2023 RiverFest Schedule
Plans are underway for the 2023 RiverFest on July 18 – 22 in Hudson, WI. Many of the 2022 events and activities will be returning for this year’s event.
2022 – Pre-events
Just Add Water Virtual Classes
Air Time: Available anytime
Link: View Just Add Water videos here
Description: Here is a creative experiment – Just Add Water (JAW) virtual classes. Join us for some at home science and art fun, in four virtual visits with Liz Malanaphy, creator of JAW summer art and science classes.
Now through August 12
Tropical Wings Rainforest in the Atrium Gallery
Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am – 9:30 pm, and Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.
Location: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street
Description: To celebrate the Tropical Wings Bird Migration, the Atrium Gallery has been transformed into a tropical rainforest with birds made by students from Willow River Elementary School under the direction of local artist Lana Sjoberg.
This project is a partnership with Tropical Wings, a non-profit volunteer organization whose mission is to support the Sister Parks Agreement between the National Park Service in the Upper Midwest and national parks on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica (SINAC/ACOSA) by promoting an awareness of Neotropical migratory birds and supporting habitat conservation through building relationships within and between communities at both ends of the migration.
2022 – July 18 – 22
St. Croix RiverFest: River Deluxe Exploration
Dates: 7/18 – 7/22
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Location: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street
Description: St. Croix RiverFest: River Deluxe Exploration is an amazing class for students who love the St. Croix River, science, and art. Participate in RiverFest programs, paddle a kayak and, using trash from the river, transform the seven-foot tall RiverFest mascot, Scrappy the Splashing Bass!
For ages 8-14. Bring a sack lunch each day. Class fee $170 (including kayak rental). For registration call 715-386-2305 or to learn more visit The Phipps website.
2022 – Tuesday, July 19
Hudson & North Hudson River Clean-up
Time: 10 – 11:30 am
Location: Lakefront Park Bandshell
Description: The river clean-up is a core activity of the Hudson RiverFest. Community volunteers get out on the riverbank collecting trash and working to help clean-up the river (trash bags will be provided). While the goal of RiverFest is to get people out to enjoy the river, the river clean-up is the “purpose” for the celebration.
Families and individuals are encouraged to join the clean-up. Participants are reminded to observe current social distancing guidelines during the clean-up. Please view the River Clean-up Guidelines for instructions and details.
Please contact Buck Malick at 715-386-7010 or cmalick2@gmail.com to pre-register and receive your cleanup locations.
Meet at the Bandshell for the Lakefront Park area clean-up.
View a map of clean-up locations.
Drop off the trash collected during the river clean-up from 11 am to 1 pm at Picnic Point (south end of Lakefront Park).
Following the clean-up, RiverFest will host a picnic lunch for the clean-up volunteers at Picnic Point (south end of Lakefront Park).
Refashioning Scrappy
Dates: 7/19 – 7/21
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Location: Lakefront Park, Picnic Point (south end of the park)
Description: You are invited to watch as students from The Phipps’ River Deluxe Exploration art and science class work to transform the trash collected during the river clean-up to create a new “skin” for Scrappy, the RiverFest mascot.
RiverFest Recycling Basics Video
Airtime: Available anytime
Video Link: View on YouTube
Description: Buck Malick from the RiverFest Committee and Kris Poston, St. Croix County Recycling Specialist, will discuss how to separate litter collected during the clean-up into recyclables or trash. Kris will explain what to, and how to, recycle the different items collected.
Carpenter Nature Center presents Animals of the St. Croix Valley
Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 pm
Location: Weitkamp Park, 648 O’Neil Road
Description: The Hudson Area Public Library hosts Animals of the St. Croix River Valley presented by Carpenter Nature Center (CNC). Meet live animal ambassadors, including frogs, turtles, snakes and a bird of prey. Learn about their amazing adaptations and what you can do to help protect them in the wild.
CNC is an environmental education and conservation organization with the mission of fostering appreciation and inspiring stewardship of the natural world. With campuses on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the St. Croix River, CNC is able to preserve wildlife habitat while also providing quality educational opportunities.
