HUDSON – Hudson’s 14th annual St. Croix RiverFest celebration is set for July 22-25. RiverFest is delighted to have the Hudson Daybreak Rotary Club returning as our partner for the event. Hudson will celebrate the St. Croix River with this annual summer “Party with a Purpose” with activities designed to inspire people of all ages to actively celebrate the river while recognizing the need to protect the river’s health and beauty.

RiverFest is off to a big start on Wednesday, July 22 starting with the annual River Cleanup at 10 a.m. The river cleanup is the “purpose” for the RiverFest celebration. Cleanup participants meet at Lakefront Park Bandshell and then collect trash along the riverfront. Lunch will be provided for cleanup crews at Picnic Point at the south end of Lakefront Park. 

The trash collected during the clean-up will be used to create a new “skin” for Scrappy the Splashing Bass, the RiverFest mascot. You are invited to join in with Refashioning Scrappy from 1-5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

Following lunch, join Carpenter Nature Center staff to learn about some of the amazing animals that call the St. Croix River Valley home.

The day continues with the National Park Service Mussel Rehabilitation from 12:30-2 p.m., at Picnic Point. Next the Minnesota DNR Invasive Species Control field team will be at RiverFest with a demonstration of their Electrofishing Boat (water conditions permitting) at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m. and at 5 p.m. there is an interpretive tour of the Birkmose Mounds at Birkmose Park. Costs $15 per person. Tickets and info at hudsonoctagonhouse.org. Visit the Free “Ask Us!” table at the entrance to park.

The Hudson Area Public Library has a variety of activities during the week of RiverFest including a make and take STEM activity or make a River Otter. They will host an outdoor storytime at Weitkamp Park on July 22 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. At 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23 enjoy Stuart Stotts Music Program and Library Ice Cream Social at Library. See the Library calendar for these and other Library activities at hudsonpubliclibrary.org/calendar.

On Thursday, July 23 the St. Croix Valley Community Band Concert will be at the Hudson Bandshell at 7 p.m. This is one of the highlights of RiverFest. Partner organizations will have booths with information and demonstrations before the concert starting at 6 p.m.

Other RiverFest activities include Let’s Go Paddling at Willow River State Park, Introduction to Microplastics at the Library, RiverFest Family Movie Night and more. RiverFest concludes with the Native American Cultural Celebration at Lakefront Park.

A complete list of RiverFest activities and event details are available at StCroixRiverFest.org or check out the events on Facebook at St. Croix River Fest.

Submitted by Jacki Bradham