Third annual River Festival in Ridgway, Saturday, 6/25

25 Jun Third annual River Festival in Ridgway, Saturday, 6/25

[click”Play” to hear Erik Dalton’s description of River Festival]

Ridgway, Colorado, is so much more than a bedroom community for Telluride. The town is famous – or infamous – as the location for several movies, including “How the West Was Won,” and one of actor John Wayne’s latest and greatest, “True Grit,” (1969), in which Wayne stars as Rooster Cogburn. Ridgway’s True Grit Cafe is filled with John Wayne memorabilia, but as far as we know, no drunken, one-eyed federal marshals. And the Uncompaghre is a great source for trout fishing and the focus of Ridgway’s fourth annual River Festival.

Ridgway’s River Festival takes place in Rollins Park, Saturday, June 25., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Highlights include a downriver kayak race, a Junk of the Unc Race – competitors build anything that floats out of “junk” and race it down the river –  and a freestyle kayak “rodeo,” all about who can do the best tricks on a wave. There’s also music, food and drink throughout the day at this zero waste event.

Telluride’s Jagged Edge is one of the event sponsors, on hand with a full selection of demo kayaks for folks to try for free, plus a small stand of water gear.

To learn more about rolling on the river with Jagged Edge and River Fest events in general, click the “play” button and listen to Erik Dalton’s overview.