Be Part of the Celebration – Volunteer!
To make this amazing free community outdoor festival happen, we need 45 to 50 volunteers throughout the day. Ridgway RiverFest volunteer shifts are mostly three or four hours though there are a few shorter ones and you are welcome to sign up for two shifts. Assignments range from race registration to drink service, photography, setup, takedown, face painting, race coordination, and more.
Starting in April, you will be able to please find your volunteer spot on the RiverFest Volunteer SignUp site. Each volunteer gets a free RiverFest shirt and a free drink as a thank you! You can also contact Claire at ridgwayriverfest@gmail.com or leave a message at 970-325-3010.
Searching for our 2026 Food Vendors!
Each year, the Ridgway RiverFest hires a couple great businesses to provide fun food for our festival goers. The Ridgway RiverFest also features awesome handcrafted beers from local breweries and hand-mixed margaritas.
To find out about food vendor opportunities at the RiverFest, please check out the RiverFest Booth Rules and Guidelines
To sign up for a booth space, please fill out the 2026 Ridgway RiverFest Booth Application. You can also contact Virginia at riverfestassistant@gmail.com or leave a message at 970-325-3010.
Nonprofit and Vendor Booths Welcome!
The Ridgway RiverFest as a community festival strives to include many local nonprofit partners who share important information with festival goers.
To find out how nonprofit and commercial booths can be reserved for the RiverFest, please check out the RiverFest Booth Rules and Guidelines
To sign up for a booth space, please fill out the 2026 Ridgway RiverFest Booth Application.
Ridgway RiverFest Staff Highlight
RiverFest Volunteer Coordinator Claire Barker has been volunteering with UWP since 2024, and recently joined the River Watch team. You may have seen her at the RiverFest races or at a Fly Fishing Film Tour showing. She is also involved with the Gunnison Gorge Anglers chapter of Trout Unlimited and is a citizen scientist with Science on the Fly. Claire enjoys hiking and backpacking, but fly fishing is her passion. She loves exploring the Uncompahgre watershed with her dog, from the high alpine down to the Taviwach takeout.
We Couldn’t Festiv-ate without Our Sponsors!
The RiverFest is produced by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to protecting the economic, natural, and scenic values of the Upper Uncompahgre Watershed. Sponsor commitments are due by May 10 to get full sponsor benefits. Sponsorships and donations including silent auction items will be gladly accepted after May 10, though some promotional benefits may not be available at that time.
Learn more on our Sponsor Page.
River Races – the Main Events!
Everyone who comes to the Ridgway RiverFest has a chance to get WET and enjoy the river. You can wade in the eddy and along the riverbanks or play on your watercraft in the middle of the river. For those who are more competitive, we have a few river races you can join.
The Ridgway RiverFest features:
- Junk of the Unc homemade boat competition
- Rubber Ducky Race (or Rubber Ducky Hunt during extremely high flows)
- Three boat race categories: inflatables, hard shell boats, and stand up paddle boards.
Learn more on our River Races Page.
