Celebrate the Mississippi River Gorge at the annual Longfellow River Gorge Festival! This family-friendly, community celebration will include free ice cream and popsicles, canoe rides, live music and naturalist tours.

Our Gorge Leadership Team will lead walking tours of the nearby oak savanna so you can see the progress of recent restoration at this site. there will be live music throughout the day from local musicians.  The National Park Service Ranger Interactive Station will be by the Sand Flats to provide hands on learning about water quality, mussels, and macro-invertebrates. Find informational booths, ice cream and nature tours by the parking lot north of 36th Street and West River Parkway. Find the boat tours and naturalist activities at Longfellow Beach.

Schedule for Naturalist Tours in restored Oak Savanna
(these walking tours last 45 to 60 minutes and start at Event Headquarters – next to the overlook, tables, and music area 1 block north of 36th st and the West River Parkway.  The path is not very strenuous, but includes mostly unpaved dirt trails and some hills and stairs)

Friendly Green Stage

12pm: Opening Ceremony

12:30-1pm:  Bass & Fife, Jazz/Pop Instrumentals
As Bass & Fife, John (upright bass) and Amy (flute) play jazz and pop standards ranging from Gershwin to Van Morrison, along with some Celtic songs in the mix. John began playing tuba in NE Jr. High and bass in North High schools. He’s played electric bass with local bands Lemongrass (92′-97′) and Trampoline (2000-current). He has lived in Minneapolis his entire life, currently residing in the North Loop. Amy began playing flute in middle school and also bass and guitar in high school jazz bands. She’s played flute in the U of M Marching Band (96′-97′) and local quintet Winds Out of the Northeast (2016-current). Originally from west central Minnesota, she has lived in Minneapolis for over 25 years, and now resides in South Minneapolis. Currently, both John and Amy are members of the Northeast Community Band located in NE Minneapolis.

1:15-1:45pm:  Women’s Drum Center
The Women’s Drum Center is a volunteer-based organization. Its structure has a Board of Directors, committees, part-time contracted staff, and volunteers. The center functions as a community center for women/girls and drumming, and supports participants by having both all-female as well as co-ed programs.The programs include many drum types and styles of drumming and percussion from around the world along with programs that use the drum for health and healing. Programs are done both at the Center and at other locations that contract with WDC for services. e.g. daycare centers, senior centers, schools, churches. The Center is also home to a performing ensemble named drumHeart.

2:15-2:45pm:  The Tom O’Bedlam, Singer-Songwriter

3-4pm:  Juliet and the Montagues, Jazz Originals and Beloved Classics

Check out the map to find the event headquarters (and free ice cream), canoe and row boat rides, parking, musical acts, and nature tours. We’ll have copies of the map at the event too!

Want to help us make this event as great as possible? We’re looking for neighbors to help us make things run smoothly. Sign up to get involved!

If you have any questions about the festival email .