Occoquan River Fest

Lorton, Virginia (May 14, 2011). With a capacity of over 8 billion gallons of water serving more than 1.5 million people, the Occoquan Reservoir is the Northern Virginia region’s main source of drinking water. But besides that, how much do you know about the Occoquan watershed region? How does it affect the lives of its citizens and how do we affect it? What is there to do in the region for fun?

June 25, 2011 will mark the second annual Occoquan River Fest to celebrate the river and its resources. Join us in interactive round-table discussions and recreational activities that show the importance of the Occoquan watershed and the effect the river has on all our lives. We’ll have lively discussions about what makes the Occoquan so unique, the historical significance of this region, and how to have a fun and safe time out on the water. Also, we’ll have fun recreational activities for the whole family including a children’s area with fun games and prizes just for the little ones.

Sponsored by REI, Occoquan Watertrail League (OWL), Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center at George Mason University, this free event will kick off at Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, Virginia and offer activities at multiple locations around the Occoquan watershed. Family-friendly recreational activities such as paddling, kid’s fishing, geocaching, nature walks, yoga in the park, science on the water and more will occur in locations such as Occoquan Regional Park, Lake Ridge Park, Workhouse Arts Center, and others.

The event runs from 10 AM - 6 PM. This year’s event is being held in conjunction with the Occoquan Merchants Association (OMA) “River Fest” being held in the town of Occoquan on the same day.

The “Miss Rivershore” boat will be offering a free water taxi service to take visitors between the town of Occoquan and Occoquan Regional Park.