Riverfest 2008 – Background, Mission & Goals
PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION
Taking place over the course of a long week from Thursday August 28th through Sunday September 7th, Riverfest is a new Portland signature event to celebrate the Willamette River running through the heart of Portland, and inspire residents to deepen their connection to, and understanding of this working river.
Riverfest is hosted by a unique set of partners including multiple City bureau’s, environmental conservation organizations, outdoor recreation and tourism associations, and regional businesses. Riverfest organizing partners are collaborating to host a series of co-branded events on multiple days and locations on the Willamette River to showcase and highlight river-specific recreation, education, resoration and entertainment.
Event elements include the Oregon Trout Portland Triathlon, Oregon Symphony Waterfront Concert, Community Fair with interactive educational displays on river clean-up, safety, recreation and industry, Riverfest School Fieldtrip Day, Boat Parade & Sailing Regatta, Free Water Taxis and Tours, Community Mermaid Parade, Portland Paddle Event, Dragon Boat Races, Muddy Boots Lecture Series and Sustainability Fair and much more.
All events taking place during the dates of the festival will be co-branded and promoted via a shared event organizing staff who will also produce central Riverfest activities, such as opening day ceremonies and entertainment. Additional community mini-events will be organized by participating community organizations and partners.
CURRENT PARTNERS
The Riverfest organizing group, including those listed below, act in a collaborative fashion to guide the event’s overall framework and activities.
Convening Organizations:
• River Renaissance
• City of Portland Parks and Recreation
• Oregon Trout
• Salmon-Safe
• Willamette Riverkeeper
• Portland Oregon Visitor’s Association
• Portland Boathouse
• Willamette River Fun(d) at Oregon Community Foundation
• City of Portland Triathlon
• Columbia Crossings
• Columbia River Yachting Association
• Port of Portland
• South Waterfront
• Ecotrust
EVENT OUTCOMES
The expectation is that this event will, over the course of several years, grow to become a core Labor Day event for the city and its residents. By coordinating the event in an open-source, collaborative fashion and connecting with neighboring riverfront communities, the event encourages high levels of citizen engagement in both urban and rural communities. The event is also designed to actively improve river ecosystems and watershed health through citizen engagement while encouraging increased economic activity on the Riverfront. Event goals include:
*establish signature Portland event
*secure high levels of citizen engagement
*network river related agencies, organizations, businesses and community groups
*get people in and on the water
*link urban and rural communities, up and downstream
*actively contribute to river ecosystem and watershed health
*increase economic activity in recreation & tourist-related industries
*draw regional and national attention