TUNKHANNOCK — River Day 2017 is almost here and this year’s festivities promise to make this the best River Day ever, according the organizer Erica Rogler.

This summer Tunkhannock’s River Day is scheduled for 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 22. The free event will be held rain or shine at Riverside Park. The Susquehanna waterfront will be the setting for arriving kayaks, nature explorations, environmental organization displays, live animals from the Endless Mountains Nature Center, food and farm vendors and four live musical performances.

To jump-start the day, there will be a free session of Kundalini Yoga at the River at 10 a.m. Participants should bring a blanket or yoga mat.

Kayak enthusiasts can join one of two river floats organized by David Buck, of Endless Mountains Outfitters, and Art Coolbaugh, of Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals. People may rent kayaks and float down the river from Meshoppen at 9:30 a.m. or the Howland Preserve at noon, arriving at Riverside Park just as the music begins at the pavilion. To register, call Endless Mountains Outfitters at 570-746-9140 or Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals at 570-388-6107.

The fun at the pavilion will begin at 1 p.m. with a 45-minute Karate demo by John Filer’s High Energy Fitness and Karate students. At the presentation tent, Gere Reisinger will start the afternoon with a presentation about the Susquehanna River, Mother of Waters. Naturalist Bob Daniels will allow hands-on exploration of river critters from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Birder Sharon Templin will talk about Birds of the Susquehanna from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. People can learn about the “Susquehanna River, Past, Present, and Future” with David Buck from 5 to 6 p.m.

There are many activities planned at Riverside Park, especially for children. The Endless Mountains Nature Center will host a kid-friendly event. Young artists will be able to add their designs to a painted mural inspired by the natural surroundings and guided by Dietrich Theater art teachers Amy and Steve Colley from 3 to 6 p.m. at the river. During that same time, face painter Valerie Johnson will transform little faces into all kinds of insects and animals and The Endless Mountain Nature Center will feature live animals up close for young and old.

Always featured at River Day is continuous music at the new pavilion from 1 to 7 p.m.

Retro Rocket, a high fidelity acoustic trio, will jump-start the afternoon with a harmonious blend of Americana, roots and homemade compositions from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Abi and Tim Zieger, joined by students from their Jam Along Band Camp, will bring a mix of rousing traditional songs, well-loved folk tunes, and a mix of indie-acoustic originals from 3 to 4 p.m. Chris Shrive will take the stage from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., featuring country music, southern rock and rock. Hickory Project, a band that features hard-driving traditional and original acoustic music with elements of bluegrass, Celtic, swing, and Jazz, will close the day with a performance from 6 to 7 p.m.

Vendors will offer food for sale throughout the day, including the Southwest Savory food truck, Kool Cow Cabin Creamery ice cream, fres- squeezed lemonade and vegetarian empanadas and jambalaya by Sam James, raspberries and jam from Conifer Corner and honey and other products from Gingher Apiary.

Organizations with displays at River Day include Endless Mountains Nature Center, Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, and Friends of the Howland Preserve.

Added this year are singers, dancers and craft people from the Oneida Nation and Seneca Nation. The Frances Dorrance Chapter of the PA Archaeological Society will demonstrate how to dig and screen for artifacts and Kitson Arts Alliance will exhibit art work pertaining to the river.

River Day is planned by the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater and the River Day Committee and sponsored by the Overlook Estate Foundation. For more information, call the theater at 570-996-1500.

Bluegrass band Hickory Project will be the closing musical act at River Day 2017.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ABJ-River-Day-1.jpg.optimal.jpgBluegrass band Hickory Project will be the closing musical act at River Day 2017. Submitted photo