Chemung River Friends hosting River Fest 2026

BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WETM) – The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed will be hosting their River Fest 2026 soon on the Chemung River in Big Flats. According to their Facebook posts, the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed (Chemung River Friends) will be hosting River Fest 2026, a festival celebrating the Chemung River and the valley it calls home. River Fest 2026 will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bottchers Landing Boat Launch, off South Corning Road in Big Flats, on the north bank of the river. The Chemung River Friends say that guests can expect free paddle rides, great music, educational demos and lawn games, all in appreciation of the Chemung River. River Fest will feature chances for guests to try out one of the Chemung River Friends' kayaks, with life jackets freely provided, and they invite all to their guided paddle on the following Sunday, Sept. 13. The event will also feature live music from the Cantata Singers, who will be performing songs written about the Chemung River. Also featured at River Fest are animal and bird demonstrations done in partnership with Tanglewood Nature Center and the Chemung Valley Audubon Society. There will be a Bird Touch Station where guests can get up close and personal with three special birds, Chemung River Friends says. Chemung River Friends also says that food trucks will be present at the festival, but they have not yet revealed which trucks will be in attendance. More information on River Fest 2026 can be found on the event's Facebook page.