival, which shines a light on how climate change is altering the chemistry of the Earth’s oceans. Directed by by Ivan Hurzeler, the film explores the research of Dr. Erik Cordes, who believes a species of deep sea coral is adapting to acidification and may hold secrets to survival in an acidic future. Join Dr. Cordes as he embarks upon a voyage to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. This film was recently screened at the 27th Annual Woods Hole Film Festival. This year’s Rachel Carson celebration marks the return of the “Anything But a Boat Race” for the first time since 2005, when it was staged to commemorate WHOI’s 75th anniversary. Boat shells, surfboards and other commercially-available vessels are prohibited, pitting human-powered “unboats” against each other as they attempt to successfully round a short course in Great Harbor. The event begins on Sunday at noon at Garbage Beach followed by an award ceremony. The weekend will close with the “Take Back the Beach Ball,” featuring local bands Crooked Coast and Brother’s Rye on the shells at Quicks Hole Taqueria and the Landfall Restaurant from 2-6 PM. The family-friendly block party is also sponsored by Long Trail Brewing. Admission is free, and food and beverages will be available at both establishments for purchase. Proceeds from the concert will fund an initiative in collaboration with the Falmouth Water Stewards (FWS) to replicate efforts in Falmouth Village and Falmouth Heights by bringing a water bottle filling station to Woods Hole. The Woods Hole Business Association and the Woods Hole science community are proud to partner with FWS, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring Falmouth’s precious coastal and fresh waters. Visit woodshole.com for more information or follow along on Facebook.