This is a new RiverFest program directed by Hudson’s own, Liz Malanaphy. This fun program tells the story of water as it travels through our community through interactive storytelling and will include volunteers from the audience.
In the event of rain, the program will be moved to Music Room at The Phipps Center for the Arts, at 109 Locust Street.
If the weather is stormy, please check here before the show for any location updates.
Black Rooster Bistro will feature an indigenous based menu of bison tartar with cured duck egg, fermented corn, sun chokes and wild rice. (while supplies last)
St. Croix Baking Company will feature a special price on cranberry wild rice sourdough bread.
Gather by the river for a Native American Cultural Celebration.
1 – 2:30 pm:
A focus on Dakota culture hosted by Rosetta “Rosie” Peters, a Minnesota-based poet, author and storyteller.
• Singing by Imnizaska Drum Group, a vibrant, intertribal drum collective deeply rooted in cultural preservation and education.
• Dancing by Zach Red Bear and the Twin Cities Inter Tribal Dance Group.
• Learn about other Dakota/Lakota cultural locations and programs in the region.
2:30 – 4 pm:
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin with pow-wow dancing, singing, drums and storytelling. Their Ojibwe style of dancing and regalia is always a highlight and visitors are invited to join in some of the dancing.
Available from 1 – 4 pm:
• Mosay Family with Pow-wow food for sale
• Native American arts and crafts for sale
• Northstar Bison samples and products available for purchase
• Chapter2 Books will have Indigenous books available for purchase
• Belwin Conservancy display with an interpretive naturalist
View a video of the 2025 Native American Celebration on the River Channel.
Program Sponsors:
Come and see the Minnesota DNR’s Electrofishing Boat demonstration at 2:30 and 3:30pm (water conditions permitting) at the Lakefront Park Beach.
The Minnesota DNR will have a display booth at Picnic Point. Meet the Aquatics and Fisheries Biologists and see carp mounts and a carp tracking acoustic tag display.
The Minnesota DNR and the Wisconsin DNR are teaming up to stop the spread of Invasive Fish Species such as Silver and Bighead Carp in the upper Mississippi River basin, including the St. Croix River.
Minnesota DNR’s invasive carp program takes an integrated approach to invasive carp prevention and management, focusing on actions that the DNR and partners can take to slow the spread of invasive carp, minimize their impact, and reduce the chance of invasive carp reproducing in Minnesota waters. Those actions include monitoring invasive carp in ways that enable us to respond, prevention and deterrence, response preparation, management and control, and communication, outreach, and coordination. Among other activities, our program tags and tracks invasive carp to learn about their movement patterns, monitors for evidence of reproduction, contracts commercial fishers to capture invasive carp, and works with partners to develop better ways to target invasive carp in Minnesota waters. More info on our invasive carp program is available online at: mndnr.gov/invasivecarp.
Watch a video of the 2024 Hudson St. Croix RiverFest Invasive Species Control on the St. Croix. Thank you to River Channel for sharing this video.
Meet at 10am SHARP at the Willow River boat launch Willow River State Park, 1034 County Road A, Hudson
Kayaks are limited! Registration is required, grab your spot here https://tinyurl.com/paddlewillow26
In honor of RiverFest week, join our park naturalists’ on a scenic kayaking trip up to the beautiful Willow Falls, before peacefully floating back down the Willow River. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children who are ages 10 and up, accompanied by a parent/guardian and are capable of operating their own kayak for the entirety of the trip are welcome to join! Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket (if you do not wish to wear one of ours) waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen, and bug spray. This kayak trip takes roughly 2.5-3 hours to complete depending on the pace of the group.
This event costs $25/kayak. Vehicle admission into the park is a separate and required fee.
All outdoor events are weather-dependent.
Questions? Email: naturecenter@willowkinnifriends.org
Stop by the Library during open hours (Tues.-Thur. 10am-8pm, Fri. 10am-6pm & Sat. 10am-3pm) for RiverFest STEM activity or make a River Otter. Make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.
Stop by the Library during open hours (Tues.-Thur. 10am-8pm, Fri. 10am-6pm & Sat. 10am-3pm) for RiverFest STEM activity or make a River Otter. Make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.
The FREE St. Croix Valley Community Band Concert is a popular RiverFest event. Celebrating community and the scenic St. Croix River with something for people of all ages. Colleen Raye will be joining the concert as a featured guest artist. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled family evening! Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and settle in to enjoy the show.
The RiverFest theme song will be played for a sing-along. View the lyrics to the RiverFest, It’s the Best! song.
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.
In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to The Phipps Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater at 109 Locust Street.
If the weather is stormy, please check here before the concert for any location updates.
Please use the “Pervious Events” link at the bottom (left) of the page to view the 2026 past events.