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On Saturday August 9, almost 1,000 people joined Canalway and our sponsor Cargill to celebrate the Cuyahoga River at the fifth annual Cuyahoga River Rally. Many people enjoyed their first experience on the Cuyahoga River via free rides on the Holiday boat, free Kayak Tours, or through the paddling demonstrations with the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association.
Throughout the day, attendees learned about the importance and value of clean, fresh water from community organizations including Cleveland Water, Cleveland Water Pollution Control, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Cleveland Metroparks, and Cuyahoga County Fresh Water Institute. In addition, kids made river-life inspired crafts and worked with Poetry Free Cleveland to inspire improv poems about water, nature, and more.
The festival village at Hart Crane Park featured a stage with live music by three local bands throughout the day: Moises Borges, Napsack, and Emergence Ensemble. With a beer garden by Jolly Scholar and plenty of riverside seating, people enjoyed the music and views all afternoon.
As the event started and ended, Trash Fish took more than a dozen volunteers on the water with free kayaks to remove litter from the river. Four other free kayak tours led by a ranger and volunteers from Cuyahoga Valley National Park helped people explore the urban waterway and learn about the history of the River.
Thank you to everyone who attended the event. River Rally would not be possible without the assistance from our sponsor Cargill and supporters Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cleveland Water, and Cleveland Water Pollution Control.
