Riverwalk Festival is Back with 3 Days of Fun

The Riverwalk Festival is a Lowell tradition, and the event is back this year with a line-up of activities that include perennial favorites and some newer additions.

It will be the 27th year for the festival which has only been cancelled once – in 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting on Thursday, the event runs from July 7-9 this year, and here’s everything you need to know about how the festival got its start and what will be happening in 2022.

Lowell Riverwalk Festival: A Brief History

For those who are new to the area, the Riverwalk Festival can trace its roots back to 1995 when the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce decided it needed a fundraiser to help support its activities.

“Charlene Chapman was real instrumental in that she spearheaded the whole thing,” explains Liz Baker, executive director of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.

Baker was newly hired at the time, and the first Riverwalk Festival took place over Labor Day weekend. The highlight was a duck race in which rubber ducks were floated down the Grand River, and the winning duck earned someone a cash prize.

“It was fun,” Baker remembers.

But there came a point at which safety and liability concerns meant a change was needed. Volunteers were in the river with an entrapment device to collect the ducks, and one year – after a significant flooding event – it seemed as though the depth and current of the river shifted to make the process more precarious. After that, it was decided to convert the event to a traditional raffle, which is sponsored by State Farm this year and comes with a $1,500 cash prize.

Another big change to the Riverwalk Festival was the move from Labor Day in 2003. As much fun as the festival was, it couldn’t compete with families’ vacation plans elsewhere.

“We’re doing all this stuff, and no one is here,” Baker says was the realization at the time. Even businesses often shut down for the weekend as owners took time off.

The Chamber didn’t want to compete with the 4th of July or other area festivals either so it was decided the second weekend of July would be a good time to schedule the annual event. Along with the change in date, the Riverwalk Festival added activities such as a Classic Car show, kayak races and a fireworks display, which has been sponsored by Laurels of Kent for the past 15 years.

Riverwalk Festival 2022: Thursday Events

The Riverwalk Festival kicks off on Thursday night at 4pm when the social district opens, and the main event of the evening will be a concert by The Insiders: Tom Petty Tribute Band.

Here’s some key times for the first day of the festival:

• 4pm-10pm: Lowell social district is open
• 5pm-9pm: Lowell Moose 809 Bingo behind the library
• 7pm: The Insiders: Tom Petty Tribute Band takes the Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts Stage in front of the Showboat on the Riverwalk.

There will also be the opportunity to take historic self-guided tours along the Riverwalk and downtown. Duck raffle ticket sales will also be available.

Riverwalk Festival 2022: Friday Events

On Friday, the social district will be open again, and there will also be bingo and duck raffle tickets, the same as on Thursday.

Plus, there will be these additional activities:

• 5pm-7pm: Street entertainers
• 5pm-9pm: Grilling and Chilling on Avery Street with various food vendors present
• 5pm-9pm: Flea on the Flat River that includes a variety of vendors selling their wares
• 5pm-9pm: Used book sale at the library next to the Riverwalk
• 7pm: Sea Cruisers take the stage to play classic rock and roll oldies.

The Sea Cruisers have previously played at the Riverwalk Festival, and Baker found them to be great entertainment. “We’re excited to have them back on Friday night,” she says.

Riverwalk Festival 2022: Saturday Events

Saturday is the main event with activities beginning at 7am with the Run the Riverwalk 5K and ending at 10:15pm with the Laurels of Kent Fireworks show being set off from Stoney Lakeside Park.

In between, here’s a sample of the other activities:

• 8am-1:30pm: Riverwalk Cruise-In Classic Cars on Avery Street
• 9am: Ducky Derby registration at the Lowell Police garage with races starting at 10:15am (Think: Pinewood Derby but for grown-ups and kids)
• 9am: Bill & Paul’s Kayak/SUP/Canoe Race registration with race time at 10am
• 10am-4pm: Family activities on the Riverwalk including Kidz Zone, book sale, scavenger hunt for kids, blood drive, used book sale, Flea on the Flat River and more
• 10am-12pm: Special appearance by Batman in the Kidz Zone
• 11am-3pm: Bill & Paul’s Kayak Fun in which anyone can try out a kayak
• 12pm-4pm: Lowell Showboat VI Open House
• 1:45pm: Riverwalk Rumble on Main Street
• 7pm: Community worship service on Riverwalk
• 10:15pm: Laurels of Kent Fireworks which will be shot from Stoney Lakeside Park but can also be viewed from the fairgrounds.

“My favorite part is sitting down at the fairgrounds to watch the fireworks,” Baker says. However, she adds that it’s hard to pick a specific event she likes best. “Riverwalk is fun – all of it.”

In the midst of all the fun, Baker hopes that visitors will consider signing up to give blood during the drive that will be happening from 10am-4pm in the library parking lot. Every donor will walk away with a t-shirt plus the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping to save lives at a time when blood banks are facing critical shortages.

“You never know when your kid is going to need blood,” Baker says. There are 54 slots available, and you can reserve your time online.

New This Year: Riverwalk Rumble

Longtime Riverwalk attendees will notice there is no parade this year. Baker says they skipped the parade last year because of COVID concerns and decided that this year might be a good time to try something new.

Instead of a parade, there will be a Riverwalk Rumble at 1:45pm. Vehicles that participated in the Riverwalk Cruise-In Classic will gather at the Methodist Church on E. Main Street and exit the festival driving two abreast, going west down Main Street to Hudson Street.

Those who have classic cars and motorcycles can participate in the rumble even if they aren’t a part of the Cruise-In Classic. Simply arrive at the Methodist Church at 621 E. Main St. by 1:30pm to line-up. Note: the Lowell Police Department reminds people that burn-outs on the street are illegal.

Main Street will be closed to other traffic from Jackson to Hudson during the rumble.

For more details and to see what other activities will be happening, visit the Riverwalk Festival website.