Carpenter Nature Center presents Reptiles and Amphibians
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Lakefront Park, Picnic Point (south end of the park)
Description: Join Carpenter Nature Center (CNC) staff to learn about cold-blooded creatures, how they’re similar and different, and how native species are uniquely adapted to the habitats and climate of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
CNC is an environmental education and conservation organization with the mission of fostering appreciation and inspiring stewardship of the natural world. With campuses on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the St. Croix River, CNC is able to preserve wildlife habitat while also providing quality educational opportunities.
This program will be held at Picnic Point which is at the south end of Lakefront Park.
(SOLD OUT!) Foraging Walk at Bluebird Hill Homestead
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Bluebird Hill Homestead, 456 Old E East, Hudson
Description: The Hudson Grocery Co-op presents a Foraging Walk lead by local forager Russ Lake at Bluebird Hill Homestead. Join Russ for an evening walk to connect with nature and lean about the variety of edible plants growing on the homestead property, as well as in your own backyard.
This is a FREE event, but space is limited, and reservations required on Eventbrite.
2022 – Wednesday, July 20
Refashioning Scrappy
Dates: 7/20 – 7/22
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Location: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street (north side of the building)
Description: You are invited to watch as students from The Phipps’ River Deluxe Exploration art and science class work to transform the trash collected during the river clean-up to create a new “skin” for Scrappy, the RiverFest mascot.
Tricia & the Toonies ENVIRO-FUN Puppets
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: Lakefront Park Bandshell
Description: The Toonies will bring together viewers of all ages in environmental awareness, teamwork and fun. Learn about the many ways of reducing the amount of trash we generate and to rethink, reuse, recycle!
Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and settle in to enjoy the show. Please remember to observe current social distancing guidelines during the show.
In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the Hudson Area Library at 700 1st Street.
Listen to the RiverFest song created by Tricia Haynes.
View the lyrics to the RiverFest, It’s the Best! song.
2022 – Thursday, July 21
Refashioning Scrappy
Dates: 7/20 – 7/22
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Location: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street (north side of the building)
Description: You are invited to watch as students from The Phipps’ River Deluxe Exploration art and science class work to transform the trash collected during the river clean-up to create a new “skin” for Scrappy, the RiverFest mascot.
Check out the new Scrappy Seek & Find to see all the trash we used for his new “skin” this year. Come see Scrappy Thursday,July 21 at the 6pm Partner Display and 7pm at the Concert to see how many items you can find.
RiverFest Partner Display Booths
Time: 6 pm
Location: Lakefront Park Bandshell
Description: Come down to Lakefront Park EARLY to spend time at the Non-profit displays. RiverFest partner organizations and other non-profits groups will have booths with information, activities, and demonstrations before and during the concert.
St. Croix Valley Community Band Concert
Time: 7 – 8:15 pm
Location: Lakefront Park Bandshell
Description: The St. Croix Valley Community Band with conductors Jim Root, Elaine Baumann, Connie Root and more, is a popular RiverFest event. Celebrating community and the scenic St. Croix River, there will be something for people of all ages including:
- The RiverFest theme song will be played for a sing-along (view lyrics here)
- Marching segment available for children in the audience
- Dance your way with polkas and waltz features
- Music by Glenn Miller, John Phillip Sousa, John Williams, just to name a few of the composers.
See the RiverFest mascot Scrappy on display! Created by sculptor Mary Johnson, the splashing bass figure is metal armature. Each year students from the Phipps Center for the Arts “Just Add Water” art and science class help complete the sculpture by processing and re-purposing the litter collected in Hudson during the river cleanup to create a new “skin” for Scrappy.
2022 – Friday, July 22
Evening Prairie Hike
Time: 7 – 8 pm
Location: Carpenter Nature Center Wisconsin Campus, 279 South Cove Road, Hudson
View Map: View a map
Description: Join Jennifer Vieth, Director of Carpenter Nature Center, for an evening hike through the prairie. We’ll be looking for blooming forbs and grasses as well as listening and looking for birds. This also includes plant, insect and bird identification.
There will be door prizes. Field guides and binoculars will be available to use, or you may bring your own if you have them.
Be one of the first to attend an event at the NEW Al & Laurie Hein Visitor Center.
This is a FREE event but space is limited and reservations are required, so call CNC at 651-437-4359.
