Tom Chapin, on Banjo, playing Pete Seeger tunes
By Dan Murphy
Back in the 1970s, my parents took me to several concerts at Croton Point Park hosted by Pete Seeger. A young classmate of mine, David Matthews, also attended the festivals. The concerts were held to raise money and awareness to help clean up the Hudson River. With Seeger’s help, the Hudson River was cleaned up, and Pete’s simple “folk picnics,” as he liked to call the festivals, continued on for decades and were called the Clearwater Festival, after Pete’s boat Clearwater that he used to highlight the pollution in the Hudson that called out for healing.
In 2022, the festival was cancelled. But three years later, we are thrilled to see that the Festival has returned to Croton Point Park, under the name RiverFest FPS (For Pete’s Sake), and was a great success.
On June 14, the Hudson River Music Festival took over Croton Point Park for a full day of live music, family activities, celebration and outdoor fun. Presented by Riverfest FPS (For Pete’s Sake), Dayglo Presents, and Harper House Music Foundation and rooted in the spirit of Toshi and Pete Seeger’s folk picnics, the new festival brought together music lovers, environmental advocates, and families for a vibrant celebration. The all-ages festival united people in a gathering fueled by a shared love for the river, music, and activism. From the musical performances to community-driven experiences, the festival embodied a new chapter rooted in a beloved tradition. Read the festival recap in Relix.
Mainstage musical acts included Grahame Lesh & Friends – featuring Rick Mitarotonda (Goose), Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band), Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Rob Barraco (Phil Lesh Quintet), Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), – Lucius featuring Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith, Madison Cunningham, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Steve Earle & Friends, Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane), and Tom Chapin & Friends. Keeping the festival accessible to all, ASL interpreters were provided for all performances.
Special activities also included the iconic Earthball, Pete & Toshi’s Grove, the Circle of Song, and family friendly performances from the Arm of the Sea Puppet Show and The Rock and Roll Playhouse, as well as the mesmerizing Boat Flotilla presented by Riverkeeper, where colorful boats gathered along the Hudson River to move in harmony. The organizers also dedicated the event to their dear friend, colleague and mentor Jeremy Tepper (November 18, 1963 – June 14, 2024). Jeremy’s importance to the three presenting entities served as inspiration for bringing the event back to Croton Point Park.
Festival Highlights:
- The day kicked off with Grammy award winning folk legend Tom Chapin, David Amram, and The Chapin Sisters leading a heartfelt performance dedicated to Toshi and Pete Seeger. Festival goers held hands and sang along as the Chapin family performed in a heartfelt and joyful moment of unity.
- Excitement erupted among festival goers as colorful boats and a spraying fire boat paused along the Hudson river to say hello to the crowd. The flotilla was represented by Riverkeeper, as they celebrate the annual fish migration and promote local clean waters.
- The festival was committed to create a zero waste day. Reusable water stations were scattered throughout the festival grounds and zero-waste volunteers were ready to help festival-goers separate recyclables (plastic, glass, metal) from food scraps and other compostable materials (napkins, compostable servingware).
- Families flocked to The Rock and Roll Playhouse performance, where kids could dance to the live music of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger while getting their face painted or blow giant bubbles right next door.
- The festival was also made possible by the dedication and hard work of 125 volunteers. From managing shifts and assisting with accessibility to educating attendees about composting and creating moments of joy for families, these volunteers brought Pete Seeger’s vision of community to life. Their contributions ensured the festival was welcoming, organized, and memorable for all.
- After a full day of family fun, food, nature and mainstage sets by all star acts, Grahame Lesh & friends closed out the day on the main stage with incredible musicianship and good vibes.
ABOUT RIVERFEST FPS (FOR PETE’S SAKE)
RiverFest FPS (For Pete’s Sake) (RFPS), a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, co-founded by Mitzi Elkes, Hal Cohen and Roy Volpe, is the promoter of the Hudson River Music Festival (HRMF). RFPS’s mission is to create and operate a multi-cultural music festival dedicated to educating attendees about environmental issues and a sustainable planet. Honoring the legacy of Pete and Toshi Seeger, the HRMF, through a blend of music, art, and activism, inspiring environmental stewardship, social justice, and community engagement while celebrating the Hudson River’s profound cultural and ecological importance.
We will see all of you next year at the Hudson River Music Festival, for Pete’s Sake!
