CLICK HERE to view/ download the above flyer.

 

 TO BUY TICKETS NOW, CLICK HERE!

 

 

What: RiverFest

 

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2015

 

Time: Noon – 6 p.m.

 

Where:  Discovery Village

4800 Atwell Road

Shady Side, MD 20764

 

Phone:  410-867-7171

 

Admission:  Adults $10

Children 6 – 12 $4

Children under 6 – FREE

 

Parking:  Plenty of free parking on site and at nearby satellite parking. A portion of the proceeds from the event supports the Rotary Club of Southern Anne Arundel County’s Bountiful Backpack Program to provide a weekend supply of nourishing food for school children to take home each Friday.

 

Web site:  www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org

 

RiverFest to celebrate Southern Anne Arundel lifestyle on June 6

 

The West and Rhode Riverkeeper has teamed up with the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce, the Anne Arundel County Watermen’s Association, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau to produce the second annual “RiverFest,” slated to take place at Discovery Village in Shady Side on Saturday, June 6, from noon to 6 p.m.

 

“This festival celebrates the roots and tides of Southern Anne Arundel County,” says Riverkeeper Jeff Holland. “We’re reviving the traditional Blessing of the Fleet with local watermen’s workboats parading under an arc of water sprayed from the deck of the county fireboat. We’ll have live music all afternoon with a backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay and fun activities for kids – in and out of the water.” 

 

Local churches will be serving fried fish and chicken and area restaurants and caterers will serve crab cakes, barbecue and other local delicacies. Beer, wine and soft drinks will also be served.

 

“Parents can take their kids kayaking on the creek or they can learn about the ecology and history of the Bay from the area’s environmental organizations and heritage sites,” Holland notes. “Local artists and craftsmen will show their works and local businesses will show their wares. It’s a fun way for the whole family to connect with the area’s rural charm and the natural beauty of the West and Rhode Rivers.”

 

“Anne Arundel County is home to one of Maryland’s last fleet of commercial watermen,” says Capt. John VanAlstine, a working waterman and member of the Anne Arundel County Watermen’s Association. “We hope visitors will enjoy our revival of the traditional Blessing of the Fleet.”

Locally owned businesses will have exhibits at the festival, and environmental organizations and heritage sites will entertain children with fun, engaging and educational activities. The Watershed Steward’s Academy will hold a scavenger hunt and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will conduct tours of their oyster restoration project and their research vessel, the R/V Patricia Campbell. The tour boat Richard Lee will offer tours of the West River for a modest additional fee.

 

“Bringing Back the Bay,” an exhibit of black-and-white photographs by Marin E. Warren in the gallery on the second floor of the Discovery Village building. The exhibit includes images of southern Anne Arundel County people and places that the famed photographer took over his 60-year career. 

 

“This event represents the launch of a grass-roots movement by local small business owners, watermen and family farmers,” says Julia Howes, the Executive Director of the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. “We want to show off this area’s unique culture and heritage, so that visitors will learn about all the wonderful opportunities for shopping, dining and enjoying the water they can discover on this side of the South River.”

 

“After they’ve been introduced to our county’s countryside, overnight visitors can plan their next visit at the VisitAnnapolis.org web site,” notes Connie Del Signore, President and CEO of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau. “You can map out a day’s itinerary that could include antiquing, bird watching, kayaking, or visits to nature parks, museums and galleries, and then dig into locally caught crab cakes at one of the area’s many waterfront restaurants.” 

 

“This event is all about helping local small business owners, watermen and family farmers become more economically sustainable through heritage and eco-tourism,” Holland says. “When businesses stand strong, they can stand up to the pressures of development. That’s good for the environment of the watersheds and that’s good for the rivers.”

 

The second annual RiverFest will take place at Discovery Village on Saturday, June 6, 2014, from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children 6-12, and free for kids under six years old. Food and beverages are available at moderate prices. 

 

Proceeds help the Riverkeeper keep the West and Rhode Rivers swimmable and fishable and help the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber support local businesses.  A portion of the proceeds from the event supports the Rotary Club of Southern Anne Arundel County’s Bountiful Backpack Program to provide a weekend supply of nourishing food for school children to take home each Friday.

 

For information on participating in the event as a sponsor or exhibitor, contact Program Manager Eric Andersen at 410-867-7171 or

 

Directions from Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis: take Rt. 50 east or I-97 south to Aris T. Allen Blvd./Rt. 665. Take Route 2 south across the South River Bridge through Edgewater. Turn left on Rt. 214, turn right onto Rt. 468, Muddy Creek Road. Stay on that road to the end. Turn right onto Snug Harbor Road and follow signs to Discovery Village. 

There’s plenty of free parking on site and at a nearby satellite parking lot with free shuttles running on a continuous basis. 

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, see www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org.