The Deerfield River Festival was created 11 years ago to celebrate the re-licensing of the river’s many dams and to raise money for American Whitewater to continue this work on additional rivers throughout the country. If you have never experienced the Deerfield River Festival, it is well worth the trip to see why this festival does “Get better every year!”
The festival fun started on Saturday morning when several paddlers joined the first ever “Dryway Scramble”. This paired paddlers’ competition, is like no other whitewater event and requires competitors to have sprinting and speed skills in addition to freestyle expertise. This friendly competition, taking place at Dragon’s Tooth Rapid on the Dryway Section, was less about which pair is the best boater but rather which paddling pair had the most fun during their runs. In the end, it seemed that John Kennedy and James Kodaras enjoyed themselves the most and won the competition.
After the folks found their way off the river, the activities in the festival site were ready to roll. The afternoon started with volunteers from a local YMCA leading children activities for all of the younger festival attendees. While the kids enjoyed their activities, the adults took turn receiving free massages at the AW Member Appreciation Tent. Also providing some challenge for both the young and old was the Eastern Mountain Sports “Raise the Roof Tour” with their 25-foot climbing and adventure challenge. In addition to the challenges brought forth by this massive bio-diesel fueled machine, it featured a 42″ plasma screen television showing paddling flicks all afternoon.
As the sun set behind the beautiful backdrop of the Berkshire Mountains, the festival kept on going with great music from local bluegrass musicians, The Hemlock Gorge Boys. During the early evening, paddlers tested their skills at the AW Throw Bag Throwoff while other paddlers scoured the festival site for new paddling and outdoor equipment.
As the stars and moon appeared overhead, the night warmed up with intense bidding in the AW silent auction where boats, sandals, sunglass and other gear were auctioned off – all to support the efforts of American Whitewater. The Deerfield Festival also featured a film premiere for the first time of the latest Lunch Video Magazine video. As the night flowed on, so did the beer and the music as local rock band, The Symptoms, took to the stage.
