The 2017 2Rivers Festival featured 16 events that include a celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Gow Bridge and the 25th anniversary of the Covered Bridge. All 2Rivers Festival events are FREE and open to everyone.
The Festival is a project of the Wellington Water Watchers, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and conservation of source water in Guelph-Wellington.
Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered and supported our wonderful Festival!
You can view or download the full 2017 2Rivers Festival Guide.
Press Release announcing our 2017 Festival
2Rivers Festival 2017 Events
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River's Edge: Games that Teach
Sun May 7, 1 - 4 pm
Join the Guelph Outdoor School along the bank of the Eramosa River for an afternoon of electrifying games and challenges. Make yourself at home in the woods! The whole family is welcome. -
International Migratory Bird Day in Guelph
Sat May 13, 7 am & 9 am
Mid-May is peak migration for many song birds. At 7 am will be a 2 hour bird count along the James Street trail to identify migrating birds. A 1 hour "Beginner Birders" hike will begin at 9 am at the Covered Bridge. -
Walk Over a River and Along Another
Sun May 14, 7:30 - 9 pm
one of Guelph's hiking gems, beautiful in all seasons. We start at the Covered Bridge and make our way upstream along the Eramosa River, then over the bridge on Victoria Road and back down the other side. -
RESCHEDULED - Garlic Mustard Pull & Pesto Making Workshop
Thurs May 18, Tuesday May 23, 6 - 8 pm
Join us to learn about the invasive garlic mustard herb and how to safely pull it. You'll contribute to the health of the river bank, and leave with some ingredients for your very own delicious pesto! -
Bridges and a Pint: Cycling the Bridges of Guelph, Past, Present and Future
Sat May 27, 1 - 3 pm
Let's cycle through the rich history of Guelph's unique bridges. We'll hear how the came to be and look at some future plans for proposed pedestrian and cycling bridge building projects. Finally, let's enjoy a pint and discussion at Royal City Brewery. -
Bridges to the Past: A Walking Tour
Sun May 28, 1 - 2 pm
Guelph residents have created ways to cross the mighty Speed River for 190 years. On this walk, you will marvel at the soaring beauty of the Heffernan Bridge, the inventive structure of the Covered Bridge, and the solid limestone construction of the Gow Bridge. -
River Songs with James Gordon
Sun May 28, 2:30 - 3:15 pm
Come see James Gordon, Guelph's very own river troubadour, in a special concert celebrating Guelph and Rivers. -
2Rivers Cleanup
Sat June 3, 9 am - 1 pm
Join OPIRG Guelph and Wellington Water Watchers for our 38th annual 2Rivers Cleanup. This year, we are going back to our roots and will engage once again with a shoreline cleanup along a wide expanse of our rivers. Afterwards, we will have refreshments and a facilitated discussion about restoring the health of our rivers. -
Hike with the Kids
Sun June 4, 1 - 2:30 pm
A nature walk for all ages. Come for an adventure with the whole family as we walk through a variety of forest and field landscapes with experienced leaders from the Guelph Trail Hiking Club. We will have two groups, Tortoises and Hares. -
Nature Today & Tomorrow at Guelph's Yorklands - A Guided Exploration
Sat June 10, 10 - 11 am & 1 - 2 pm
Explore nature and imagine the possibilities of future ecological restoration. Join our leaders from Ontario Streams, Raresits, and Yorklands Green Hub for guided tours of this special place, as it is now and as it could be in the future. -
Crayfish Catching
Sun Jun 11, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Get up close with the aquatic creatures that call the Speed River their home. Join Environmental Educator Greg Meredith and other volunteers as we enter the Speed River in search of crayfish and other aquatic creatures. Suitable for all ages! -
Arboretum Creek Creatures
Weds June 14, 7 - 8:30 pm
Learn about the importance of urban biodiversity. Come and catch, identify and study the life we have in and beside our stream. A great activity for all ages! -
Pollinator Day in the Garden
Sat June 17, 1 - 4 pm
Drop in for a fun, family-friendly afternoon and learn about pollinators and the pollinator-friendly plants that will support them. Look at pollinating insects up close, identify pollinator-friendly plants, make your own solitary bee nest, and more! -
The Trees Along the River
Sun June 18, 1 - 3 pm
Come discover the amazing trees along our rivers. Sean Fox, a local tree expert, will lead a guided walk along the trails that line the rivers while regaling us with interesting stores and identifying features of the trees on the trails. -
Who's that Singing Under the Bridge?
Sun June 18, 3 - 4 pm
Experience these acoustics! Guelph's own Ondine Chorus will sing a magical serenade to the Eramosa River under the Victoria Road Bridge. Walk, bike or canoe to join us! -
Moths at Night
Sat June 24, 8:30 pm - midnight
This evening event will open your eyes to the incredible diversity of moths! Using a black-light and simple white sheet, we'll attract nearby moths for a closer look.
Territorial Acknowledgement
We humbly acknowledge and send our gratitude to the original ancestors of the territory through which the Speed and Eramosa rivers course. These First Peoples from various lineages stewarded these lands and waters as caretakers. We send our respect to the Mississaugas of the New Credit as treaty holders of this land. We also send our respect to our neighbours who have peopled these lands for many generations, the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee and the Anishnabeg, and to our many Indigenous neighbours here in Guelph and across Turtle Island.
Thank you to all the 2017 participating host organizations! Visit their websites to join these groups and participate in their other events throughout the year.
We would also like to acknowledge the important support of our 2017 advertising sponsors. Please thank them for their support of the Festival when using their services and purchasing their products.
A special thank you to the 2Rivers Festival Steering Committee who have dedicated their time to connect us more closely with our rivers, and for all their efforts in developing the program - Laura Andrighetti, Paul Botros, Jane Hudson, Peter Jaspers-Fayer, Leanne Johns, Stan Kozak, Debbie Kurt, James Levesque, Patti Maurice, Karen McKeown, Sue Rietschin and Arlene Slocombe.
As always, thank you to our Wellington Water Watchers' Board of Directors for all of their support, and to the volunteers for helping to make the 2Rivers Festival a success!