The river flow will be low but the energy will be higher than ever at the 18th annual Ridgway RiverFest on Saturday, June 27. Check out highlights of the 2026 festival!
Before we tell you how great this year’s watershed celebration is going to be, UWP staff and board is asking for more volunteers for the 5 to 7 p.m. shift. Give us only 2 hours of your time and get: free festival shirt or hat, free drink, great background music, a chance to make new friends, and the satisfaction of knowing you helped keep the festival free and support UWP restoration, monitoring and education projects.
New schedule
The river races will be at noon to 1 p.m. The Uncompaghre River and its flow determine which equipment to bring this year. More info.
The main festival will be from 3 to 7 p.m. We pushed the time back so festival goers can enjoy a cooler, evening concert at 5 to 7 p.m. The Junk of the Unc race will be at 3:30 p.m.
Curtiss & McCook
This year, RiverFest features music by local favorites, Cousin Curtiss. The duo of Curtiss and Harrison B are on a mission to electrify audiences everywhere with their road-warrior, full-band sound. Think, “blues at bluegrass speeds.” Imagine, “rock americana with a soulful drip.” Experience rapid fire acoustic guitar, incendiary harmonica, fiercely energized solos, all driven by a thunderous kick drum.
Roland McCook, president and founder of Native American Cultural Programs, will share Ute culture and history at about 4 p.m. Having grown up on the Uintah and Ouray reservation, McCook’s distinguished career includes service as a Northern Ute Tribal chairman and collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute on Artifact Repatriation.
Connected, laid back & hydrated
The 2026 festival will see the return of free wifi from Clearnetworx, free water from Montrose Water Factory, pre-festival yoga with Hansa Devi, and a new stage location next to the Uncompahgre River. Plus, the Trail Town Ten Run is happening at 8 a.m. nearby with proceeds benefiting UWP!
The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) is working hard to produce the best festival yet. So be sure to SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 27!
Share the Festival poster by clicking on the button and downloading a copy.
Thank you to our wonderful 2026 Ridgway RiverFest sponsors!
2026 Class V Sponsors
2026 Class IV Sponsors
2026 Class III Sponsors
2026 Class II Sponsors
Basecamp Ouray • Best Slope Adventures • Canyon Bridge LLC • CB Design • Colorado Cool • DHM Design • Durango Rafting/Mountain Waters Rafting • Hala Gear • Jack’s Plastic Welding • Maxfield Peterson PC • Mountain Fever • Mountain Lodge Telluride • NFFL • Ouray Brewery • San Miguel Power Association • The Liquor Store • The Nature Conservancy • Scott and Sheelagh Williams • United Country Sneffels Realty • Mike & Anita Winter
2026 Class I Sponsors
4Corners Riversports, Action Adventures Guide Outfitters, Alpine Edge Engineering LLC, American Whitewater, Atlasta Solar Center Basecamp 550, Bruin Waste, Canyoning Colorado,, Delta Compost, Double D Ranch, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Fred Phillips Consulting, LLC, Charles Heywood, Arlen Huggins, Ludwick Family, Mary Menz, Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours, Jay & Kathy Montgomery, Montrose Water Factory, Mountain Girl Face Painting, On-Sight Construction, Patagonia Telluride, Potential Power Systems, Ridgway Hardware, REI Co-Op Grand Junction, San Juan Hut System, San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours, Ska Brewing, The Club at Cobble Creek, The Mac Doctor, Ute Indian Museum, www.voyagebooks.org, Western Slope Rentals, Wilson Landscape and Garden, Lois Ziemann
Friends of the River Sponsors
Alpacka Raft, Bachelor Mine Tours, Cait Harvey, Chow Down, Chloe’s Charcuterie & Wine, Dr. Abigail Seaver Natural Family Medicine, David Strauss Enterprises, DCI Custom Homes, Down River Equipment, Fishbone Graphics, High Country Leathers and Lifestyles, Iron and Oxygen Fitness, Kane Scheidegger Fine Art Photography, Montrose and Ouray Counties Indivisible, MY TOPO, Natural Grocer’s Montrose, Ouray International Film Festival, Ouray Mountain Sports, Ridgway Adventure Sports, Ridgway State Park, SAN JUAN ACCOUNTING, INC, Shavano Conservation District, Tacos and Beer, Meredith Nemirov
