SATURDAY • AUGUST 21

11AM to 2PM
Big Community Cleanup F
Wheatena Park
Elizabeth Ave

Don’t like to see litter polluting our waterways? Dislike seeing tires, shopping carts, bikes and other debris in the river? Then join the Rahway River Watershed Association, The Central Jersey Stream Team and members of our community on August 21st to help clean up the Rahway River! We have had a strong turnout in previous years so let's rally friends, family and neighbors and give Mother Nature a helping hand! The location we are tackling this year is near Wheatena Park.
Note: We will be working IN the river, at low tide. The river is very shallow at this location at low tide. Please meet at 11am for a safety talk BEFORE entering the river. Dress appropriately.
After the cleanup make certain to join us at the RRWA Watershed Learning Center for the Rahway RiverFest Kickoff Party.

• Parking will be free along Elizabeth Avenue for the duration of the clean-up
• No registration is required
• Adults and children 10 and up are welcome
• All minors need to be supervised by an adult at all times
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants you won't mind getting dirty or wet
• Waterproof high boots or waders recommended
• Bags and gloves will be provided
• Meet at Wheatena Park at 11 am

3PM to 6PM
RiverFest Kickoff Party F
RRWA Watershed Learning Center
337 E Milton Ave

After the clean-up join us at the RRWA Watershed Learning Center for the Rahway RiverFest Kickoff Party! Enjoy food, refreshments, and entertainment and check out an exbibit of found object sculptures by artist Jodie Fink. Spook Handy will entertain us with original tunes inspired by traditional American Folk Music. The Rahway RiverFest Kickoff party will be all afternoon, so come prepared to stick around and have some fun! All are welcome! This event is free.

6PM to 9PM
Rusty Monks Band A
Wet Ticket Brewing
1435 Main St

After the Kickoff Party, walk over the bridge to Wet Ticket's beer garden where the Rusty Monks, a local favorite, will be rockin' it till 9PM. The 'Monks, play a combo of funk, rock and latin/jazz. Come enjoy some great music accompanied by some really great beer.  Meet local friends, or meet new ones!  Get in the mood for a week of Riverfest activities at Wet Ticket! This event is free.

SUNDAY • AUGUST 22

THE LANTERN FLOAT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

3PM to 9PM
Lantern Float $F
Rahway River Park Lake
St Georges Ave

The Rahway River Lantern Float is an enjoyable, family-friendly afternoon to evening event consisting of water-themed games and eco-art activities. 
Enjoy Union County Trailside Nature and Science Center's nature exhibit and fish printing for kids. Compete in team-oriented field-day games and take a seat to enjoy a barbecue.
Get ready for the Lantern float by coming together with friends and family to decorate your lantern. Compose a personal message or paint your lantern with flowers before you release it onto the water at dusk.

The event is free, however there will be $5 charge for the lanterns.

Field day games start at 4:30

MONDAY • AUGUST 23

10AM to 12noon
Eco-Crafts with Gretchen: Painting by the River K
RRWA Watershed Learning Center
337 E Milton Ave

ECO-CRAFTS IS ON!
BRING THE KIDS DOWN FOR SOME FUN UNDER OUR RIVERFEST TENT

Gretchen Kellaway will lead a workshop for children of all ages to create watercolor, crayon resist paintings as well as creating artwork using petals, leaves, grass, and other natural material. This event is free.

10AM to 12 NOON
Afternoon Nature Walk with Jordan Parham F
Rahway River Park
St Georges Ave

JORDAN'S NATURE WALK HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 5 PM TODAY!
THE WALK WILL RUN FROM 5 TO 6:30PM

Mid Summer Afternoon Nature Walk with Jordan Parham: As the hottest days of the summer arrive and the thunderstorms roll through, nature responds accordingly. As the flowers bloom and plants reach their peak growth, beautiful butterflies and baby birds begin showing up. Fireflies light up the dim evening sky and bullfrogs continue to bellow in the ponds. Join RRWA as we take a brief walk around Rahway River Park and learn all about the local flora and fauna that call this area home. This event is free.
Jordan is a recent graduate from Delaware Valley University and majored in conservation and wildlife management. He is an avid birder and amateur wildlife photographer who is currently pursuing a career in wildlife conservation, photography and education. Jordan works as a naturalist for Trailside Nature and Science Center in Watchung Reservation.
Meet at the concession stand at Rahway River Park.

