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Bands, food vendors, and river enthusiasts flocked to Joe Rowell Park for the Dolores River Festival.

The festival, held Saturday, June 1, is sponsored by Greater Dolores Action, and raises money for the nonprofit’s educational and ecological projects. This was the event’s 16th year, and as of mid-afternoon attendance seemed strong, according to the event organizers.

“I am very happy with the turnout,” said Susan Lisak, director of the Dolores Chamber of Commerce and an event organizer. Usually the event brings in between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees, she said.

Food trucks clustered near the festival’s entrance, and a variety of local nonprofits and other organizations set up stands around the field.

A team of educators from the University of Colorado, Boulder Museum of Natural History were present, with lessons and exhibits aiming to connect festival-goers with the area’s natural resources.

The group, which also focuses on studying the biodiversity and ecology of Mesa Verde National Park, hoped to connect people to the river in a different way, said Reid Sweetkind, a member of the group from CU.

Dolores River Boating Advocates gave free raft rides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for those who wanted to float the river amid temperatures in the high 70s.

Over the course of the event, bands rotated in and out of the spotlight, performing both on stages and even within the audience itself, as in the case of Brazilian drumming group Samba Galactica.

Performers represented a wide range of genres, from funk-rock-reggae-hip hop fusion to country to Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz.

ealvero@the-journal.com