The 9th Annual Buckhannon RiverFest will be held Saturday August 23rd 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 Sites 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. There is no pre-registration or cost to participate!
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. Our volunteer Water Stewards 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! 10:00 AM - Sound Bath & Somatics with Emily & Dusty RiverFest Yoga will kick off with a soothing & peaceful session. Somatic yoga is a very relaxing practice that is done while laying down. Sound healing involves various instruments and techniques, such as singing bowls, to create vibrations that can positively affect the body and mind. 11:00 AM - Water Flow Yoga with Lisa Gum Explore our connections to water with a gentle yoga flow that highlights how what happens to the water happens to the people. We are all water! Noon - Rooted to the Earth with Ashley This session is all about grounding to create a sense of stability, presence, and balance. This practice will explore various techniques, such as somatic movement and body scan meditation, to increase our physical and metaphysical connections to the Earth. 1:00 PM - Meditations & Movement for Peace with Sam 2:00 PM - Kids Yoga with Julie and Caroline (2-2:30 ages 5-8; 2:30-3 ages 9-12) Inspired by Kidding Around Yoga, this will be a playful practice exploring movement, breathing, dancing, and stretching. Let your little one explore and play and discover the joy of yoga!
Workshops: 11:00 AM - Water Wonders with Beth Vance, WV DEP Youth Environmental Program Kids will learn about the Water Cycle through this interactive game where they pretend to be a water molecule traveling through the clouds, the ocean, rivers, etc. They will also make their own beaded bracelet or keychain during the game. 12:00 PM - Water Wonders with Beth Vance, WV DEP Youth Environmental Program (repeat) 1:00 PM - Come Over to the Sunny Side, Solar Holler Learn all about solar energy from Solar Holler, a full service solar developer and installer for all West Virginians. Solar Holler is a fully licensed electrical contracting firm with policy and financing expertise, a finger on the pulse of cutting edge technology, and an absolute commitment to using the power of solar energy to revitalize Appalachian communities. 2:00 PM - Water Quality Wonders, Save the Tygart Watershed Association 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!
Outdoor Gear Swap & Giveaway: New this year, we are hosting an Outdoor Gear Swap & Giveaway from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. The goal is simple: keep items out of the landfill and repurpose, while also creating opportunities to mingle and meet other people. You are invited to bring your gently used, clean items for giveaway or swap. We will provide a table for free items, and all other swaps or exchanges must be supervised on your own. Acceptable items include outdoor gear, equipment, or clothing, gardening and foraging supplies, seeds, plants, or veggies, and nature art.
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. The Buckhannon Community Band will share their fun and playful instrumentals at 2:15 PM. The Buckhannon Community Band started in 2023, and their platform is rooted in sharing the joy of music with their members and audiences. The band is open to musicians of all ages, and their members range in age from 13 to 84.
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. This year, we are grateful to have the following individuals lead our ceremony: Father Ed Tetteh, Holy Rosary Church of Buckhannon Daya Masada Wright, local member of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Rev. Robin Blakeman, First Congregation UCC, Huntington Rev. Jonathan Acord, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, WV Wesleyan College
Art: Art is a powerful tool for raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainability. By using artistic expression, individuals can connect with nature on an emotional level, understand the impact of human actions, and be inspired to take action to protect the environment. At RiverFest, a special display showcasing the 2024 Buckhannon River Photo Contest submissions will be available for viewing.
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, Solar Holler, 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, Soul Shine Wellness, and more!
Free Meals Appalachia is a Buckhannon based non-profit organization that provides a free meal to hundreds of people in our community twice a month. 100 free bagged picnic lunches will be available at RiverFest- noon until we run out. A free food option available for lunch helps bring our entire community together to enjoy the day.