Dry weather and warmer-than-normal conditions have led Dolores River Festival organizers to a tough decision — no free raft rides.
As part of the festival, in its ninth year, the public is offered free raft rides down the Dolores River, but this year, there just isn’t enough water.
The Dolores River Festival starts today at 10 a.m. at Joe Rowell Park. Admission is $10 for adults, children under 15 are admitted free.
“It was the consensus of the boatmen who volunteer and let us use their gear that 500 cfs would be the cutoff,” said Jay Loschert with the Lower Dolores Boating Advocates, the group that was to provide the raft rides this year.
On Thursday, the river was running at 417 cubic feet per second and on Friday it was running at 453.
“It’s one of those weather things. It’s out of our control,” Loschert said. “The spring weather we had this year was unprecedented.”
“We are a month early on everything this year. It’s like it’s July. We hope this is not the new normal,” Loschert said.
Last year, the river peaked during the Dolores River Festival at around 2,600 cfs.
But the Dolores River Festival will go on without the raft rides. There will be a River Parade, which starts around 10:30 a.m. this year (registration starts at 10 a.m. at the Riverside Park). There is also music, kayak and stand-up paddle board demonstrations, a river dog competition, children’s activities, booths and much, much more.
In addition, people still itching to get on the river, Soft Adventures Rafting will be offering raft rides for $20, including a shuttle. Owner Tom Wolfe said he can still run down the river with his rafts. Sign up sheets will be available at the festival.
Loschert did warn anyone that wishes to go down the river with their own gear to be sure to always wear a life jacket.
“Just because the river is low, doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous,” he said.
Here is a list of some of the events:
10 a.m. — Gates open at Joe Rowell Park
10 a.m. — Costumed River Parade (starts at Riverside Park)
10 a.m.-1 p.m. — River Dog Contest sign-up at the Zuke’s Booth
10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. — Festival Dog sign-up and Judging at the Dolores Animal Hospital Booth
10:15 a.m.-8 p.m. — Live music on 2 stages
10:15 a.m. — mainstage The Porchlights
11 a.m. +/- — Costume River Parade
11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 4Corners Riversports Kayak Demos
11:30-11:35 a.m. — Aerial Performance by C.B.D.C.
11:35 a.m.–noon — Aerial Lessons by C.B.D.C. - all ages
11:35 a.m. — sidestage Wavewalkers
Noon — mainstage Funkdafari
1:20 p.m. — sidestage Beesknees
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Zuke’s River Dog Contest
2 p.m. — mainstage Katya Chorover
3:20-3:25 p.m. — Aerial Performance by C.B.D.C.
3:30–4 p.m. — Aerial lessons by C.B.D.C. - all ages
3:55 p.m. — Festival Dog Contest Winners announced from mainstage
4 p.m. — mainstage The Little Sister Band
5:20-5:25 p.m. — Aerial Performance
5:20 p.m. — sidestage The Crags
6 p.m. — mainstage headliner Euforquestra
8 p.m. — End of festival; after party at Dolores River Brewery with Jack Ten High