6PM
Story Time on the Go K
Wheatena Park
Elizabeth Ave

Join Story Time on the Go for a RiverFest themed tale and activity. Bring your imagination, and a blanket or lawn chair to sit on by the river. This event is free.

7PM to 8:30PM
Photography Exhibit Opening Reception
“Water: The Real and the Abstract.”
Art on Main
1425 Main Street

The “real” part features photos of our local Rahway River throughout the seasons, and the “abstract” water pictures, while just as “real,” are more about shape, pattern, design, and impression. You can view the photos at a pop-up gallery in downtown Rahway we are calling Art on Main. Hope you can stop by during River Fest! The exhibit is accessible all of RiverFest week from 11AM to 8PM. The opening reception is Monday, August 23 from 7PM - 8:30 PM.

TUESDAY • AUGUST 24

9:30AM to 10:45AM
Yoga at River's Edge with Lisa Ferraro
River Road, South of Rahway River Park

Enjoy an all-levels yoga class where we embrace the power of water to cleanse & clarify, as well as to reunite us with our natural flow. Get nourished through ritual, breath, movement and sound healing practices! Let's flow alongside the beautiful gift of our Rahway River! This event is free. Lisa Ferraro has been teaching yoga for 15 years and is the co-creator of Sutra Seeds 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training.

10AM to 11:30AM
RiverFest: Painting at the Gallery Space K
1670 Irving St

The project of the day will be for Children ages 7-11 to use their creativity to draw their own version of the Rahway River using photographs of the river during different seasons as reference. All materials will be provided free by the Rahway Recreation Center. This event is free.

7PM to 9PM
RiverLore: Perspectives in history
Merchants and Drovers Tavern and Museum
1632 St Georges Ave

Join Alex Shipley, Rahway's Town Historian, and caretaker for the beautiful and historic Merchants and Drovers Tavern and Museum, along with Michael Dennis, for this exciting event. Come learn all about Rahway's history and how the Rahway River helped shape the town as it exists today. Alternatively, we will explore how the early people of New Jersey lived along the Rahway River.
Alex will charm us with a presentation of facts and lore regarding the history of the Rahway River and the important part it played and continues to play in the origins and development of the City of Rahway. Many photographic images of river scenes, and other material (past and present) will accompany the discussion. Attendees will have an opportunity to take a map quiz to test their knowledge of the river.
Michael will discuss the early people of NJ and their relationship with the Rahway River. Dennis will showcase many handmade artifacts that represent earlier times including ice age artifacts of animals that once roamed our fields and forests in ancient times; and artifacts that illustrate the early people’s reliance upon food, clothing, transport and shelter in relation to the river. The topics discussed will be specific to the Rahway River and surrounding lands.
A light snack and refreshments will be served. This event is free.

WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 25

10AM to 12NOON
Eco-Crafts with Gretchen: Salt Dough Masks K
Cherry Street Pavilion
Outside The Coffee Box

Gretchen Kellaway will guide children of all ages to use items from nature including sticks, pebbles and leaves to create their very own salt dough masks that they will take home at the end of the workshop. In keeping with the theme of RiverFest, masks can depict mythical water creatures or monsters.  After completion, the mask can be air dried or baked.

6PM to 10PM
Swamp Soiree $
Hamilton Stage
360 Hamilton St

Lights! Camera! Action! Continue celebrating Rahway RiverFest at the Swamp Soiree, where you can enjoy a screening of the classic film, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, while sipping on a Swamp Themed Cocktail.
Enhance the evening by letting the themes of the 1950s, swamps and creatures inspire your attire.
Tickets are available from Hamilton Stage box office.
$15 per adult over 21. Includes one "swamp" cocktail.
$5 under 21 (no cocktail).
Tickets available from the Hamilton Stage Box office or at the door.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

THURSDAY • AUGUST 26

9:30AM to 10:45AM
Yoga at River's Edge with Lisa Ferraro
River Road, South of Rahway River Park

Enjoy an all-levels yoga class where we embrace the power of water to cleanse & clarify, as well as to reunite us with our natural flow. Get nourished through ritual, breath, movement and sound healing practices! Let's flow alongside the beautiful gift of our Rahway River! This event is free.
Lisa Ferraro has been teaching yoga for 15 years and is the co-creator of Sutra Seeds 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training.

10AM to 11:30AM
RiverFest: Painting at the Gallery Space K
1670 Irving St

The project of the day will be for Children ages 7-11 to use their creativity to draw their own version of the Rahway River using photographs of the river during different seasons as reference. All materials will be provided free by the Rahway Recreation Center. This event is free.

