The Ridgway RiverFest is a family-friendly celebration of the Uncompahgre River, our watershed and river recreation 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 until the 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.
2023 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE – Saturday, June 24, 2023
11 a.m. Early bird Buy-It-Now Sale at Silent Auction
12 noon Festival opens, including Silent Auction bidding and
Booths with giveaways, interactive learning, and more
Food & Dessert by Martin’s Tacos, Blue Ribbon BBQ,
& Snowbirds Craft Shaved Ice
Beer by Colorado Boy and Margaritas by El Agave Azul!
12-12:30 p.m. Introduction of Emcee extraordinaire Colin Sullivan
Race registration at UWP booth
12:30 p.m. Watershed talk on stage
Race registration ends
12:45 p.m. River race safety briefing next to river
1 p.m. Races start on river
1:30-2:15 p.m. Jazz by Yaz on stage
2:30 p.m. Junk of the Unc competition on river, grand prize sponsored by
Mountain Trip
3 p.m. Announcement of Winners of the River Races, Junk of the Unc
and Uncompahgre River Classic peak flow contest
3-4 p.m. Live music by The Last Spike on stage co-sponsored by Ouray
County Performing Arts Guild
3:15 p.m. First Silent Auction Section closes
Rubber Ducky Hunt registration closes
3:30 p.m. Rubber Ducky Hunt in riparian tree grove sponsored by Black
Hills Energy
4:00 p.m. Rubber Ducky Hunt winners announced
4:05 p.m. Live music by The Last Spike on stage co-sponsored by OCPAG
4:15 p.m Second Silent Auction wave closes
5 p.m. Festival closes and sales end for drinks, food, silent auction, etc.
See you next year!
