The Return of . . .

Riverfest

May 27, 28, 29, 2022
Farmington, NM

https://riverfestnewmexico.com/

Riverfest takes place over the Memorial Day weekend at both Berg Park and Animas Park starting at 5pm on Friday evening with live entertainment until 8pm, including a VIP Tent with food and drinks for major sponsors, donors, and community partners.  The event continues on Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

The President’s Corner

D’Ann Waters

The River Reach Foundation has been very busy this past quarter. We held our annual general meeting and elections on February 3rd. Nomination and approval of new Board members and new officers are as follows: Directors for new 3-year terms are Cody Dudgeon, Karen Lupton, Evan Noel, D’Ann Waters, and Debbie Braff. I am entering my 2nd year as president. Gary Hanson was elected Vice-President. Debbie Braff continues another term as Treasurer and Chris Troyer continues as Secretary.  Continuing Directors not up for election this term are Doug Abe, Gloria and Bob Lehmer, Jim Luther, Jim Neidhart, Ryan Merrion, and Monica Smith. The Foundation is very excited to have nominated and approved an additional new Director, Earleen Dudley, who retired from her 37-year design business in California and moved here just over a year ago. Earleen is beginning her 3-year term and is head of the marketing team.

A ribbon cutting and dedication of Lehmer’s Lookout at the “Among the Waters River Trail” was held on March 25th. The Lehmer’s Lookout was dedicated in honor of Dr. Bob Lehmer’s vision and contribution to our river and its trails through his work to promote, protect, and enhance the riverine corridor. A beautiful plaque, pergola, and picnic table are placed at the site overlooking a beautiful view of the river.

Earth Day is Saturday April 23rd and we will be participating in events at the Nature Center.

Cody Dudgeon and his wife Ryan have proposed a floating river clean-up event prior to Riverfest between River Reach Terrace and Miller Street Bridge.  https://desertriverguides.com/events/

Read the articles in this publication and go to our websites https://riverfestnewmexico.com/ and

https://riverreachfoundation.com/ for more information on these activities and events taking place at Riverfest.

Riverfest is Back and Better than Ever!

Memorial Day Weekend
May 27, 28, & 29, 2022

Join family and friends at Riverfest’s 34^th festival on the banks of the beautiful Animas River in the HEART of Farmington, New Mexico. Check us out at https://riverfestnewmexico.com/.

Enjoy great food vendors and your favorite brews, served up at beer and wine gardens surrounding the main stages, featuring a variety of music and live bands, at both the River Reach Terrace and at the Rocky Reach Landing.

Shop hand-crafted creations by local and regional Artisans and vendors throughout the park. Flaunt your talents in the Recycled Fashion Show or with the Plein Aire Artists. The Kids can experience the large “Adventure Zone” and enjoy Misto The Mali’s magic show at the Rocky Reach Landing.

Watch performances by Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers on Saturday at the Little Pavilion on River Reach Terrace and help the One Nation Gourd Dance Club honor our Veterans and Leaders on Sunday at the Veterans Memorial Park. Enjoy Classic cars at the ‘Show and Shine’ at Cottonwood Landing.

Be part of the Raft Rally and Costume Contest as you drift down the Animas.  Enjoy raft rides, tractor rides, Yoga and the10K/5K/2mile Fun Run.

Enter your Dachshund in the famous Wiener Dog Race or Introduce your pooch to the Roverfest costume parade! Purchase your tickets for the Duck Race and watch your duck float down Willett Ditch where the winning duck wins $2,000 cash.

Riverfest 34, “A jolt Worthy Event” is hosted by the River Reach Foundation and the City of Farmington. Sponsors include Basin Home Health, the Farmington Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, KSJE, and MANY more!

Check out https://riverfestnewmexico.com/ for more details to register and to purchase duck tickets in advance, or to Volunteer.

Other News

RIVERFEST 2022 NEEDS YOU!

By Chris Troyer

This year’s Riverfest is anticipated to be bigger and better than ever. A successful Riverfest is dependent on many volunteers. In past we have had over 100 people volunteering at various booths and activities. This year volunteer opportunities include Information booths, Merchandise Booths, Duck ticket booths, Kids Arts & Crafts, Set-up and Take-down, wiener Dog Race, Eating Areas, and Traffic Control. Each Volunteer will get a free volunteer T-shirt. Pickup will be on Wednesday, May 25th at the Civic Center. To volunteer simply click on the link below to complete the volunteer application. Once you submit your application you will be presented with a page where you can choose the volunteer area and shifts. When you finish you will receive 2 emails: one with your volunteer information and the other with your volunteer assignments. Each email will contain a link where you can update your profile or cancel or change your shift assignments. The Volunteer Coordinator will send out an email to all volunteers a week prior to the event to remind everyone of their shifts and of the Volunteer Orientation and T-shirt pickup. Hope to see you at Riverfest 2022.

https://riverfestnewmexico.com/volunteers/

EARTH DAY

By Chris Troyer

The River Reach Foundation will participate in celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 23rd at the Nature Center from 11:00am to 2:00pm in Animas Park. Activities will include:

• Making Seed Balls
• Creating art from recycled materials
• Walking tours of the park
• Xeriscape Demonstration
• Seed Savers will be giving away seeds
• Tree planting
• Tree Wrapping (to protect trees from beavers)
• Farmington Clean and Beautiful will have other fun activities

Be sure to stop by the river Reach Foundation Booth and say hi.

