American Whitewater holds four official festivals each year. These events provide an opportunity to bring our community together, celebrate our river stewardship successes, and to raise funds through membership that will propel our work.

Our festivals: Gauley Fest in West Virginia, Deerfield Fest in Massachusetts, Gore Canyon Festival in Colorado, and Feather Fest in California.

Here are the 2024 dates:

• Deerfield Festival - August 2nd
• Gore Festival - August 23rd Note: American Whitewater will not be hosting the Gore Race.
• Gauley Festival - September 18th-21st
• Feather River Festival - September 26th - 28th

In addition to American Whitewater festivals, our volunteers and affiliate clubs host many other events around the country. We participate in several of these events when there are opportunities to promote membership, raise funds for river stewardship work, improve visibility and communications with the community, and support our partners.

Community events include Festivals, Clinics, Clean-ups, and Races. We'll host the event on our website with limited data.

We will publish the Event Name, Date, Location, and event website url. To submit an event, please use this following form.

January

February
Feb. 8th, SeaGnar (WA), Woodinville, WA, event Facebook page.
Feb. 15th, National Paddling Film Festival (KY), Frankfort, KY, event website.
Feb. 15th, National Paddling Film Festival–NC Satellite, Fletcher, NC.
Feb. 15th - 18th, BoatSmith (CA), Gasquet, CA, event Facebook page.

March
March 31st - April 5th, Raftopia (CO), Denver, CO

April
April 11th - 13th - Slip Fest (PA), McConnells Mill, PA event website.
April 19th, Little White Salmon Race (WA), White Salmon/Hood River,event website.
April 25th - 27th - Tuckfest (NC), USNWC Charlotte, NC, event website.
April 19th - 20th - Nantahala Outdoor Center Spring Fling (TN), NOC, Bryson City, TN, event website.
April 26th - Illyfest (Illinois River, OR), Selma, OR, event website.

May
May 2nd - 4th - Chattooga Fest (SC), Longcreek, SC, event website.
May 2nd - 3rd - Cheat River Festival (WV), Albright, WV, event website.
May 9th - 11th - Mother's Day Whitewater Races (NM), Pilar, NM, event website.
May 9th - Salmon River Whitewater Gathering (CA), Forks of Salmon, CA, event Facebook page.
May 16th - 18th - Clackfest (OR), Estacada, OR, event website.
May 16th - 18th - Big Flat Jamboree (CA), Big Flat, CA, event website.
May 15th - 18th - Stonycreek Rendezvous/StonyFest (PA), Johnstown, PA, event website.
May 25th - New River Gorge Gauntlet Kayak and Raft Race(WV), Fayetteville, WV, event website.
May 30th - June 1st - Women's Paddlefest (NC), Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City, NC, event website.
May 31st - June 1st - Animas River Days (CO), Durango, CO, event website.
May 31st - June 1st - Yampa River Fest (CO), Steamboat Springs, CO, event website.

June
June 6th - Snake River Festival (WY), Jackson, WY, event website.
June 7th - Oh Be Joyful Race (CO), Crested Butte, CO, Facebook event page.
June 12th - 15th - FIBArk (CO), Salida, CO, event website.
June 20th - 21st - Gunnison River Festival (CO), Gunnison, CO, event website.
June 28th - Ridgway RiverFest (CO), Ridgway, CO, event website.

July
July 9th - 13th - APA Packraft Roundup (ID), Payette River, ID, event website.


August
Aug. 2nd - Deerfield Fest (MA), Charlemont, MA, event page on AW website.
Aug. 9th - 10th - Great Falls Race & Potomac Festival (DC)
Aug. 9th - 10th - West Fork Riverfest (ME), West Fork, ME, event website.
Aug. 22nd - 23rd - Gore Fest (CO)

September
Sept. 18th - 21st - Gauley Fest (WV), event page on AW website.
Sept. 26th - 28th - Feather Fest (CA)event page on AW website.

October
Oct. 24th-25th - Russell Fork Rendezvous (KY), Elkhorn City, KY, event website.

November

Many of these events are centered around whitewater releases we have negotiated in hydropower relicensing. Check out our Release Calendar to learn about these opportunities in your region.

We hope to see you at an event soon!