11th annual Ridgway RiverFest – Saturday, June 30, 2018
The Ridgway RiverFest is a family-friendly celebration of the Uncompahgre River and our community with all-age river races, live music, local food and drink, kids’ activities, watershed educational and cultural programs. The highlight of the day is the infamous “Junk of the Unc” race in which boaters maneuver their craft, constructed from scrap materials not intended for river travel, through whitewater rapids and others’ junk, trying to keep it all intact for the 0.5 mile finish line.
RiverFest is produced by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership, a Ouray County nonprofit watershed group dedicated to helping protect the economic, natural, and scenic values of the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed.
From Saturday, June 24, 2017 (2018 festival schedule not available yet)
9-10:15 a.m. River race registration at UWP Booth
10 a.m. Silent Auction bidding begins
11:30-12:30 & 2-3pm Kid’s activities in the River Fairy Forest, funded by UpstART Theater that Moves
10:30-11:30, 12:30-2pm, & 3-4:30pm Face painting by Yogini Circus
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Kids Eddy: watershed education by local nonprofits, natural resource groups and parks & wildlife agencies
11-11:30am; 12-12:30; 2-2:30pm; 3-3:30 Bug activity at Watershed Kids Eddy Booth
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Food stands (Melry’s Lunchbox, Chee-Z Does It), Colorado Boy beer, & Glenda the Blenda margarita sales
10:30 a.m. River race safety briefing
11 a.m. River races mass start: hardshell boat, inflatable boat races, and standup paddleboard
12:30-1:30 p.m. Ute cultural presentation & flute performance by Uncompahgre Ute Historian Roland McCook
1:30 p.m. Junk of the Unc Race: Bring your homemade watercraft and see how it floats on our short course on the Uncompahgre River
3-6 p.m. Live Music by Kipori Woods & Friends
4:30 p.m. River Race Awards Ceremony
5 p.m. Silent Auction bidding closes
5-6 p.m. Silent Auction winners can pick up items
6 p.m. Music and Festival Ends.
