Join Us for Hudson’s Annual Riverfest Celebration on July 16-20, 2024 With a Range of Activities Designed to Encourage People of All Ages to Enjoy the Lower St. Croix River and All That It Provides. Several Local Organizations and Individuals Have Collaborated to Make “Riverfest - a Party With a Purpose” a Success. The Five-day Event Celebrates the River While Also Recognizing the Need to Preserve Its Health and Beauty.

Schedule:

July 16, 2024

10:00am - 11:30pm - Hudson & North Hudson River Cleanup

The annual River Cleanup is a core activity of Hudson’s St. Croix RiverFest. Community volunteers get out on the riverbank collecting trash and working to help clean up the river (trash bags will be provided). While the goal of RiverFest is to get people out to enjoy the river, the river cleanup is the “purpose” for the RiverFest celebration.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

10:00am - 8:00pm - Make & Take Crafts and STEM Activities at the Library

Pipe Cleaner Bugs or Water Cycle Bracelets and Keychains - make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

11:30am - 12:30pm - Carpenter Nature Center’s Animals of the St. Croix

Join Carpenter Nature Center(CNC) staff to learn about some of the amazing animals that call the St. Croix River Valley their home and meet them up close!

CNC is an environmental education and conservation organization with the mission of fostering appreciation and inspiring stewardship of the natural world. With campuses on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the St. Croix River, CNC is able to preserve wildlife habitat while also providing quality educational opportunities.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakfront Park - Picnic Point 18 Buckeye Street

3:00pm - 5:00pm - Invasive Species Control on the St. Croix River - Demonstration & Information

The Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR, National Park Service and Wild Rivers Conservancy are teaming up in a concentrated effort to stop the spread of Invasive Fish Species such as Silver and Bighead Carp in the upper Mississippi River basin, including the St. Croix River.

Come and see the Minnesota DNR’s new Electrofishing Boat with on-the-water demonstrations of fish collection techniques in the bay north of the Hudson dike around 3pm and 5pm (water conditions permitting).

There will also be display booths at the Beach House Pavilion. You will have the opportunity to meet the Aquatics and Fisheries Biologists who are working hard to stop these large and voracious fish from out competing our native fish. These agencies will also have display booths with videos, mounted fish, technology demonstrations and printed materials. Information will also be available on controlling other aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Beach House

5:00pm - 5:30pm - All About Water with Mr. Mick

Mr. Mick will be teaching us about the water table. Join us outside on the library terrace.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

6:00pm - 7:00pm - Snake Discovery at the Library

Leapin' Lizards! Come meet some exotic lizards up close during this hands-on program!

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

6:30pm - 7:30pm - Tricia & the Toonies ENVIRO-FUN Puppets

Tricia & the Toonies will bring together viewers of all ages in environmental awareness, teamwork and fun. Learn about the many ways of reducing the amount of trash we generate and to rethink, reuse, recycle!

Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and settle in to enjoy the show.

Listen to the RiverFest song created by Tricia Haynes or view the lyrics to the RiverFest, It’s the Best! song.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

7:00pm - 7:30pm - All About Water with Mr. Mick

Mr. Mick will be teaching us about the water table. Join us outside on the library terrace.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

9:00pm - 10:30pm - RiverFest Family Movie Night

Families are invited to enjoy the FREE family-friendly movie “Migration“ at the Lakefront Park. This animated move follows a family of mallards who try to convince their overprotective father to go on a vacation of a lifetime and attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, to Jamaica. Watch the official trailer.

Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and watch the movie under the stars. Experience this entertain kids’ movie outdoors on a giant 40’ inflatable screen!

We will have kid-friendly pre-movie activities from 7:30-9:00pm, including yard games provided by the Hudson Area Public Library and the Lakefront Park Tree Trek.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

July 17, 2024

7:30am - 8:30am - St. Croix River Water Quality Discussion

The public and Rotarians are invited to a free moderated panel discussion on the subject of river water quality, following regular meeting of Hudson Daybreak Rotary.

Michael Mroz, City of Hudson, Public Works and Parks Director, will describe the system for collecting and cleaning snow and rain from the City streets before discharge into the Willow and St. Croix Rivers. He will also describe actions residents of Hudson can take to limit the discharge of harmful chemicals to the rivers.

Tara Daun, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Director of Conservation and Stewardship, will describe the impaired condition of the St. Croix River and how rain and snow runoff from farm fields reaches the Willow and St. Croix Rivers. She will describe efforts by farmers in the watershed to limit the discharge of phosphorus and nitrogen to the rivers.

Buck Malick will moderate the panel. Hudson Community Channel 15 Cable TV will record the panel for later viewing.

Cost: Free

Location: Camp St. Croix - RCU Discovery Center 345 Riverview Dr

9:30am - 10:30am - Quack-tastic Outdoor Storytime

Join Miss Sara and Miss Annie, from the Hudson Area Public Library to learn about ducks! After storytime, there will be treats, bubbles, hula hoops and more.

Cost: Free

Location: Weitkamp Park 648 O'Neil Road

10:00am - 8:00pm - Make & Take Crafts and STEM Activities at the Library

Pipe Cleaner Bugs or Water Cycle Bracelets and Keychains - make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

1:00pm - 4:00pm - Carpenter Nature Center Family Fun Open House

Join us at Carpenter Nature Center’s WI Campus for an afternoon of family fun. Visitors can meet some of CNC’s live animal ambassadors, make a craft, complete a scavenger hunt and take a hike. Free for all ages, indoor and outdoor activities.

