Year 46 for the Yampa River Festival
05/20/2026 01:16PM ● By Skylar Leeson
Photo courtesy of Friends of the Yampa.
Since 1980, Friends of the Yampa has hosted the Yampa River Festival to raise awareness about the wild Yampa River. This year, Steamboat Magazine chatted with Katie Berning, the organization's outreach program manager, ahead of the event. Katie shared why this year, the event is more important than ever, and the one thing that everyone can do to help.
Steamboat Magazine: How has the Yampa River changed over the years, and what are its biggest challenges today?
Since 1980, Friends of the Yampa has hosted the Yampa River Festival to raise awareness about the wild Yampa River. This year, Steamboat Magazine chatted with Katie Berning, the organization's outreach program manager, ahead of the event. Katie shared why this year, the event is more important than ever, and the one thing that everyone can do to help.
Steamboat Magazine: How has the Yampa River changed over the years, and what are its biggest challenges today?
Katie Berning: This year more than highlights the change to the Yampa River over time. We are facing increasing drought in the Yampa Valley and the greater Colorado River Basin. This is causing water scarcity for wildlife, riparian areas, municipalities, tourism and agriculture.
SM: What role does the festival play in helping the Steamboat community connect with and care about the river?
KB: River Fest is many people’s first introduction to river recreation. The stoke is palpable, and it helps the love for the Yampa River ripple out. Adding in the Freshwater Family Zone sponsored by Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District has created additional space for families to gather and learn about the Yampa River and the organizations in it. It’s the perfect event to connect the stoke and the love for the Yampa River.
SM: Why do you think people form such a strong emotional connection to the Yampa?
SM: Why do you think people form such a strong emotional connection to the Yampa?
KB: Whether you are rafting, fishing, tubing, birding or simply dipping your toes in the Yampa River, a connection to place is created. That connection, through all of the seasons, helps build a love and the motivation to protect it. It can be as simple as a daily glance on your commute to a once in a lifetime wildlife experience, the Yampa River inspires awe.
SM: What’s the funniest or most memorable thing you’ve seen happen at the festival over the years?
KB: For the 45th annual Yampa River Festival, we saw a lot of growth in the festival from areas outside of the Yampa River Basin. It was awesome to see so many participants and spectators gathering to celebrate the Yampa River! We always have the raft rodeo stunts and tube rodeo cowboys, but to see so many people show up and support Friends of the Yampa and the river was truly inspiring!
SM: If you could inspire one action from everyone who attends, what would you want them to do differently regarding the protection of local water resources?
KB: We hope that everyone who attends River Fest will take time to engage with the organizational tents on Saturday, May 30, and take time to educate themselves about the problems that the Yampa River faces and how they can help. We believe that education is the first step to becoming a steward of the river. Of course everyone can take steps to conserve water, but we also encourage people to learn, stay engaged, and volunteer.
The Yampa River Festival will kick off on Thursday, May 28 with the "State of the Yampa" address at 6 p.m. in Library Hall (doors open at 5:30). This year, the Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Kayak Race is canceled on Friday, May 29, due to low water flows. Saturday’s races will start at Rich Weiss Park (125 Lincoln Ave.) instead of Fetcher Park to offset low flows. Since there is no parking at Rich Weiss Park, Bustache will provide race participants with a free shuttle from the Stockbridge Transit Center (1505 Lincoln Ave.). For a full schedule of events and more information, visit www.friendsoftheyampa.com.
The Yampa River Festival will kick off on Thursday, May 28 with the "State of the Yampa" address at 6 p.m. in Library Hall (doors open at 5:30). This year, the Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Kayak Race is canceled on Friday, May 29, due to low water flows. Saturday’s races will start at Rich Weiss Park (125 Lincoln Ave.) instead of Fetcher Park to offset low flows. Since there is no parking at Rich Weiss Park, Bustache will provide race participants with a free shuttle from the Stockbridge Transit Center (1505 Lincoln Ave.). For a full schedule of events and more information, visit www.friendsoftheyampa.com.