2022 – Saturday, July 23
Rain or shine the RiverFest Native American programs today will go on.
Today’s Native American Celebration (1-4pm) and the Honor the River Program (6:30pm) have been MOVED INDOORS to the Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street (located just across 1st Street form the Hudson bandshell)
Discover the Willow 6-Mile Hike
Time: 9:00 am (leaves at 9 am sharp!)
Location: Meet at the Willow River Nature Center
Willow River State Park, 1034 County Road A, Hudson
Description: Join the naturalist on a 6-mile round trip hike and discover some of the most beautiful sights at Willow River State Park. This hike will take you along the Willow River, above Little Falls Lake and up close and personal to the Willow Falls. Along the way, we’ll venture through a variety of habitats including wetlands, prairie, river bottoms, and mature deciduous and coniferous forests. The terrain varies throughout the hike and includes very steep hills.
The hike will take roughly 2 ½ -3 hours to complete. Please dress for the weather and bring along, water, good hiking boots, binoculars, a camera and a snack if you wish.
This event is free to attend but vehicle admission into the park is required. All outdoor events are weather dependent.
For more information, please call 715-386-9340 or email naturecenter@willowkinnifriends.org.
View this event on Facebook.
This event has MOVED INDOORS to the Phipps Center for the Arts!
Native American Celebration
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Location: MOVED to The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street
Description: Gather by the river for a Native American Cultural Celebration with dancing, singing & drums and more!
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin with the TRAILS Dance Troupe
• Featuring Men’s Traditional with head dancer Brandon Geshick: Fancy & Grass
• Women’s Traditional: Fancy & Jingle and more!
Native Pride Dancers An internationally known high-energy dance troupe featuring an innovative blend of contemporary and traditional Native American dance styles. Colorful regalia, pulsating drumming and fancy footwork plus information about the dances creates a moving artistic experience.
MOVED INDOORS to the Phipps
Native American art and crafts.
Native American food for sale by Lisa Mosay family.
Program Sponsors: 
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The picnic has been CANCELED due to rain
The Longer Table Picnic
Time: 5 -6:30 pm
Location: Due to rain the picnic has been CANCELED
Description: It is with a spirit of inclusion that the Hudson Inclusion Alliance will host a Longer Table Picnic during RiveFest. It’s a simple yet powerful idea. Sharing a meal on one continuous and symbolic dinner table. This is a chance to build meaningful connections with Hudson residents with whom you might not otherwise cross paths and make new friends!
Bring lawn chairs or blanket and your own picnic meal as we gather around a symbolic “longer table”.
Native American food by the Lisa Mosay family will be available for sale (while supplies last). Order takeout from one of the great downtown restaurants or bring your own picnic basket from home. Enjoy the picnic and meet your Hudson neighbors.
There isn’t a cost to attend but we do ask that you register in advance so that you have your seat at the table. Please register on Eventbrite.
This event has MOVED INDOORS to the Phipps Center for the Arts!
RiverFest: Honor the River
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: MOVED to The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust Street
Description: RiverFest concludes with a performance by Native Pride Dancers and a special appearance of Hmong singer Pang Her Vang. Including a presentation by the Hudson Inclusion Alliance and more!
A special thank you to all of the RiverFest volunteers, sponsors and partners who make RiverFest possible.
Native American Resources:
Learn more about Native Wisconsin Tribes at NATOW.
Learn more about the Jingle Dress Tradition at Twin Cities PBS. Ojibwe stories tell of the beginnings and the healing powers of the Jingle Dress Dance.
Here are some resources for Native American Food and Recipes:
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council Food & Tradition: Nutrition Education in Wisconsin Tribal Communities.
• Berry Wild Rice Breakfast
• Traditional Plant Scavenger Hunt
• Waagaagin Naboob (Fiddlehead Soup)
• Maple Glazed Salmon
First Nations Development Institute has three cookbooks available online.
• Oneida Traditional & Healthy Foods for Our Community Cookbook
• Cooking Healthier with FDPIR Foods
• Nizhónígo Iinámeans with Navajo Traditional Foods
RiverFest videos relating Native Americans are available on the RiverFest Resource page.
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