Cost: Free

Location: Carpenter Nature Center - Wisconsin Campus 279 South Cove Road

July 18, 2024

10:00am - 8:00pm - Make & Take Crafts and STEM Activities at the Library

Pipe Cleaner Bugs or Water Cycle Bracelets and Keychains - make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

6:00pm - 8:00pm - RiverFest Partner Display Booths

Come down to Lakefront Park EARLY to spend time at the Non-profit display booths. RiverFest partner organizations and other non-profits groups will have booths with information, activities and demonstrations before and during the concert.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

7:00pm - 8:15pm - St. Croix Valley Community Band Concert

The St. Croix Valley Community Band Concert with guest conductor Cassie Berchard and vocalist Colleen Raye is popular RiverFest event. This FREE concert celebrates community and the scenic St. Croix River with something for people of all ages.

You won’t want to miss this fun-filled family evening! Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs and settle in to enjoy the show.

The RiverFest theme song will be played for a sing-along. View the lyrics to the RiverFest, It’s the Best! song.

See the RiverFest mascot Scrappy on display! Created by sculptor Mary Johnson, the splashing bass figure is metal armature. Each year students from the Phipps Center for the Arts “Just Add Water” art and science class help complete the sculpture by processing and re-purposing the litter collected in Hudson during the river cleanup to create a new “skin” for Scrappy.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

July 19, 2024

10:00am - 12:30pm - Let’s Go Paddling!

In honor of RiverFest week, join our naturalists on a scenic kayaking trip up to the beautiful Willow Falls, before peacefully floating back down the Willow River. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children ages 10 and up, with a parent/guardian and capable of operating their own kayak are welcome to join! There is also the option of renting one of our 2-4 person canoes. Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket (or wear one of ours) waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen and bug spray. We’ll meet at the boat launch for this event!

Cost: $25

Register here

Location: Willow River State Park 1034 County Road A

10:00am - 6:00pm - Make & Take Crafts and STEM Activities at the Library

Pipe Cleaner Bugs or Water Cycle Bracelets and Keychains - make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

1:30pm - 4:00pm - Let’s Go Paddling!

In honor of RiverFest week, join our naturalists on a scenic kayaking trip up to the beautiful Willow Falls, before peacefully floating back down the Willow River. This is a great activity to enjoy individually, with a friend, or as a family! Children ages 10 and up, with a parent/guardian and capable of operating their own kayak are welcome to join! There is also the option of renting one of our 2-4 person canoes. Please dress for the weather and bring along a lifejacket (or wear one of ours) waterproof shoes, drinking water, sunscreen and bug spray. We’ll meet at the boat launch for this event!

Cost: $25

Register here

Location: Willow River State Park 1034 County Road A

6:30pm - 8:00pm - Foraging Walk at Bluebird Hill Homestead

Hudson Grocery Co-op presents a Foraging Walk lead by local forager Russ Lake at Bluebird Hill Homestead. Join Russ for an evening walk to connect with nature and lean about the variety of edible plants growing on the homestead property, as well as in your own backyard.

Cost: Free

Register here

Location: Bluebird Hill Homestead 456 Old E East

July 20, 2024

10:00am - 3:00pm - Make & Take Crafts and STEM Activities at the Library

Pipe Cleaner Bugs or Water Cycle Bracelets and Keychains - make them with friends at the library or take the materials home.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson Area Public Library 700 1st St

1:00pm - 2:30pm - Indigenous Culinary Traditions: Cooking with Anne Thundercloud

Join us at the Hudson St. Croix RiverFest for an immersive culinary experience with Anne Thundercloud, a dedicated member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and a rising star in indigenous cuisine. Since 2018, Anne has been passionately involved with Wild Bearies, starting as a volunteer and progressing through the chef apprentice program under the esteemed guidance of executive chef and Wild Bearies founder Elena Terry. Now residing in Black River Falls, WI, Anne is ready to share her expertise and cultural heritage with you.

Cost: Free

Location: Grand Fête 512 2nd Street

1:00pm - 4:00pm - RiverFest Native American Celebration

Gather by the river for a Native American Cultural Celebration with dancing, singing & drums and more!

Presented in partnership with Native American Tourism of Wisconsin, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and the Iron Mound Singers and Dancers from the Ho-Chunk Nation. 

Feel the beat of a Midwestern Pow-Wow with the Native drum and singing. Dancing featuring men’s and women’s Traditional, Jingle, Fancy, Grass and more.

Cost: Free

Location: Hudson's Lakefront Park Bandshell 505 1st St

3:00pm - 4:00pm - Carpenter Nature Center’s Animals of the St. Croix

Join Carpenter Nature Center for an Animals of the St. Croix presentation featuring some of CNC’s live animal ambassadors! Get up close and personal with some of the amazing critters that call the St. Croix River Valley home.

Cost: Free

Location: Willow River State Park 1034 County Road A

4:00pm - 5:00pm - New Native American Cuisine

Join Anne Thundercloud from Wild Bearies, Madison, WI. Learn how they are connecting community through indigenous cuisine-striving to bring ancestral foods to communities in a nurturing and nourishing way. 

Cost: Free

Location: Black Rooster Bistro 516 2nd Street

Date: July 16-20, 2024

Location: Various Locations in Hudson, WI

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