Follow Sono-Ma through an insiders tour of our county’s most unique, conscientious, and spirited community event:  the Second Annual Rivertown Revival.

We’ll walk out on Petaluma’s premiere peninsula for an awe inspiring, bilateral river experience.  Along the trail we’ll pass metal sculptures some passionate artists waded through the marsh to install on floating docks, and traveling musicians “busking” for our attention with accordions and brass.   Once inside the designated event area – a half mile stretch on the undeveloped peninsula – we’ll take in the solar panels on wheels powering the music stages and the compost bins spread throughout the vendor area.     A river “monster” sporting a branded parasol will then guide us to a children’s carnival.  There you’ll find cork boat making and our fabulous Sono-Ma Support tent.

Just what is this event?  Why nothing other than an eco-fabulous, family friendly festival!  Saturday’s Revival is an all-day event, which includes art boat races and floating art barges, local music, artisan crafts, food and drink and over 40 fabulous local vendors.  Join Sono-Ma for today’s “tour” and get inspired to join in the fun.

What is Rivertown Revival?

The Petaluma River Heritage Center, in partnership with Clementine Eco-Events, is hard at work creating the 2nd Annual Rivertown Revival, returning on Saturday, July 30, 2011. This FREE event will fundraise for the River Heritage Center, a project of Friends of the Petaluma River.

Following the astonishing turnout at the 2010 event, the organizers have planned for an entire weekend of activities that promises to be the highlight of the summer for locals and visitors alike. The Rivertown Revival will take place near downtown Petaluma on the McNear Peninsula. The entrance is through Steamer Landing Park, 6 Copeland St. (off of D St.). This rustic park features the 100-year old Livery Stable, which is
often referred to as the Ghiradelli barn.

Participants are immersed in a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and activities. Costumed volunteers and vendors will be celebrating the early twentieth century, the time when the Petaluma River was the state’s third busiest, in their own fun and funky ways. Visitors are also encouraged to get creative with their dress noveau novel style.  (You know I’ll have on some of my custom carnival bloomers!)

Arts and Music

The Mystic’s Show Manager Shennon O’Donnell created a music line up that showcases some of our best local talent.  The “BARN STAGE” features:

Dirtfloor Band
The Crux
Huckle
Swamp Thang
Smokehouse Gamblers
Hubub Club

The “FRONT PORCH STAGE” – an innovative stage created by some local Burning Man artists who turned a trailer into a old house facade with a porch that is wired with speakers for musical performances – features:

Highway Poets
Jugtown Pirates
Shovelman and Sono-Ma’s favorite:

David Luning Band - Play one of his rocking songs here – David is also a Summerfield Waldorf grad

As you move between stages, stop for food and beverages, shop with local artisans, and pause to look at the amazing sculpture garden. The metal art takes on surreal form with a backdrop of Petaluma’s former industrial plants lining the riverbanks…

An Event with Green Sol

Not only can you expect outstanding local art, music, fun costumery, and amazing food and wares, the organizing committee for Petaluma’s Rivertown Revival and vendors plan efforts to create the greenest event in Petaluma History.

“BYOC (buy or bring your own cup) only begins to illustrate our commitment to limiting the environmental footprint of this event,” states Kelin Backman, chief organizer and proprietor of Clementine Eco-Events. “We are targeting every aspect, from an aggressive landfill-diversion program to solar powered generators, always keeping the impact to the peninsula and the environment at the top of our thoughts”

With over 6,000 people expected to attend, the organizing team knows that education, pre-event press, and ample informational signage on the greening elements will be the best hope for overall compliance by the event-goers. “We’re hoping to get the word out about our water stations,” Backman continued, “we’re encouraging people to purchase low cost reusable bottles or pints to fill.”

Mary Munat, known as Green Mary, is working with the organizers on water stations, waste diversion, and procedures for the sustainability of the event.  A few innovative ideas from Green Mary‘s  event waste diversion tactics include:

• *  EcoStations with clear, effective set up for compost & recycling maximization
• *  Water systems on-site: Filtration units and dispensers toward reuse, away from endless plastic water bottles
• *  Movement away from plastics whenever possible
• *  Composting of all organic waste, and
• *  Food vendor greening

Green Mary is a true local sustainability hero whose large scale event support services are making headlines for creating eco-friendly community festivals (see this sample story of Green Mary’s fantastic work at our recent Harmony Festival).  Green Mary‘s spunk, smile, and simple ideology carries over in to every day lives and family homes as well.  Learn more about her mantra “Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” with this inspirational video short.

Green Mary’s colleague, Sol Man, or Chaz Peling, is also rolling in his solar panels to get eoc-power to two music stages.

Find out how you can power your upcoming music show with Sol Man‘s earth friendly options here.

Family Fun

This event is created with families in mind.   A dedicated children’s area features face painting, crafts like hobo sticks and gypsy ribbon wands, and other pint size fun.

While it is sure to be crowded and likely quite hot, paid security, a first aid station, covered shade areas (like the Sono-Ma Support Tent), and water stations spread throughout the event should keep families comfortable.

Make a day of it and pack hats, sunscreen, water bottles, and your own plateware – you can really go green with Rivertown this way!  With good walking shoes, you’ll all be free to dance and wander through an entertaining carnival scene.

Enjoy This Festival by Stopping at the Support Tent

Sono-Ma and community partners plan to greet you at the Rivertown Revival with a family friendly “support” space.  Find comfort, nursing support, and information at our shady pavilion.

 

Taking inspiration from the Mom’s Breastaruant movement, our local Support Tent provides families with a space to nurture healthy families. Whole Foods Market Petaluma is donating water (served in reusable cups or poured into your water bottle) and fresh fruit for kids and parents.   From space to nurse, a diaper changing station, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, water, samples of locally made products, and stellar local resource information – it’s no wonder families left last year’s tent expressing heart felt thanks to our sponsors!

Bike, Bus, or Walk in – Pay to Park

Attendees are encouraged to walk, carpool, or bike to the festival, and will be able to take advantage of a convenient and cost-free bicycle valet (set at Steamer Landing Park) provided by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition.

Limited parking will be available off of D Street between the bridge and Lakeville Highway for a $10 fee.  Fees benefit the Friends of the Petaluma River.

See you there!

 

 

(Note: some of the text of this article is excerpted with permission from the Press Release created by Laura Bell Way of the Rivertown Revival team.)

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