Home > News Bytes > Delaware River of the Year Festival: A Community Celebration
Delaware River of the Year Festival: A Community Celebration
PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn (front, L) poses with folks after unveiling the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year poster (framed). Photo by the DRBC.
PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn (front, L) poses
with folks after unveiling the 2025 Pennsylvania River
of the Year poster (framed). Photo by the DRBC.


The Delaware River was named the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) after a public vote. This honor highlights the significance of rivers, their conservation needs, unique history, recreational value and economic importance to communities. It also celebrates partnership: all levels of government, NGOs, businesses, stakeholders and the public working together to celebrate safe, accessible and responsible recreation, support river communities and promote clean and sustainable water resources.  

The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, the Sojourn's fiduciary & registrar, nominated the Delaware River for this honor on behalf of the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee. In addition to the Sojourn's 30th Paddle from June 14-20, a June 18 Delaware River of the Year Festival took place at Minisink Park in East Stroudsburg, Pa. While part of the Delaware River Sojourn, the Festival was free and open to the public!

  • Learn more about the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year honor

  • Check out the Festival announcement

The Festival was planned by a subcommittee led by the Monroe County Conservation District in close partnership with Smithfield Township, where Minisink Park is located. DRBC's Kate Schmidt represented the DRBC on the planning subcommittee; she also serves on the steering committee that plans the annual Delaware River Sojourn.

Held in the afternoon from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Festival's timing allowed folks to come after work or school and enabled Sojourners to participate after their paddle. We were honored to have PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and other DCNR staff, along with staff from POWR and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, paddle the river with us before heading over to the Festival. 

The Festival featured a live performance from the Shawnee Playhouse and from local musicians Roy Ramos and Tom Ricconono. Other highlights included food trucks, environmental education stations, guest speakers and kid-friendly activities such as balloon animals, inflatable archery and flycasting. Kids received a "passport" that they could get stamped as they visited the various tables and activities; those with completed passports were awarded with a color-changing River of the Year cup.

The DRBC was proud to support the Festival, from planning to having an education table to providing remarks during the speakers' portion. Check out the logos from participating vendors below (click for larger)!

Image promoting the Delaware River of the Year Festival that includes multiple vendor logos. Photo by the DRBC.

Guest Speakers

  • Shelley DePaul, Keeper of Language; Treaty Signing Liaison, Lenape Nation of PA

  • Jacob Pride, Supervisor, Smithfield Twp.

  • Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission (click to view Bowman Kavanagh's remarks)

  • Kristine Bush, District Director, State Senator Rosemary Brown, PA-40

  • William Gibney, District 7 Commissioner, PA Fish & Boat Commission

  • Monroe County Commissioners

  • Tom Gilbert, President, PA Environmental Council

  • Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary, PA DCNR; she was joined on stage by Claire Jantz, PA DCNR Deputy Secretary of Conservation and Technical Services, who read a proclamation from Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro recognizing the Delaware River as the Pennsylvania 2025 River of the Year (click to view an excerpt of Dunn's and Jantz's comments)


Delaware River of the Year Poster


As the 2025 Pennsylvania River of the Year, the Delaware River also had a commemorative poster created. Monroe County Conservation District staff reached out to county schools to hold a student poster design contest. The River of the Year Festival subcommittee chose the winning artwork, which was created by student Sadie Duryea. A three-dimensional piece made with natural materials, Sadie's design was inspired by a visit to Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Nazareth, Pa. POWR transformed her art into a poster - click the image below to view larger.

Sadie attended the June 18 River of the Year Festival and joined PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn onstage for the official unveiling of the poster and group photos. Check out a short video of the unveiling!

The official Delaware River of the Year Poster designed by Sadie Duryea.

 

River of the Year Festival: In the News

 

 

Delaware River of the Year Festival volunteers at the welcome tent. Photo by the DRBC. DRBC staff had a table at the Delaware River of the Year Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Folks visit the DRBC table, including former DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini and Smithfield Township's Alex Jackson. Photo by the DRBC. Folks enjoy a game of DRB Cornhole at the DRBC tent. Photo by the DRBC.
Delaware River of the Year Festival volunteers at the welcome tent. Photo by the DRBC. DRBC staff had a table at the Delaware River of the Year Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Folks visit the DRBC table, including former DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini and Smithfield Township's Alex Jackson (L). Photo by the DRBC. Folks enjoy a game of cornhole at the DRBC tent. Photo by the DRBC.
Lenape Nation of PA's Shelley DePaul welcomes folks to the Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Smithfield Township Supervisor Jacob Pride welcomes everyone to the Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Kristine Bush, District Director, Pa. State Senator Rosemary Brown (PA-40), shares the Senator's appreciation for the Delaware River as the 2025 PA River of the Year. Photo by the DRBC. PA Fish and Boat Commission's William Gibney talks about his love of fishing the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.
Lenape Nation of PA's Shelley DePaul welcomes folks to the Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Smithfield Township Supervisor Jacob Pride welcomes everyone to the Festival. Photo by the DRBC. Kristine Bush, District Director, Pa. State Senator Rosemary Brown (PA-40), shares the Senator's appreciation that the Delaware River is the 2025 PA River of the Year. Photo by the DRBC. PA Fish and Boat Commission's William Gibney talks about his love of fishing the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.
Monroe County Commissioners present Monroe County Conservation District Hydraulic Engineer Mike Wilk with the High Admiral Award for his decades-long service to the county. Photo by the DRBC. Pennsylvania Environmental Council President Tom Gilbert shares his support for Pennsylvania rivers, especially the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC. (From L to R) PA DCNR Deputy Secretary Claire Jantz, Sojourn Steering Committee Chair Mark Zakutansky and PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn get a photo with Gov. Shapiro's official proclamation. Photo by the DRBC. Delaware River of the Year Poster Artist Sadie Duryea holds her original artwork. Sojourn Steering Committee Chair Mark Zakutansky holds a framed poster, while PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn claps her applause. This was the official unveiling of the poster. Photo by the DRBC.
Monroe County
Commissioners present
Monroe County Conservation District Hydraulic Engineer
Mike Wilk with the High
Admiral Award for his
decades-long service to the
county. Photo by the DRBC.		 Pennsylvania Environmental
Council President Tom Gilbert
shares his support for
Pennsylvania rivers, especially for the Delaware River. Photo by the DRBC.		 (From L to R) PA DCNR Deputy Secretary Claire Jantz, Sojourn Steering Committee Chair Mark
Zakutansky and PA DCNR
Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
pose for a photo with Gov.
Shapiro's official proclamation.
Photo by the DRBC.		 Delaware River of the Year
Poster Artist Sadie Duryea holds her original artwork. Sojourn Steering Committee Chair Mark Zakutansky holds a framed poster, while PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn claps her applause. This was the official unveiling of the poster. Photo by the DRBC.