Kern River Parkway Festival ready to make a splash

Returning a flowing river to Bakersfield has been the mission of Bring Back the Kern since its inception in 2020.

Efforts of the subcommittee, part of the Kern River Parkway Foundation, have included the "Flow" art installation, "The Mighty Kern River" children's book collaboration, Thirsty for a River campaign with local breweries and a march in the then-dry riverbed in 2021.

Now the group aims to bring the community together in celebration on Saturday for the first-ever Kern River Parkway Festival at The Park at River Walk.

"With water in the Kern River for more than a year now, we wanted to celebrate that we have a river and draw attention to how important it is for Bakersfield to have a flowing river for quality of life, aesthetics, recreation, and wildlife," Matt Mayry, a Bring Back the Kern committee member, wrote in an email.

Aiming to get people out by the river enjoying the Kern River Parkway, the event will include a variety of conservation-minded groups, activities and interactive exhibits, food vendors and a beer garden.

"The river and the parks along it should be fun, so we think bringing different enjoyable things for people to do, buy, eat, and learn is a great way to get people outside along the river," he wrote. "We have a wide range of nonprofits represented in the festival that all do conservation-, advocacy-, or recreational access-related work."

Organizations and nonprofits taking part include the Kern River Conservancy, Kern Audubon Society, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Native Plant Society, Kern Gateway Trail, White Wolf Wellness Foundation at Camp Okihi, Kern Nature Center, Panorama Vista Preserve and the Wildlands Conservancy at Wind Wolves Preserve.

Along with information, booths will offer ways for attendees to engage including taking a quiz for a prize or getting dressed up to take a selfie.

The Tule Elk Preserve will also take part, bringing animal pelts that children can touch and offering information on the elk and other local wildlife.

Cal State Bakersfield's Sustainability Club is expected to have interactive debris, microplastics and macroinvertebrates exhibits.

Members of the Kern River Fly Fishers Club will show attendees how to cast a fly rod.

A group of local plein air artists will also paint along the river inviting people to stop by and watch, Mayry said.

There will be plenty of food and beverages for sale from vendors such as Hopeful Harvest Acai, Howie's Micheladas, What Kim Craves Charcuterie, Lemon Maid Lemonade, Babmokja Korean BBQ, Oh, Boy! Po'Boy!, Brazil Hot Dogs, El Churro Guy, Anna Luisa's Kitchen, Get It Twisted, Hills Smokehouse Grill, Tacos La Fiesta, Ninja Sushi, Philly’s Best Cheesesteak, and Simply Freeze Dried.

Temblor Brewing Co. is sponsoring the beer garden where festival-goers 21 and older can purchase brews in custom Bring Back the Kern metal cups.

There will also be a raffle with more than $3,000 in prizes, all of which offer an entry point to "explore new activities locally, all in a safe and fun way," Mayry said.

Prizes include a new electric bike from Action Sports, electric bike rentals from Pedego on the Parkway, Grizzly Cycles bike tune-ups, family-friendly beginner raft float trips from Rivers End Rafting in Bakersfield, Cope's Tackle & Rod Shop gift card, Guy Jeans beginner fly fishing course in the Sierras, beginner rock climbing or other activity with Sierra South, and Whitewater Voyages entry-level rafting.

Tickets, ranging from one for $1 to 40 for $100, will only be available at the event, with the drawing held at 4:30 p.m. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Along with continuing to advocate for keeping water in the river, Bring Back the Kern aims to make the festival an annual event, with even more on tap for next year.

Mayry wrote, "Bakersfield is a river city and we look forward to making this an annual celebration of the Kern River as a key part of life in Bakersfield."