Sat 8/8 @ 10AM-5PM
Fifty-seven years ago, the Cuyahoga River was a festering mess that regularly caught on fire. But when it caught on fire in June 1969, it captured the attention of the country and helped lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency the following year, and the Clean Water Act in 1972. With the EPA and environmental programs being dismantled by the current administration, it’s more important than ever to remind people how far we’ve come and how important it is to continue to make progress: to celebrate a river regularly used by kayakers and paddleboarders and that no longer catches on fire.
Canalway Partners’ River Rally aims to do just that with a day of riverbank activities at Hart Crane Park on the river’s east bank, including free walking, biking and boat tours.
It starts at 10am with a free outdoor yoga class hosted by Hayleigh Robertson from Abide Yoga. Bring your mat; you don’t need to register in advance. The festival village opens at 11, with a beer garden, kids’ activities, free rides on the Holiday Boat between 1:30am and 4pm, paddling demonstrations by the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association, an urban birding walking tour at 1 and 3:30pm, and live music by Brazilian guitarist Moises Borges (noon), Napsack (1:30pm) and Emergence Ensemble (2:30pm).
Numerous local organizations and groups with ties to the river and fresh water will be there with information and activities including Cleveland Matroparks, Cleveland Water Pollution Control, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Upcycle Parts Shop, Trash Fish and more.
There’s a Fresh Water Institute Walking tour at 11:30am and 2:30 pm to learn about how the Cuyahoga River was remediated, and what plans are in the works to continue to do so. Pre-registration is required for the free kayak cleanup with Trash Fish, a river kayak tour and “Where the River Burned” bike tours with Ohio City Bike Co-op. Go HERE.
Get a full schedule of activities HERE.