RIVERFEST RALLY RAFT PARADE
AND COSTUMER CONTENT

By Cody Dudgeon

The annual Riverfest in Farmington has become an iconic opening to summer for the people of northwest New Mexico and throughout the Four Corners states. With live music, art shows, kids activities and crafts, and lots of amazing food, the celebration of spring draws tens of thousands of people each year. This year the River Reach Foundation and Desert River Guides rafting company have added one more event for those visitors to enjoy. A Raft Parade and Costume Contest. Open to anyone with a craft to float the river and a life jacket to stay safe, participants should have their boat/craft at the Animas Park river access near the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter and ready to launch before 11 a. m. on Sunday May 29th. Some people might want to float from the Penny Lane access down and park their boats on the rock bar above the Animas Park put-in to extend their trip. Rafters will launch their craft in full regalia and costumes and float through Berg Park for Fun and Spectacle. While passing through the area of the Veteran’s Memorial, judges from the River Reach Foundation and the public will critique each boat for theme, creativity, and participation (I.e., is everyone on the boat dressed up). The raft with the most points will win a Riverfest Rally trophy paddle and will be announced at 3pm in Berg Park the Little Pavilion.

If you or your organization does not have access to a river craft, you can contact Desert River Guides to sponsor a raft in the parade. Anyone who sponsors a raft for the parade can bring up to 10 people to float that day. You can also bring a sign or banner with your organization’s name and contact information to display during the parade. You will need to supply your own costumes, but DRG will provide lifejackets and a guide. If you want your guide to match the theme of your costumes, you might want to bring them something to wear. Remember costumes need to be visible while wearing a life jacket or be worn over the life jacket. For more information about the parade please contact DRG at 505-427-7734 or email desertriverguides@gmail.com and we will respond as soon as possible.

For those who are not interested in the parade and just want to float the Animas River anytime during Riverfest, Desert River Guides is offering a special starting Friday 5/27 at 10 am and running through our last launch approximately every hour. Come see them at the tent by the put-in that weekend or give them a call. Desert River Guides will be rafting on the Animas and San Juan Rivers all summer long, if you can’t float with them during Riverfest check out the Desert River Guides Website or call them at 505-427-7734 about price and availability of all their fun and beautiful tours. See you on the river.

ANIMAS RIVER CLEANUP
MAY 14, 2022

By Cody Dudgeon

Desert River Guides, City of Farmington Parks and Recreation, and Farmington Clean and Beautiful are working together to prep the river trails from the River Reach Terrace down to the Miller Street Bridge take-out. Volunteers will meet at Desert River Guides (119 E Pinon) to get trash bags and supplies at am on Saturday, May 14th. Those who prefer to walk the trails will walk “upstream” towards the River Reach Terrace. Floaters will be on rafts and pulling up on the banks to grab trash and debris on the river. They will continue downstream to the takeout. At 11:00 am, volunteers can meet back at DRG for T-shirts.

RIVERFEST 2022 ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

RIVER REACH TERRACE

Friday

5:00pm – 6:15pm – Majik Ham

6:45pm – 9:00pm – Tim Sullivan

Saturday

10:00am – 11:30am – Sandstoners

11:00am – 12:00pm – Weiner Dog Races

12:30pm – 2:00pm – Breezin’

2:30pm – 4:00pm – Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers

4:30pm – 6:00pm – Jokers Wild

6:30pm – 8:00pm – Funkified

Sunday

11:00am – 12:30pm – D’DAT

1:00pm – 2:30pm – Black Velvet

3:00pm – 5:00pm – Tumblin Dice

ROCKY REACH LANDING

Saturday

10:00am – 11:30am – Zia Chicks

11:30 – 12:00pm – Misto the Maji (Magic Show)

12:00pm – 1:30pm – Julie and the Boyz

2:00pm – 3:30pm – Brant Leeper Band

4:00pm – 5:30pm – Majik Ham

6:00pm – 8:00pm – Rico Jones & Ii-Yat Collective (from New York)

Sunday

11:00am – 12:30pm – Pete Giuliani Band

12:30pm – 1:00pm – Misto the Maji (Magic Show)

1:30pm – 2:30pm – Kirk James Band

2:00pm – 3:00pm – Duck Race

3:00pm – 3:30pm – Misto the Maji (Magic Show)

3:30pm – 5:00pm – Wild Country

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