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RiverFest, a FREE family-friendly community event, was held Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Pontiac Park, Defiance. Congrats to the winner of this year’s Kayak Raffle, Terry Horstman! Thanks to everyone who entered the raffle, and all who came out to RiverFest ’25!

Presented by LandtoLake, the City of Defiance, and Defiance County. Supporting local agencies include: Defiance County Health Department, Defiance Research Alliance, Defiance Main Street & Visitors Bureau, Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District, Defiance Public Library, Upper Maumee Watershed District, and Fort to Port Histories.

RiverFest’25 Schedule of Events

Join Us from 10:00 am to 4:00pm for:
Yoga in the Park, Kayak Raffle, Kids River Passport Activities, Environmental Exhibitors, Recycled Art Competition & Voting, Fort to Port Living History Encampment, Local Favorite Food Trucks, FREE Pontoon Rides with Mayor McCann, Encampment Musket Firing, Encampment Canon Firing, Defiance Karate Demonstration, Kayak Raffle Drawing

RiverFest’25 Food & Refreshement

We have a great list of local food trucks that will be present for the event: Smother It, Susie Lynne’s Lemonade, Franks Fries, and Frenzy on the Go!

Join us for some delicious fun!

Free YOGA 10-10:45— Enjoy gentle movement and breathing while gazing at the river and connecting to nature. No experience necessary- beginners welcome. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel. Although this event is free, to pass along good karma, participants may bring shampoo or conditioner to donate to the Defiance PATH center.

RiverFest’25 Exhibitors & Activities

We have a great list of exhibitors lined up for RiverFest’25, on Saturday, June 28th! They will offer River Passport activities and prizes for all families that attend!

Exhibitors: Scouting America, Buckeye Trail Association, Fallen Timbers Preservation, Defiance Karate LLC, Defiance Elementary School STEAM, Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District, POWER Defiance County, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, OSU Extension, University of Toledo, University of Toledo/GLOBE Mission EARTH, Friends of Independence Dam State Park, The Nature Conservency, Defiance Research Alliance, Maumee Watershed Alliance, ACRES Land Trust, H2Ohio, Joe Blosser Animal Pelts

Activities: Defiance SWCD Chalk Art Contest, Food Trucks and Refreshments, Karate Demonstration, Living History Encampment with Canon and Musket Firing, Morning Yoga, RiverFest Passport Activities, Pontoon Rides (weather permitting)

Be sure to stop by the gazebo at Pontiac Park during RiverFest to enter for your chance to win!

Raffle Rules: Staff, volunteers, and exhibitors are not eligible. All sections of the raffle ticket must be completed. For the 2025 “participation requirement” we are asking all entrants to vote for their favorite entry in the Recycled Art competition.