Burning River Fest 2010—July 24 and July 25
Every summer, people from all over the Great Lakes region raise a pint at the Burning River Fest to salute the “watershed moment” that raised a new level of eco-consciousness—the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River. This year’s party will feature live music, fresh food from local farms and eateries, educational environmental exhibits and a special appearance by Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale.
Proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, a local non-profit organization that provides resources for the sustainable future of our waterways. Join us at Burning River Fest on July 24 from 6 - 11 p.m. and July 25 from noon - 5 p.m. at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island. Help celebrate the “Spirit of Giving” and spark a new level of environmental awareness!
More than 20 musicians and bands will provide live music ranging from funk to blues to eclectic; Great Lakes Brewing Company will feature a fish fry and its craft beer, while Chef’s Choice Meats, Ohio City Pasta and Tree Hugger’s Cafe will add to the local food flavor; local environmental groups will feature interactive and educational displays for all ages.
The strength of the Burning River Fest is the platform on which it is based. It celebrates the improvements in Cleveland’s water quality since the burning of the Cuyahoga River in 1969, being a venue for local non-profit organizations, restaurants and artisans to showcase the excellent work they are doing around the Cleveland area in environmental education and advocacy and becoming the pre-eminent environmental festival in the nation.
The Burning River Foundation, through grants, donations and community involvement, provides extensive education and resources for ecological conservation, environmental protection, scientific exploration, historic preservation and sustainable future of our waterways.
To date, the Burning River Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 to local non-profit organizations such as the GreenCityBlueLake Institute, Great Lakes Science Center, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Wendy Park Foundation, West Creek Preservation Committee and the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization for their work on water projects. Through the Burning River Fest, the Foundation has also increased public awareness about the deteriorating, yet historic, Coast Guard Station, which has resulted in a collaborative cleanup and restoration effort by non-profit, corporate and government entities. The Fest has also helped put Whiskey Island and Wendy Park on the map as a wonderful greenspace right in the heart of Cleveland’s industry (both past and present).
Online presale tickets are $8/person/day or $15 for a weekend pass. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit burningriverfest.org.