St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Riverside Arts Market are hosting the fifth annual River Ruckus, a family festival celebrating two of our region’s most important assets — the St. Johns River and RAM. The day’s events will include live music, artists, makers, bakers and farmers, and enjoy family activities like the waterless carnival games for kids, water activities and much more!

Enjoy craft beer from SweetWater Brewing Company all day. Purchase a limited-edition River Ruckus souvenir reusable cup for the kids drinks or to hold a SweetWater Brewing Company adult beverage!

All day activities include:

- Stand Up Paddleboard lessons from All Wet Sports

- Free 25-person boat rides on our Marine Science Research Institute R/V Larkin Pontoon (Boat trips are at 11:00 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 12:20 p.m.)

Specific-timed Activities:

10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Riverwalk Cleanup! Meet at RAM Dock. 

10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Downtown Flotilla Hosted by Black Creek Outfitters and St. Johns Riverkeeper! 

Kayak or stand-up paddle from Metropolitan Park to Riverside Arts Market for a 2-mile one-way Paddling Flotilla. Participants can bring their personal kayaks, canoes or paddle boards and PFD and whistle to take part in the Paddling Flotilla. To rent a boat or to let us know you’re joining, Sign Up with Black Creek Outfitters online here: http://bit.ly/RiverRuckusFlotilla

Recommendation to paddlers: park at Metropolitan Park near put-in and leave a second car near RAM at our end point or Uber/ride with friends on your own back to the starting point. Our Riverkeeper boat will also be available to shuttle kayakers back to their cars at Metro.

2:30 p.m.: Custom SweetWater KAYAK raffle giveaway!

Join us on the main stage for the SweetWater Brewing Company #saveourwater raffle drawing. For only $5 per ticket, you can enter to win a Custom 9’ Kayak! Enter to win today here: http://bit.ly/SweetWaterKayak