The 2024 RiverFest offered something for everyone.
RiverFest, a FREE family-friendly community event, returned for its eighth year to celebrate our water resources at Pontiac Park on Saturday, June 29.
Buckeye Trail Hike
At 9:00 am Mike Saxton, a local volunteer, led hikers from the Confluence at Pontiac Park, where the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers meet in Downtown Defiance. The hike led south to the Historic Fort Grounds and featured some of the local history as well as riverfront views from Kingsbury Park and Buchman Park at the Glaize, where the City has envisioned a Native American Tribute to be built.
River Passport activity with STEAM river-related activities for the kids, environmental exhibitors and activities, demonstrations and displays from a living history encampment, all in our beautiful Pontiac Park:
The Gazebo housed our information center including Great Lakes Region information Hands on with Project Wet, Defiance City Schools, and Defiance SWCD Learn about Land to Lake Prizes were provided to kids who participated in the River Passport program Joe Blosser’s booth of pelts and local Wildlife ODNR Scenic Rivers display Exhibits and History Encampment Allen Co. Soil & Water Consrvation District OSU Extension–Defiance County, explaining water drainage through different kinds of soil. UT Lake Erie Center pulled sample species from the Maumee A variety of fish in the Maumee Shock boat catches from the Maumee Species in the Maumee Camp Lakota & Boy Scouts of America A great setting to learn about nature Wicked Wiches provided food & refreshments for the day Defiance Sheriff’s Department Beautiful view of the confluence City council assisted with the Kayak raffle drawing Kayak raffle winner, Gabe Curtis! Be sure to join us next year!
Exhibitors at RiverFest 24 included:
Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District | Black Swamp Beekeepers | Buckeye Trail Association/North Country Trail | Camp Lakota/Boy Scouts | Defiance Research Alliance | Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission | Friends of Independence Dam | Historical Kekionga Book Series | Maumee Watershed Alliance | ODNR Scenic Rivers | OSU Extension – Defiance County | Project Wet with Defiance City Schools and Defiance Soil and Water Conservation District | The Nature Conservancy | University of Toledo, Lake Erie Center, Grass Carp Strike Team | Upper Maumee Watershed Partnership | Wildlife Pelts with Joe Blosser
Fort to Port Histories returned again this year with a living history encampment in Pontiac Park for the entire weekend. Visitors at RiverFest were able to enter the camp area to learn what life was like for “Great Lakes Fur Traders” in the 19th century and observe the popular musket and cannon firing.
A kayak package was raffled off at the gazebo at at the end of the day.
Land to Lake has offered Free entry to the raffle at RiverFest for the past couple of years.
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