BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon RiverFest aims to teach more people about the joys of traveling on a local river for free.
RiverFest organizer Kevin Campbell attended a recent Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board meeting to receive approval to host the annual RiverFest at the Riverwalk Park boat ramp on Saturday Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“It’s time for RiverFest again,” Campbell said. “It’s planned to be bigger and better than it was last year, and last year was the best year yet. This is the eighth River Fest, and there are a lot more educational activities this year, especially for the kids — demonstrations and things of that nature. It’s all free, even if you want to kayak down the river, it’s free; food is free, water is free, entertainment is free.”
The 2024 RiverFest event will start with a 4.5-mile community paddle on the Buckhannon River from Hampton to Riverwalk on Saturday morning. Paddlers are asked to drop their boats and gear in Hampton, and a shuttle will run from Riverwalk Park back to Hampton at 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
The events at the Riverwalk Park will start with Water Flow Yoga and a fish survey demonstration by the DNR, both of which will commence at 10 a.m.
“The land acknowledgment will start at 11 a.m., and at noon, we’ll start feeding people,” Campbell said. “Free Meals Appalachia has donated 100 bag lunches, and we also have donated pizza from Sam’s Pizza.”
Music will be provided by the Elk River Ramblers at 3 p.m., and the interfaith water blessing will start at the same time.
“We do this to help preserve the Buckhannon River,” Campbell said. “We do this to celebrate the tremendous asset that river is, and encourage people to get out on the water. Last year, we had over 100 people on the water, and 60 percent of them were first-timers. They came from three states last year, and we did put some heads and beds, so we’re hoping to have 150 this year.”
RiverFest is hosted by the Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance; this year, they partnered with the Buckhannon Watershed Association and the Buckhannon River Paddlers.
“There is a whole lot of cross-promotion; people have been excited about it for months,” Campbell said. “I think we’ve got all the paperwork done, and we’re ready to go.”
Mayor Robbie Skinner said he has heard a lot of buzz about the event this year.
“I have spent some time with the paddler group up at Hampton, and I am also a big fan of the river,” Skinner said. “We have a great river. I appreciate all the work that’s put into this event; well done collaborating with all the groups that are interested in the river.”
There will be a variety of exhibits to enjoy this year, including Fish of the Buckhannon River, Macroinvertebrates aka Stream Bugs, Water Quality and Acid Mine Drainage, Freshwater Mussels, Watersheds, Plants and Culture, Properties of Water (while making ice cream!), Flooding, Water Conservation and Recreation.
Free kayaks and paddle boards will be available to try out at the boat ramp. Read more about the event by clicking here.
