2Rivers Festival 2014

The 3rd annual 2Rivers Festival takes place in Guelph from June 7 – 15 2014. The festival pays tribute to Guelph’s most significant natural feature by bringing together more than 20 different community organizations to celebrate the city’s river system.

The fifteen-event festival starts off with the Speed River Clean-Up on June 7. Now celebrating its 35th anniversary, the annual cleanup has not only made our rivers less littered but has also brought considerable attention to an under appreciated part of the city.

New programs this year include a ‘bioblitz’ in the Yorklands area where experts from Nature Guelph will guide a group of volunteers as they seek to identify all the native living things that make this part of Guelph their home.

Two new river related walking and cycling events are included this year. A heritage walk of the Two Rivers Neighbourhood take place on Thursday June 12 and a riverside cycling trip on Saturday June 14.

Old favourites, coming back this year, include Catch and Release of river creatures at the Arboretum on June 11 and the thrilling Crayfish Catch near the covered bridge on June 14. There will be three riverside hikes throughout the festival, a canoe paddle and an evening of river related stories at the Boathouse.

Festival highlights are, as always, the Water Celebration which this year will feature live music from Sarah J Felker, Manatee, Post Normal and Bedsheets on Friday June 13 at the Boathouse, and the 2Rivers Festival film screening on June 14 in the Goldie Mills ruins.

Festival brochures are available at The Boathouse and online at 2riversfestival.org.