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 3rd
• Gore Festival - August 24th Note: American Whitewater will not be hosting the Gore Race.
• Gauley Festival - September 19th-22nd
• Feather Festival - September 27th - 29th

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. 10th, SeaGnar (WA), Woodinville, WA, event Facebook page.
Feb. 17th, National Paddling Film Festival (KY), Frankfort, KY, event website.
Feb. 17th, National Paddling Film Festival–NC Satellite, Fletcher, NC.
Feb. 16th - 18th, BoatSmith (CA), Gasquet, CA, event Facebook page.

March
March 30th, Little White Salmon Race (WA), White Salmon/Hood River, event website.

April
April 1st - 6th, Raftopia (CO), Denver, CO, event website.
April 3rd, Women’s Whitewater Happy Hour (WA), Seattle, WA, Eventbrite event.
April 12th - 14th - NoliFest (TN), Erwin, TN event Facebook page.
April 19th - 21st - Tuckfest (NC), USNWC Charlotte, NC, event website.
April 20th - Nantahala Open (TN), Endless River Adventures, Bryson City, TN, event website.
April 20th - 21st - Nantahala Outdoor Center Spring Fling (TN), NOC, Bryson City, TN, event website.
April 26th - 28th - Bluegrass Wildwater Association Spring Clinic (KY), Ratliff Hole Camping Area, Elkhorn City, KY, event website.
April 27th - 28th - Illyfest (Illinois River, OR), Selma, OR, event website.

May
May 3rd - 5th - Chattooga Fest (SC), Longcreek, SC, event website.
May 3rd - 4th - Cheat River Festival (WV), Albright, WV, event website.
May 10th - 11th - Mother's Day Whitewater Races (NM), Pilar, NM, event website.
May 4th - Green River Clean Up (WA), Ravensdale, WA event Facebook page.
May 10th - 11th - New River Gorge Race and Rodeo (WV), Fayetteville, WV, event website.
May 11th - 12th - Salmon River Whitewater Gathering (CA), Forks of Salmon, CA, event Facebook page.
May 13th - 16th - River Rally (MI), Grand Rapids, MI, event website.
May 17th - 19th - Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival (OR), Estacada, OR, event website.
May 17th - 19th - Stonycreek Rendezvous/StonyFest (PA), Johnstown, PA, event website.
May 23rd - Middle Fork Championship (WA), North Bend, WA, event Facebook page.
May 31st - June 2nd - Women's Paddlefest (NC), Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City, NC, event website.

June
June 1st - 2nd - Animas River Days (CO), Durango, CO, event website.
June 1st - 2nd - Oh Be Joyful Race (CO), Crested Butte, CO, event website.
June 1st - 2nd - Yampa River Fest (CO), Steamboat Springs, CO, event website.
June 7th - 9th - Viking Canoe Club Clinic - Location TBA, club website.
June 7th - 9th - East Race Whitewater Festival (IN), South Bend, IN, event website.
June 13th - 16th - FIBArk (CO), Salida, CO, event website.
June 29th - Ridgeway RiverFest (CO), Ridgeway, CO, event website.

July
July 10th - 14th - APA Packraft Roundup (ID), Payette River, ID, event website.

August
Aug. 3rd - Deerfield Fest (MA), Charlemont, MA, event page on AW website.
Aug. 10th - 11th - Great Falls Race & Potomac Festival (DC)
Aug. 10th - 11th - West Fork Riverfest (ME), West Fork, ME, event website.
Aug. 23rd - 25th - Gore Fest (CO)

September
Sept. 19th - 22nd - Gauley Fest (WV), event page on AW website.
Sept. 27th - 29th - Feather Fest (CA)

October
Oct. 26th - Russell Fork Rendezvous (KY), Elkhorn City, KY
Oct. 31st - Green Race Pre Party (NC), Asheville, NC

November
Nov. 2nd - Green Race, western North Carolina, event website

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!