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Despite a few setbacks from Mother Nature, it was evident to any who ventured near Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-Barre that RiverFest 2015 was in full swing.
The annual event, now in its 18th year, spans an entire weekend with activities for all ages, aimed at highlighting the Susquehanna River and its surrounding habitat.
“Each year we want it to grow in a new way,” said April Davies, volunteer coordinator for RiverFest and board member of the Riverfront Parks Committee. “We focus on our main mission of environmental education, but make it entertaining and accessible for the community.”
RiverFest 2015 spanned Friday and Saturday, with the Sunday’s dragon boat races being cancelled due to the high river levels and impending inclement weather.
“Safety is one of our main priorities,” Davies said.
Friday night’s events were held at Millennium Circle Portal on the Wilkes-Barre side of the river, and it featured musical performances from acts KRIKI and Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax, as well as food vendors, family fishing, opening ceremonies and other activities.
Saturday’s festivities, held at Nesbitt Park, were even bigger with a showcase of vendors, children’s art and nature programs, pony rides, guided nature hikes, kayaking and live music from Kate Hearity, MIZ and Bret Alexander among many other activities.
“RiverFest started very modestly 18 years ago, with card tables in the park,” said John Maday, executive director of the Riverfront Parks Committee. “Now, look how much it has grown. All of this is because of the volunteers, as well as the great support we receive from the city of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County.
“We view these parks – Millennium Circle, Nesbitt, Kirby – as classrooms to help teach the public about the environment around them. Everything we do, we do it for the community.”
RiverFest featured vendors of all types– from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Business Association to Service Electric and Pennsylvania American Water.
The community came out in force to help support the event.
“I’m here to teach people about the life that lives in the river – crayfish, dragonflies, mayflies,” said Shane Kleiner of state Department of Environmental Protection. “Many kids don’t realize that there are all sizes of living things in the rivers, and here they can see them firsthand.”
RiverFest also helps promote the natural beauty in the area to outsiders as well.
“This festival helps draw tourists from all over – New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia – to our area as a getaway,” said Janet Hall of the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau. “They want to go somewhere less congested, more relaxed. We have that.”
The Riverfront Parks Committee will be hosting the postponed dragon boat races on July 11, and anyone interested in volunteering can contact April Davies at april.davies@icloud.com.