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The 10th Annual Buckhannon RiverFest will be held Saturday August 29th at the Buckhannon Riverwalk Park (54 Wood Street, Buckhannon WV), with the majority of activities taking place from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Each year, this festival is held in the spirit of increasing our community - water connections and to honor April Pierson-Keating, a passionate advocate who worked tirelessly to make WV a healthier place to live. We believe in the power of community engagement to fuel the place-based restoration of our beloved Buckhannon River and to honor April’s vision.
The goal of RiverFest is to increase our awareness and discover new sustainable connections to foster healthy waters, lands, and communities. The Buckhannon River is our main source of drinking water in Upshur County, and we must do everything we can to protect it. Join us for a full day of free activities - paddling, yoga, live music powered by solar energy, food, community art, environmental education, and more, and discover what makes Buckhannon RiverFest so special!
Interested in supporting RiverFest? Consider purchasing a shirt at our online store. A portion of the proceeds are returned to the Buckhannon River Watershed Association to support our community clean water projects.
Hampton to Riverwalk Paddle: Calling all paddlers - canoes, kayaks, SUPs! To kick off RiverFest, an organized group paddle will embark on a 4.5 mile flatwater paddle from Hampton Boat Ramp to the Riverwalk Boat Ramp. In this section, the current is gentle, and wildlife sightings are plentiful. This is an excellent paddle for all levels, from beginners to families, and even experienced paddlers. We will provide a shuttle from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM before paddlers get on the water. Paddlers must drop their boats, passengers, and paddling gear at Hampton Access Site between 8:30 - 9:30 AM, and then drive their car to Riverwalk Park. Shuttles will be provided to transport paddlers back to Hampton. The shuttle is for people only. We will not transport gear or kayaks. The Hampton Access Site is located south of the City of Buckhannon. Follow Rt. 20 out of town, turn left onto Sago Road and follow the brown Public Stream Access Signs. GPS: 38.939065, -80.239031 The 4.5 mile paddle can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on paddling pace. There will be a port-a-pottie available at both Hampton and Riverwalk. All paddlers are required to wear a life jacket while on the water.
Kayak Demos & Beginner Clinics: Free kayaks will be available from 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM at the Riverwalk Boat Ramp. Sign up for a 30 minute timeslot to try kayaking. All equipment is provided, including life jacket, kayak, and paddle. Six spaces are available for each thirty minute timeslot. Volunteers will be available to give beginner lessons, assistance, and on-the-water safety.
Yoga: Yoga has always been an integral piece of RiverFest. This year, we are expanding our yoga offerings so yoga will be offered every hour on the hour from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Just like everything at RiverFest, these classes are free and people of all abilities are welcome to join. Whether you are an experienced yogi or just trying yoga out for the first time, you are invited to move your body, create space, and explore our inner and outer connections through yoga!
Workshops: 11:00 AM - Build a Rain Barrel Assemble, decorate, and take home your very own rain barrel at no cost. Supplies are limited to one rain barrel per household. 12:00 PM - Nature Walk How many different plants, animals, and ecosystems do we walk past every day? Find out during this easy stroll along the river trail suitable for all ages and abilities. 1:00 PM - Build a Mini Pond Join Julia Brady to create a pond ecosystem in a bucket. Design your pond, take it home, and watch it come to life! 2:00 PM - Water Quality Wonders Learn the 5 W’s of water quality testing, who, what, when, where, why, and give it a try by exploring our hands-on testing kits!
Interfaith Water Ceremony: We invite everyone to bring water from their local waterway to contribute to the ceremony. A mainstay of RiverFest, the Interfaith Water Blessing brings people from different religious or spiritual backgrounds to come together to honor and bless water, recognizing its significance as a sacred and vital element of life. This ceremony emphasizes our responsibility to care for our precious resource, water.
Live Music! Featuring local artists and creating a sensory experience for our community to move and groove! Seth Maynard and the Elk River Ramblers will kick off at 11:00 AM. The Elk River Ramblers are a dynamic string trio, presenting original arrangements and compositions of Appalachian Old-Time, Bluegrass, Celtic, Klezmer, Jazz, and Classic Rock. Tim Hibbs starts at 2:00. Tim is a local musician noted for his folk and Americana music style.
Partners & Sponsors
Partnership is at the heart of community and the core of RiverFest. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn and connect with other local organizations. Mingle and linger while networking with the WV Highlands Conservancy, WV Rivers Coalition, Sierra Club, WV Environmental Council, Water Research Institute, Green River School, Yak Shak Outfitter, MAYA Mushrooms, Save the Tygart Watershed Association, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Upshur County Community Emergency Response Team and more!