The River Festival 2024: Creativity and Community
This year’s River Festival in France proved itself to be a magical blend of nature, artistry, and community spirit. It was a real celebration, bringing together a tapestry of river enthusiasts, local residents, artists, musicians, and creatives. Here, we share a little about it...
The day began with a series of immersive experiences that allowed us all to connect with our surroundings and importantly, the river. Together at the River Cafe, everyone shared stories about what rivers mean to them, and if any river stands out to them. One man openly conveyed his story of segregation in the south of America. Growing up unable to use the local swimming pools, every day was spent swimming in the Mississippi instead. It was a moving, turbulent story, much like the river he swam in.
We experienced guided meditations and a “river tuning” workshop which encouraged everyone to sit calmly and ignite their senses; some very tranquil moments of reflection.
Dance was at the heart of the festival, with performances and workshops taking place throughout the day. These took place alongside the river, so that its natural movement could be harnessed and re-created through personal expression.
It wouldn’t be a River Festival without a feast to fill its participants. An Al Fresco lunch featured fresh produce from L’Oasis garden and a selection of field-to-fork dishes to fuel the remainder of the event.
As the sun set, the festivities continued into the night, with local artists and musicians taking centre stage. Looking over the river filled Lac de Montbel, over 100 were seated for dinner at L’Ecume des Jours, with more joining for the celebration and dancing later.
All in all, the River Festival 2024 was a beautiful reminder of the ways in which communities can come together to celebrate rivers, nature, and creativity. We look forward to seeing how this event will continue to evolve and travel across borders.