This year’s Riverfest is being held in memory of April Pierson-Keating, the event’s founder, who sadly passed away last year after a long battle with breast cancer.

Buckhannon River Fest is a fun and engaging way for citizens to learn about drinking water protection and local efforts to protect public drinking water supplies. Several organizations and agencies will present online throughout the week to educate the public about how they work to improve water quality and protect drinking water sources. Activities hosted by the City of Buckhannon include a virtual water plant tour, sustainable gardens and stormwater talk, and storytime at the Gibson Library. Mom’s Clean Air Force will present a fun kid’s activity about the water cycle.

The educational activities will culminate with a roundtable discussion on water quality with groups working to improve water resources including WV Department of Environmental Protection, WV Rivers Coalition, Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance, Buckhannon River Watershed Association, WV Highlands Conservancy, WV Environmental Council, Sierra Club and Mom’s Clean Air Force. Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau will relate how water protection improves tourism opportunities. 

In addition to educational activities, the event also features yoga, live music by Seth Maynard, Carrie and Michael Kline, Emay, and April’s son Pierson. Be sure to register for door prizes and enter the Photo Scavenger Hunt; the winner of which will be crowned the 2020 April Pierson-Keating Water Warrior. The event will also feature an interfaith water blessing. All activities will take place virtually to keep the community safe. Go online and get outdoors at a safe distance from others to spend the week celebrating water flowing from the Buckhannon River to your tap.