Saw in today’s paper the schedule of events for Riverfest… the week-long series of river-awareness events, many of which are free. The website does a better job of describing it:

It’s that time of year once again. Time to dust off the hiking shoes and emerge from winter ready to enjoy one of Central Oregon’s premier natural features, the Deschutes River. It is time for Riverfest!

Riverfest is the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council’s annual weeklong celebration of the Deschutes River. Through the resources of multiple partners, a series of events are being hosted between May 4th and the 13th. Events range from learning more about fly fishing techniques to plunging down whitewater rapids.

I thought it sounded kind of cool, though I’ve never participated in the past. And even though a lot of the events are free, they do require registration. There’s plenty to do, too, including river walks, hikes, whitewater rafting, fly fishing, and more. Call their hotline at 633-3765 to find out more.