Clearwater Festival facts for kids

Sloop Clearwater

The Clearwater Festival (officially called the Great Hudson River Revival) is a unique summer event. It brings together music, fun, and a strong focus on protecting our environment. This festival is America's oldest and largest event of its kind. For over 30 years, more than 15,000 people have attended each June. All the money raised helps Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. This is a special non-profit group that works to protect the environment.

The festival is a big celebration for the Hudson River. It features many talented singer-songwriters, performers, and musicians. They offer a fun mix of modern, traditional, and American Roots music. You can also enjoy dance, family-friendly entertainment, and storytelling. Besides music and dance, there's a craft show with handmade items. There's also a Green Living Expo and places for environmental education. A "circle of song" lets everyone join in the music.

The festival tries to be very eco-friendly. Its seven stages run on clean biodiesel fuel. Food waste is recycled, and volunteers prepare meals. Even the sponsors are chosen carefully to support good causes. Visitors are encouraged to carpool, bike, or use public transport. The whole festival is easy to get around for people using wheelchairs. It also has American Sign Language interpreters. In 2011, 16 interpreters helped at the event. The festival also provides 20 wheelchairs and special seating at every stage.

Pete Seeger at the 2007 Clearwater Festival

The festival was started in 1966 by Toshi Seeger and her husband, folk singer Pete Seeger. Pete Seeger often performed at the festival himself. Many famous artists have performed over the years. These include Janis Ian, Arlo Guthrie, Odetta, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Ani DiFranco. Other performers include Taj Mahal, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, and Joan Osborne.

In 2009, the festival celebrated several important milestones. It was the 40th anniversary of the launch of the sloop Clearwater. It also marked Pete Seeger's 90th birthday. Plus, it was 400 years since Henry Hudson explored the river. That year, the festival featured both traditional folk artists and many new performers. Some new artists included The Persuasions and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. There were also bands like Old Crow Medicine Show and the festival's first hip-hop group, ReadNex Poetry Squad.

To show how important the Hudson River is, the festival added river activities. You can go kayaking or rowboating. You can also take rides on tall ships like the Clearwater, the Mystic Whaler, and the Woody Guthrie.

History of the Clearwater Festival

The festival began because people wanted to protect the Hudson River. This was after a big debate about the river from 1963 to 1982. The festival also started from the Sloop Clearwater itself. To raise money to build the Sloop, Pete Seeger and his friends held small concerts. They passed a banjo around to collect donations.

By 1978, these concerts grew into a larger festival. It was held at Croton Point Park. The festival stayed there for ten years. But pollution problems from the park's landfill made it move. It went to a college campus for a while. In 1999, the festival finally moved back to Croton Point Park. It was great to be back on the shores of the Hudson River. The 2016 festival was canceled to help restore the sloop Clearwater. But the festival returned in 2017.

Why the Festival is Important

The Great Hudson River Revival is put on by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. This is a non-profit group supported by its members. The festival raises money and awareness about the river and our planet. It also brings the community together around the river. All the money goes to Clearwater's work. This includes research, education, and speaking up for the river. Their goal is to help keep the river and its communities safe and clean.

The festival helps support great educational programs. One is Clearwater’s New Hudson River School. This program has helped over 430,000 young people. It has also helped more than 250,000 adults. They get to experience the amazing Hudson River from aboard the Sloop Clearwater.