Events

American Whitewater holds three official festivals each year. These events provide an opportunity to bring our community together, celebrate our river stewardship successes, and to raise funds through membership that will propel our work.

Our festivals: Gauley Fest in West Virginia, Deerfield Fest in Massachusetts, and Feather Fest in California.

Deerfield Festival

August 1, 2026

Gauley Festival

Sept 17-20, 2026

Feather Fest

Sept 25-27, 2026

2026 Events

In addition to American Whitewater festivals, our volunteers and affiliate clubs host many other events around the country. We participate in several of these events when there are opportunities to promote membership, raise funds for river stewardship work, improve visibility and communications with the community, and support our partners.

Community events include Festivals, Clinics, Clean-ups, and Races. We’ll host the event on our website with limited data. Use the filter button to sort for the kind of event you are looking for.

We will publish the Event Name, Date, Location, and event website url. To submit an event, please use this form.

  • BoatSmith (CA)

    Patrick Creek Campground, Gasquet, CA Gasquet, CA, United States +1 more

    BoatSmith is a celebration of rivers, community, and whitewater adventure on California’s spectacular Smith River. Held each Presidents Day weekend, the festival brings together paddlers of all kinds—kayakers, rafters, canoeists, […]

  • Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)

    Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
    Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GA

    American Whitewater and our affiliate club partners negotiated 10 annual releases on the Class Tallulah Gorge and public access to the river, which began in 1997. Saturday releases are at […]

  • Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)

    Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
    Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GA

    American Whitewater and our affiliate club partners negotiated 10 annual releases on the Class Tallulah Gorge and public access to the river, which began in 1997. Saturday releases are at […]

  • Cheoah River Release (NC)

    Cheoah River Release
    O'Henry's Cheoah Put In 8364 Tapioca Rd, Robbinsville, NC

    The Cheoah River releases at 1000cfs from the dam from 8am until 4pm on scheduled Saturdays. On Sundays it releases at 1000 from 8am to 2pm, and at 850 from […]

  • Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)

    Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
    Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GA

    American Whitewater and our affiliate club partners negotiated 10 annual releases on the Class Tallulah Gorge and public access to the river, which began in 1997. Saturday releases are at […]

  • Cheoah River Release (NC)

    Cheoah River Release
    O'Henry's Cheoah Put In 8364 Tapioca Rd, Robbinsville, NC

    The Cheoah River releases at 1000cfs from the dam from 8am until 4pm on scheduled Saturdays. On Sundays it releases at 1000 from 8am to 2pm, and at 850 from […]

  • Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)

    Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
    Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GA

    American Whitewater and our affiliate club partners negotiated 10 annual releases on the Class Tallulah Gorge and public access to the river, which began in 1997. Saturday releases are at […]

  • Cheoah River Release (NC)

    Cheoah River Release
    O'Henry's Cheoah Put In 8364 Tapioca Rd, Robbinsville, NC

    The Cheoah River releases at 1000cfs from the dam from 8am until 4pm on scheduled Saturdays. On Sundays it releases at 1000 from 8am to 2pm, and at 850 from […]

  • Little White Salmon Race (WA)

    Willard National Fish Hatchery, Little White Salmon, WA

    The Little White Salmon Race is a high‑adrenaline whitewater kayak event held on the fast‑flowing canyon stretch of the Little White Salmon River in the Pacific Northwest. It threads a challenging […]