American Whitewater’s Deerfield River Festival
August 2-3rdCharlemont, MA (in the field across from Zoar Outdoor)
Admission: $5.00
American Whitewater announces the 2003 Deerfield River Festival. American Whitewater and F.L.O.W. started the Deerfield River Festival in 1994 to celebrate the successful dam relicensing process that took place on the Deerfield in 1993.
The event focuses on bringing people to Charlemont, MA to enjoy a weekend of outdoor activities while showcasing whitewater paddlesports and raising funds for AW. The main activities take place on Saturday afternoon/evening and provide entertainment for both outdoor and whitewater enthusiasts.
New this year is an increased focus on activities for children, expanded live entertainment, and the Ruler of the GAP paddling competition.
2003 Entertainment Highlights
3:00 Saturday afternoon, YMCA Camp Counselors will be hosting field games at the festival site for children and adults of all ages.
4:00 This year the festival will be hosting four bands, you count em’: FOUR! Two of the bands are from the local area and include the Hemlock Gorge Boys and the Symptoms. The Hemlock Gorge Boys and the Symptoms played at the 2002 Festival to a very enthusiastic crowd.
Watch for more details as two more bands are named in the coming weeks. So be sure to get off the river early and enjoy some great bluegrass, rock, and reggae music while enjoying some yummy festival fare from the food court.
12:00 Sunday Tom Bishop and his band of merry volunteers will be returning with the Ruler of Gap contest on Sunday, May 3rd. The Ruler of the Gap event is focused on beginner and intermediate boaters, and the point system reflects the capabilities of paddlers who are honing their downriver skills.
Other activities include a children’s story teller, a fiberglass boat repair demonstration, the “Thrown Out” Throw Rope Olympics and the presentation of the Clif Bar “Flowing Rivers” grant program. If you belong to a paddling club and you would like to know more about the grant program, click here
All afternoon and evening the festival site will be bustling with activity including outdoor equipment vendors, live entertainment, food and refreshments, and a silent auction with awesome outdoor gear. The Deerfield River Festival is a critical fundraiser for American Whitewater, and is one of our premiere events.
All Proceeds from the festival support American Whitewater’s conservation and access work throughout the Northeast. Come out and join us for a weekend of great paddling, exciting competitions, and awesome live entertainment.More Information.
If you are interested in volunteering at the event, click here or contact Chris Towles at (828) 252-0728 or by email at chris@amwhitewater.org.
Thanks we look forward to seeing you there,
Michael Phelan, Director of Outreach Services