Hudson Set to Celebrate the St. Croix at Third Annual RiverFest

“Party with a Purpose” planned for July 21-26, with numerous river-related activities.

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Greg Seitz

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Via St. Croix RiverFest:

Several volunteers from the RiverFest committee and Hudson Grocery Co-op (HGC) joined the Scrappy float during the Boosters’ Days parade. In an effort to help keep the river clean, RiverFest provided trash cans for parade goers at the end of the parade. Volunteer Lily Jorgenson gives a thumbs-up for Hudson RiverFest, while HGC volunteer Randy Smith pulls one of the trash cans.
Several volunteers from the RiverFest committee and Hudson Grocery Co-op (HGC) joined the Scrappy float during the Boosters’ Days parade. In an effort to help keep the river clean, RiverFest provided trash cans for parade goers at the end of the parade. Volunteer Lily Jorgenson gives a thumbs-up for Hudson RiverFest, while HGC volunteer Randy Smith pulls one of the trash cans.

Plans are well underway for Hudson’s third RiverFest celebration, which will take place from 21-26 July. This year’s event has been expanded to six days of activities designed to allow people of all ages to actively celebrate the Lower St. Croix River and all that it provides. As with last year’s event, a large number of organizations and individuals have been working together to make “RiverFest: A Party with a Purpose” a success. While celebrating the river, RiverFest also focuses on efforts to preserve and protect the St. Croix’s health and beauty.

The event will be kicked off with a riverfront clean-up on Tuesday morning followed by a lunch for clean-up participants and a family-oriented paddle. Interspersed throughout the week will be a wide variety of activities, including bird walks, raptor demonstrations, a bike rodeo, a fishing contest, a river cruise, water boarding, library talks, Native American dance, Civil War re-enactment, environmental displays and rain barrel painting.

The annual river clean-up will take place in both Hudson and North Hudson on Tuesday, July 21 and, once again, the trash that is collected will be used to re-adorn the RiverFest mascot – Scrappy the Splashing Bass. Scrappy is an armature sculpture that was originally created for the 2013 RiverFest, and is starting to be used for other Lower St. Croix River celebrations that have environmental themes.

The Thursday, July 23 evening concert in the Hudson Bandshell will feature the St. Croix Valley Community Band under the direction of Kris Tjornehoj. Audience members – young and not so young – will be invited to participate in a piece or two during the drumming extravaganza. All these fun activities will be enhanced with the waving of river sticks (made available at the event) at selected times during the evening. The music will be themed around the river. Come early and visit the displays by non-profits dedicated to river awareness and “Scrappy” will be fully “re-dressed” and on display in time for the concert.

On Friday, July 24 the RiverFest Boat Cruise is an opportunity to explore the St. Croix River Valley with featured naturalists Danny Newbauer and Jennifer Vieth. Learn about the natural history of the area and meet some live animal ambassadors from Carpenter Nature Center. The cost for the cruise and speakers is $15 (this does not include dinner, however, dinner is available at an additional fee. A cash bar is available). Boarding is at 6 p.m. at the Toll Bridge Road. Reservations are required at www.aftonhouseinn.com or 651-436-8883.

A non-denominational celebration to close RiverFest will be held in the Bandshell in the afternoon on Sunday, July 26, with music provided by the St. Croix Sacred Ensemble.

There are several other activities still in the works so visit www.stcroixriverfest.org to get the latest RiverFest schedule of events. RiverFest is made possible through generous support of local sponsors.

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