Like almost every 2020 gathering, the annual Delaware River Festival, a “coast-to-coast” celebration centering around water-themed activities, will look a little different this year.
But, river enthusiasts still have opportunities to explore the Delaware — online and on the water.
From Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 4, Delaware River Festival 2020 will feature virtual and small in-person experiences on both sides of the waterbody, including kayak trips, scavenger hunts, nature walks, panel discussions, educational lessons, kite flying, and tons more free, safe family fun activities!
This is a special year for the Delaware: American Rivers named it River of the Year in April. Flowing roughly 400 miles from New York to Delaware, the mammoth waterway is basking in national recognition!
The spotlight is on a powerful chain reaction: restoration efforts that led to water quality gains which, in turn, fueled a revitalized community built around what the river has to offer. A great primer to Delaware comeback is American Rivers’ interactive Story Map of the river.
For us, applauding the Delaware is in our DNA — the river supplies drinking water to nearly 15 million people from New York City on down, including 60 percent of Philadelphia’s water supply.
We’ve been participating in the yearly festival since its inception three years ago. Last year, you might have seen our signature Philly Water Bar hydrating attendees outside of the Independence Seaport Museum.
Though our Water Bar is on hiatus due to COVID-19, we’ve found new ways to take part in the 2020 Delaware River Festival! From story times to tap water tastings, our dynamic environmental education team planned a series of engaging events this week:
- Monday, Sept. 28 @ 9 a.m. – Live Storytime with Let's Go Outdoors (“How Does My Home Work: Water”)
- Monday, Sept. 28 @ 12 p.m. – Tasty Tap Water Experiment with PWD environmental planner Dottie Baumgarten
- Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 11a.m. – Live Enviroscape Demonstration with Let's Go Outdoors
- Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ 3p.m. – Live Watershed Demonstration with PWD environmental planner Dottie Baumgarten
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 @ 12 p.m. – Live Storytime with Let's Go Outdoors (“Water in The Park”)
Information on virtual festival events, including PWD programming, can be found here: www.delawareriverfest.org/schedule. And watch live on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) at @DelRivFest!
Whether you’re at home or on-site (west of the river or east of it), please join the dozens of opportunities to appreciate our mighty Delaware River! And don't forget to #DelRivFest.
The Delaware River Festival is made possible through local government, nonprofit, and private organizations, including the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River, the Center for Aquatic Sciences at Adventure Aquarium, the Independence Seaport Museum, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and the Camden County Park System.
For more information about the festivities, including an activities schedule, visit DelawareRiverFest.org.
