Calendar of Events

Saturday, June 9, Shelburne Falls will celebrate “The Amazing River” that flows through the village and the surrounding countryside—the beautiful Deerfield—with the 24th-annual RiverFest.

This year the Deerfield River Watershed Association is partnering with the Shelburne Falls Area Business Association to explore the many ways that the Deerfield IS an amazing river—sharing the talents of area artists and entertainers, and the knowledge of local experts who present informative displays and demonstrations of life along the river, from the art of fly fishing to the effects of a watershed gone wild during last year’s Tropical Storm Irene.

Youngsters, and the young at heart, are invited to dress up, especially as fish, frogs or any other favorite river creatures, or simply have their faces painted—and then join performance artist Maya Apfelbaum and friends in the traditional “Frog & Flower Parade,” which steps off at 1 p.m. on the Buckland side of the river, joyously “flows” across the Iron Bridge and up Bridge Street to a lively finale.

Head down to the Vendors Marketplace overlooking the Potholes, and listen for the songs of Sarah Pirtle to start the day’s festivities there, followed by an amazing musical lineup that includes Dave Konopka & Friends, The Doug Johnson Band, Fire Pond and David Fersh playing live on the Main Stage.

There will be two special family-friendly shows in Memorial Hall Theatre during the day: the “Watershed Waltz” Puppet Show at 11 a.m. and Piti Theatre’s “To Bee or Not to Bee” at 2 p.m.

Visitors will have opportunities to ride on a historic trolley and a genuine railroad pump car…enjoy stand-up paddling or quiet-water rafting on the river…have fun playing children’s games, singing and storytelling…delight in the antics of “Dagen’s Clown Trio”…take part in “The River Within Us” led by Jane Beatrice Wegscheider and Phyllis Labanowski, an interactive “story gathering and art installation” (with a follow-up ceremony at 8 p.m.)…and browse through local art, crafts, tag and book sales.

Pothole Pictures will honor RiverFest with features beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the big screen at Memorial Hall: “Green Fire,” a documentary about the founding of today’s sustainability movement, on Friday, and “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” on Saturday—with live musical performances starting at 7 p.m. both nights.

Stroll the famous Bridge of Flowers; indulge yourself with an offering from Shelburne Falls’ many shops and galleries; treat yourself to something delicious in one of our distinctive restaurants—and, perhaps, sign up at RiverFest HQ on Saturday for a watershed hike that suits your abilities on Sunday, June 10, and experience some of western Massachusetts’ most breathtaking scenery.

Easily accessible by car from upstate New York and all over New England, RiverFest in Shelburne Falls is a truly unique celebration of an Amazing River—one that offers visitors and residents a weekend of fun amid small-town charm and natural beauty.

For additional information, contact Polly Bartlett (625-6628) or Ellen Eller (625-9933).