THIS EVENT IS FREE!

Please bring CASH for all purchases

Join us for the Gunnison River Festival on SATURDAY, JUNE 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Gunnison Whitewater Park! There will be music, vendors, free clinics, spectator events, kid activities, art, food

There is a registration fee for participants who want to compete in events.

SCHEDULE

Kids Zone 11am-4pm

Clinics

9:00 AM – River Safety Clinic @ Second Wave
Sponsored by Gunnison Kayak Program

9:00 AM – Women’s Surf Clinic @ First Wave
Sponsored by One Sea Wellness

9:00 AM – LatinX Float
Sponsored by Scenic River Tours

9:00 AM – LatinX Fly Fishing Clinic @ Rock River Resorts
Sponsored by Gunnison Angling Society & West Feather Anglers

Races (Winners receive cash prizes)

11:00 AM – Canine Big Air
Bring your furry friend and see how far they can launch!

12:00 PM – Raft Rodeo
Pile into a raft and show off your impromptu rodeo skills—open to everyone.

1:00 PM – Kayak Freestyle
Get in your playboat and spin it to win it.

1:30 PM – Tube Race
Open to everyone. Tubes and PFDs provided—grab a friend and hope the river gods push you to the front!

2:00 PM – Surf Jam
Grab your surfboards and surf like it’s a California summer day. Men’s and Women’s divisions.

3:00 PM – Hooligan Race
Dress in costume and bring anything that floats—but is not a boat! Show off your river rat mojo.

3:30 PM – Prize Drawing

3:45 PM – Alpacka Packraft & Rocky Mountain Raft Drawing

Competition Registration

Registration is $10 per person plus $10 per person for an ACA 1 day license, unless you have an ACA card. Event sign-up will start at 11:00 a.m., and participants are advised to bring cash if they wish to register for the events.

Cash Prize Awards: $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.

Participants will be scored based on Style, Duration, Technical Aspect and Crowd Appeal!

For those interested in registering their furry friends for the Canine Big Air event, it’s recommended to arrive at the Whitewater Park by 10:30 a.m.

Canine Big Air

Participation in the Canine Big Air event requires a registration fee of $10 per dog. Cash prize: $50 first prize; $25 runner-up. Must sign waiver to participate in event. Dogs do not need an ACA day license.

Race License & Waivers:

Every participant must sign the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability form or ACA online waiver prior to participation to the event. If you are an ACA member, you must submit your card number at the event.

$10 American Canoe Association 1 day license. If you don’t have an annual ACA membership each participant will need to purchase a one day event license. This can be done at the registration site the day of the event, but you must bring cash! We recommend that participants pre-register.

PRE-REGISTER: Click the link below to Paypal to pay. $10 registration fee and $10 ACA event license. If you have your ACA card, you can pay $10 for registration but bring ACA card to the race, otherwise you will have to pay the $10 ACA event fee in cash!

2025 Vendors

To enter into Raffle you must visit our vendors and learn about they’re relationship to river stewardship. Each vendor will have a stamp and stamp pad, if people engage with each vendor, they will receive a stamp.

If people get three stamps= one raffle ticket
Six stamps= three raffle tickets
Visit all vendors= six raffle tickets

American Whitewater
Gunnison Angling Society
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Inmagrantes Unidos
River Station Gear
The Adaptive Sports Center
Terra Forma Pottery
Western Slope Conservation Center
Artist: Colt Maule and live wood carving
Wheelies & Waves
Alpine Surf
Gunnison Kayak Program
Face Painting: Patricia Sabino
SGM Engineering
Merrick /McLaughlin Whitewater
West Feather Anglers

ACA Risk Management Requirements:

Life Jacket Wear: All participants in ACA sanctioned events and activities must wear properly-fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets (Personal Flotation Devices or PFDs) at all times during on-water activities. Event organizers are responsible for enforcing this requirement and should understand if a participant removes their life jacket and an injury or death occurs, the insurance company may deny coverage to the club and/or its members.

Drug and Alcohol Use before or during on-water activities: The ACA does not allow persons under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs to participate in ACA sanctioned on-water activities. Event coordinators should not allow participants to consume any alcohol or illegal drugs immediately before or during an on-water activity or event. Clubs and affiliate organizations must disqualify any participant under the influence of alcohol or drugs from participation and ask them to leave immediately. See Section V for information on serving alcohol at off-water events and meetings.