11:30AM
Story Time on the Go K
Train Station Plaza
Irving St

Join Story Time on the Go for a RiverFest themed tale and activity. Bring your imagination, and a blanket or lawn chair to sit on by the river. This event is free.

6PM to 9PM
Rhythm and Brews A
Wet Ticket Brewing
1435 Main St

Clean water makes good beer! Learn how protecting our waterways makes beer better. What can be more important? Seriously.
Michele Bakacs, Agriculture & Natural Resources County Agent II of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, will talk about why clean water is necessary for our health and the health of our environment.
Then, celebrate RiverFest with two awesome bands performing surf, rockabilly boogie-woogie, and blues – The Hammers and the Hudson City Rats. This event is free.

FRIDAY • AUGUST 27

9AM to 10:30AM
Photo Walk F
RRWA Watershed Learning Center
337 E Milton Ave

Join us at the RRWA Watershed Learning Center for a relaxed photo walk, with pointers and guidance available from local nature photographer Jacki Dickert. We will have special access to the pollinator gardens for photographing flowers and insects, then stroll along the river’s edge to look for wildlife and enjoy the scenery. All levels, all ages, all camera types welcome.

2PM to 4PM
Eco-Crafts with Gretchen: Bug Making K
Lewis Street Pavilion
Outside Nancy's Town House

ECO-CRAFTS HAS MOVED TO THE WATERSHED LEANING CENTER,
337 EAST MILTON AVE, RAHWAY DUE
TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS

Gretchen Kellaway will teach children of all ages to create 2D and 3D insects from recycled materials and objects found in nature.  Material will be supplied, however you are free to donate items such as bottle caps, paper, and cardboard.

6:00PM to 9PM
Creature Crawl A
The Paseo (begin and end)
Main Street

THE CREATURE CRAWL HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE
TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS

Join this ragtag band of monsters, water creatures and ocean deities in voyage around downtown Rahway for a Friday evening pub crawl. Starting at Fynn’s, next stop the Wyatt, then The Waiting Room and ending at the Paseo. Dust off that Mermaid, or Gill Man costume or come as your favorite water themed mythical creature. This is a free, adults-only event.
Crawl Schedule:
6PM: Meet at the Paseo on Main Street at 6pm to begin the crawl. Walk across the street to Flynn's
6:15 to 6:45: Flynn's
6:45 to 7: Crawl to Watt Hotel
7PM to 7:30: Watt Hotel
7:30 to 7:45: Crawl to The Waiting Room
7:45 to 8:15: Waiting Room
8:15 to 8:30: Crawl back to the Paseo to enjoy live music

SATURDAY • AUGUST 28

THE SPANKTOWN SPLASH HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE
TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS

12noon to 6PM
Spanktown Splash $
Canoe & Kayak Race A
RiverFest Closing Party
Rahway Yacht Club
1706 Paterson St

$35 per person registration
$25 boat rental (if needed)
$10 spectator fee (includes barbecue)

Join the RRWA and the Rahway Yacht Club for the Second Annual Spanktown Splash Canoe and Kayak Race! A limited number of canoes and kayaks are available for rent, however you can bring your own canoe or kayak. Prices can be viewed on our registration page. Spectators and participants are welcome.
After the race enjoy some refreshments and lunch, along with live music by the instrumental surf band Blue Wave Theory, as we celebrate the culmination of RiverFest week. Cash bar available.
This event is co-hosted by the RRWA and the Rahway Yacht Club and sponsored in-part by the City of Rahway. Cash only. No ATM on premise. Credit Cards not accepted. Spectator entry fee - $10

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

From Water
Various artists
@ Atelier Rosal
74 East Cherry St
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday –11AM to 6AM

Uses for Household Trash
Found object sculpture by Jodie Fink
@RRWA East Milton Ave
Hours: Monday 8-23 through Friday 8-27 – 3PM to 6PM. Additional hours: Saturday 8-21 – 3PM to 6PM, Monday 8-23 – 10AM to noon, Friday 8-27 – 9AM to 11AM

Water: The Real & The Abstract
Photography by Jacki Dickert
@ Art on Main
1425 Main Street
Hours: Monday through Friday – 11AM to 8PM

Mermaid Mural
Mural by Asbury Park muralist "Porkchop"
The Paseo
Main St
Hours: 24/7