I'm not sure of the origin of Cat Fest, but it probably started around 91-92. In the late 80's/ early 90's the Lake Norman regatta was in April (Spring Forward Regatta) and held at a couple different sites. I think a park one year and country club(which is now a neighborhood) a couple years. I remember freezing my butt off one day in freezing rain one April Saturday. When they moved it to the Lake Norman Yacht club, they have been locked in on the weekend they can hold it. So it would be doubtful that it would ever change from the weekend after Labor Day. I've asked before to see if they could make it later in the fall, so maybe there would be more wind.. but the club has so many other events scheduled that there are not any other dates available.