For 21 years, the Dolores River Festival has celebrated the river that winds through town not only providing natural, scenic awe but serving local farmers, boaters, anglers and local businesses.
The annual Dolores River Festival returns this weekend at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores to celebrate the community’s valuable resource. It will bring day and night entertainment, music, food, games and an afternoon parade to float down the water.
In the past, the event has tallied crowds of about 1,500 visitors.
On Saturday, the main entrance gate near the baseball diamonds will open about 10 a.m., with the event set to finish around 10 p.m. Festivities include musical performances from eight bands with varied start times from 11 a.m. through 8:50 p.m. on two stages, the main stage and the river stage.
Food and retail vendors will be available, as well as a kids play area. The event is serving beer, wine and margaritas.
Scott Clow, board president of host and fiscal sponsor Greater Dolores Action, said while the event doesn’t make much money, it has purpose.
“It’s a celebration of the Dolores River and the way it brings everyone together, whether you are a business owner that gets water from the Dolores Project or a farmer who irrigates or a swimmer, fisher and boater – we all enjoy it in different ways,” he said.
Clow said hosting the event is always financially challenging, but it’s the largest community enhancement initiative organized by Greater Dolores Action.
Saturday tickets are $45 in advance or $50 per person at the gate. Children age 12 and younger enter for free.
“The Dolores River is a beautiful river that provides so much to us and the purpose is to share in the joy that it brings us,” Clow said. “It’s a very expensive event to produce. We don’t make a lot of money on it, but what we do, it goes toward the mission of Greater Dolores Action.”
In the past, free raft rides were a crowd-pleaser. However, organizer and social media producer Susan Lisak said water levels on the river are too low this year, and it is not possible.
“We are skipping the raft rides for the second year in a row, but we are going to have the river parade at 4:45 p.m., from Riverside Park and to JRP (Joe Rowell Park),” she said.
The parade involves decked-out boats and watercrafts floating in succession while captains and passengers dress in costumes. Anyone who wants to join the parade should meet at Riverside Park before 4:45 p.m., must sign a waiver, wear a life jacket and bring their own water craft, including any boat, paddle board, raft, kayak, canoe or tube.
A pre-party event begins at 8 p.m. Friday at the Dolores River Brewery where the three-person band Felix y Los Gatos, led by Felix Gato Peralta, is playing. Day-of performances include the Peter Guiliani band; Yes, No, Maybe; Native Jazz Quartet; the 14ers; Felix y Los Gatos; Alex Dunn & the Deal; Sabotage; and Yope.
Lisak said sign-ups for volunteers are still welcome, and it allows people to work and attend River Fest free. For more volunteer options, visit www.doloresriverfest.org.
“We do allow dogs as long as they are on a leash,” Lisak said, adding that dogs must be well-behaved and water bowls and doggy bags will be provided.
Organizers offered a few tips for eventgoers. The bar will not provide disposable cups so attendees must buy a cup with alcoholic drinks or bring their own.
They recommend attendees bring personal water bottles or past Riverfest cups, sunscreen, sunglasses, lawn chairs and a shade tent if available.
“The short shade structures are welcome but not the big canopy pop-ups,” Lisak said.
For more information, email Lisak at producer@doloresriverfest.org.
awatson@the-journal.com
