Riverfest Returns To Occoquan With Duck Splash, More Activities

OCCOQUAN, VA — Visitors will descend upon Occoquan for one of its major events of the year, the annual Riverfest & Craft Show. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event provides numerous activities along Occoquan's riverfront, from the favorite Duck Splash to a beer garden and hundreds of vendors representing food, artisans and makers and more.

One of the highlights is the Duck Splash at noon on Sunday. This fundraiser hosted by nonprofit Patriots For Disabled Divers features hundreds of rubber ducks racing along the Occoquan River. Participants may sponsor a duck for $5 online through the end of Friday or in person Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Patriots for Disabled Divers booth on the corner of Mill and Washington Streets. Winners of the Duck Splash race can receive prizes between $20 and $500.

Boat tours are scheduled at various times on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will take a 45-minute pontoon boat tour by Carefree Boat Club through the Occoquan River. You may get the chance to see wildlife like osprey or eagles, as well as blue heron and painted turtles at Craighill Isle. Tour times are 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. as well on Saturday.

The festival's beer garden sponsored by Fair Winds Brewing Company will be open in River Mill Park on Saturday and Sunday, from 12 p.m .to 5 p.m. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Attendees can enjoy alcoholic beverages, food and music by Fever Dream on Saturday and Midlife Crisis on Sunday.

Other highlights include exhibitors at Conservation Alley, a DIY Boat Making and Races station, a Butterfly Experience sponsored by Westminster at Lake Ridge, police and fire touch-a-truck, a food court, artisan and maker vendors and more. See a full map of the Riverfest.

During the festival, downtown Occoquan roads will be closed at 8 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. That includes sections of Mill Street, Ellicott Street, Union Street, Washington Street, Poplar Alley and Commerce Street. Parts of Center Lane, Ellicott Street, Union Street and Washington Street past the immediate festival area will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, while part of commerce street will be one way only during those times.

Parking restrictions will be implemented on a rolling basis starting at 9 a.m. Friday on parts of Mill Street, Ellicott Street, Union Street, Washington Street, Poplar Alley and Commerce Street. New vehicles will not be allowed to park at 9 a.m., and towing begins at 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight, depending on the area. Parking in those areas will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday and will resume once the vendors and visitors have cleared the area.

Because streets around downtown Occoquan will be closed, visitors may use shuttles. The Purple Lot - Lake Ridge Commuter Lot (corner of Old Bridge and Minnieville Roads) shuttle will drop off at the Commerce St. and Washington St. shuttle stop. At the Green Lot - Rt. 123 Commuter Lot (Route 123 and Old Bridge Road), shuttles will drop off at the Footbridge shuttle stop by River Mill Park. The Yellow Lot - Workhouse Arts Center (9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton) shuttle will drop off at a shuttle stop under the Rt. 123 Bridge.

Shuttles require a purchased pass. The Footbridge stop is the closest walk to the festival; others are more than a mile away. Wheelchair accessible shuttle service will be available at the Yellow Lot, both days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.occoquanfestivals.com/riverfest.