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.
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.
Events
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BoatSmith (CA)
Patrick Creek Campground, Gasquet, CA Gasquet, CA, United States +1 moreBoatSmith 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, […]
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SeaGnar Film Festival
20 Corners Brewing 14148 NE 190th, Suite A, Woodinville, United StatesBorn in 2013 from the shared passion for whitewater paddling in the greater Seattle area, SeaGnar has grown into a beloved film festival drawing paddlers from throughout the Pacific Northwest, […]
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Canoecopia
Alliant Energy Center 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, United StatesCanoecopia is the largest paddlesports consumer event in the world. The Alliant Energy Center Exposition Hall is more than 250,000 square feet, and the main hall contains more than 100,000 square […]
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Canyon Creek Race (WA)
Yale Bridge Access SiteCanyon Creek, near Amboy in southwest Washington, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated steep creeks. Dropping quickly through a tight forested canyon toward Merwin Reservoir, it offers a […]
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New River Dries Release (Tentative)(WV)
Cotton Hill Parking Area 116 Beckwith Rd, Anstead, WV, United StatesAmerican Whitewater and the local outfitters negotiated a series of 2 releases in March and 7 releases in late June through August each year. These releases are scheduled, but require […]
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New River Dries Release (Tentative)(WV)
Cotton Hill Parking Area 116 Beckwith Rd, Anstead, WV, United StatesAmerican Whitewater and the local outfitters negotiated a series of 2 releases in March and 7 releases in late June through August each year. These releases are scheduled, but require […]
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Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GAAmerican 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 […]
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Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GAAmerican 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 […]
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Cheoah River Release (NC)
O'Henry's Cheoah Put In 8364 Tapioca Rd, Robbinsville, NCThe 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 […]
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Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GAAmerican 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 […]
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Cheoah River Release (NC)
O'Henry's Cheoah Put In 8364 Tapioca Rd, Robbinsville, NCThe 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 […]
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Tallulah Gorge Releases (GA)
Tallulah Gorge State Park 11665 US-441, Tallulah Falls, GAAmerican 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 […]