Annual Hudson River Revival Celebrates Grassroots Action with Music and Culture

NEWS RELEASE

2014 Clearwater Festival Opens June 21

Each year on the banks of the Hudson River, thousands of people come together at the United States’ oldest music and environmental festival, Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival. Also known as the 2014 Clearwater Festival, the event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22 at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Festival gates open to attendees at 9 am.

This annual gathering is produced by a nonprofit environmental organization, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. In conjunction with regional artists and activists, the organization works to provide cultural entertainment and environmental advocacy to continue Pete Seeger’s vision of the Hudson River.

In 1966, Seeger, a folk music legend and environmental activist who died in January at 94, saw the Hudson River’s once beautifully diverse ecosystem be declared “dead” from sewage and industrial wastes. Seeger decided to engage the public through music and creativity to restore the ecosystem to its natural beauty. Harnessing the aesthetic and cultural power of a 19th century replica of the grand sloops that once sailed the Hudson, he created a persistent, moving symbol of environmental education and cultural pride. To this day, Pete Seeger’s musical inspiration and the Clearwater sloop represent the flagship efforts of grassroots action to clean up and celebrate the grandeur of the Hudson River.

Those who visit the scenic festivities will enjoy seven sustainably powered stages with a variety of bluegrass and folk artists and culturally-inspired dances. There will be many themed events and exhibits to explore, such as the Handcrafter’s Village, the Green Living Expo, the Working Waterfront with small boat exhibits and rides, the Artisanal Food and Farm Market, and environmental education displays that illuminate the deeply-rooted history and cultural heritage of this festival. The event provides multiple services for mobility or hearing impaired guests with wheelchairs for use at no cost, as well as American Sign Language interpreters on main stages and by request.

Pursuing the commitment to environmental sustainability, The 2014 Clearwater Festival strives to achieve zero waste stream by composting and recycling on site and encouraging healthier consumption practices among participants. Camping and RV facilities on-site are available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and guests wishing to stay in local lodging can be referred to local listings. Guests are additionally able to purchase tickets to sail on the Sloop Clearwater and the Schooner Mystic Whaler. All price listings, time schedules, performances, and festival events are available on the festival website.

For more information:
www.clearwaterfestival.org/

-- Colin English