Free festival features live music, family fun, river education and watershed restoration
Six local nonprofits are partnering to host the 12th annual Poudre RiverFest, a community festival that celebrates the Cache la Poudre River, promotes ecological restoration and helps Northern Colorado residents better understand the river corridor and the role it plays in the community.
The free, family-friendly festival takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins. Expected to draw more than 2,500 attendees, Poudre RiverFest will feature 70 exhibitors, live music from local artists, educational programming, hands-on activities, food trucks and New Belgium brews.
As drought conditions, wildfire impacts and changing water needs continue to affect communities across Colorado, Poudre RiverFest offers a timely opportunity for attendees to learn more about watershed health, water conservation and the connection between healthy rivers and resilient communities. Educational booths and activities will highlight practical ways people can protect water quality, support restoration and care for the Poudre River in everyday life.
The festival began in 2014 in response to the devastating 2013 floods to educate the community, celebrate the river and raise funds for ecological restoration. Since then, over 26,000 community members have attended the festival, helping raise over $28,000. Proceeds support ecological restoration and river education, including projects that strengthen river health and resilience in the face of drought, wildfire and flood impacts.
Attendees have the opportunity to engage in a lineup of special activities:
- Free painting classes with Pinot’s Palette
- Free yoga class with Old Town Yoga
- Cultivating a Forest Project with local artist Erika Osborne
- Poudre RiverFest Bingo Card presented by the Downtown Development Authority
- Family Zone presented by Grey Rock Landscape and Construction
- Poudre River Experience Immersive Tunnel presented by OARS Whitewater Rafting and Fort Collins Nursery
This year’s organizing partners are Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, City of Fort Collins Utilities, Reef Healers, Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. The Headwaters Sponsors are New Belgium Brewing, Grey Rock Landscape and Construction and the Downtown Development Authority.
Businesses, volunteers and individuals are encouraged to participate. Learn more or get involved at poudreriverfest.org.
