Connecticut River Watershed Council Presents River Celebration

WINDSOR, Vt. — On Saturday, June 20, the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) will host its annual River Celebration in Windsor, Vt. The free event will be held at the Path of Life Garden, on the banks of the Connecticut River, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The garden, located at Artisans Park near Harpoon Brewery, Simon Pearce Glassworks Outlet, and Great River Outfitters, is a 14-acre site with trails and sculptures. For full event details and to RSVP, visit www.ctriver.org/celebration.

“There are so many reasons to celebrate the Connecticut River,” said CRWC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. “We love getting to know the many people who cherish New England’s largest river. It’s wonderful to gather and enjoy our rivers together.”

The event draws attendees from across the four watershed states. For those coming from afar, Snapdragon Inn in Windsor is offering a 20% room discount to event participants. Reservations must be made through the inn, and mention CRWC for the discount.

Willem Lange is the event’s featured speaker. Lange is an outdoor enthusiast, Emmy award-winning host of New Hampshire Public Television’s Windows to the Wild, commentator for Vermont Public Radio and Vermont Public Television, and author of a weekly newspaper column, “A Yankee Notebook.”

The celebration will kick off with a Summer Solstice paddle. Paddlers can bring their own boats or rent from Great River Outfitters; mention CRWC for a discount rate. Those not interested in an on-river adventure can join CRWC River Stewards and avid anglers for fly-casting and fly-tying demonstrations in the garden.

A picnic lunch, provided in part by Harpoon Brewery, follows the morning activities. Participants are also welcome to bring their own picnic lunch. Live music will be provided by Rise!, a New Hampshire-based American roots string band. The Bud Foster Award will be presented to Barbara Skuly of New Hampshire, a conservationist in the region.

The event wraps up with an ice-cream social, provided by Snow’s Premium Ice Cream, and raffle drawings for Ibex, L.L.Bean, and Simon Pearce products, and more. A 2:30 p.m. private tour of Harpoon Brewery will be offered to the first 30 people to sign up at the event. Additional brewery tours are available throughout the day for $5.

River Celebration 2015 celebrates the nationally recognized Connecticut River watershed and the people who help protect it. This annual event is held at notable locations up and down the Connecticut River.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. As stewards of this heritage, it aims to educate, organize, restore, and intervene to preserve the river’s health for generations to come. To learn more about CRWC, or to join the effort and help protect local rivers, visit www.ctriver.org.