Fifteen free events make up this year’s 2Rivers Festival June 7 to 15.
In its third year, the festival celebrates Guelph’s best natural feature, its river system, by bringing over 20 organizations together to offer river related events to the public. It is an opportunity for residents to enjoy the benefits of nature that are found here.
Starting it off on June 7, the Speed River Cleanup (now the 2Rivers Cleanup), celebrates its 35th anniversary. The clean up has reduced litter over the years and prompted many other initiatives.
This year, also marks the 20th anniversary of the Grand River System’s designation as a Canadian Heritage River.
New programs for the festival include its first bioblitz in the Yorklands area south of York Road. The blitz, led by Nature Guelph, involves experts and the general public in identifying the native living things that make this part of Guelph home.
Two new river related walking and cycling events are included this year. There is a heritage walk of the Two Rivers Neighbourhood June 12, and a riverside cycling trip June 14.
Old favourites from previous years include the catch and release of river creatures at the Arboretum on June 11, and a 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.
Feature events closing the festival include the 2Rivers Celebration on June 13 at the Boathouse, the Lost Rivers film screening June 14 in the Goldie Mill ruins and displays and activities from a number of local river-related organizations at Riverside Park on June 15.
Program brochures are available at the Boathouse and the full schedule can be viewed online at 2riversfestival.org.
The Speed and Eramosa Rivers are the source of inspiration for the annual week of events.
The goals of the festival are to inspire awareness, appreciation and restoration of the river system while increasing the effectiveness of participating organizations and their activities in the community.
