The American shad’s importance to the region—and the region’s importance to the fish—is the hoped-for foundation of a new regional celebration.
Titled “Festival of the Founding Fish: Upper Delaware Shadfest 2020,” the festival will take place from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22 in towns up and down the New York side of the Upper Delaware River.
Shadfest plans to bring together communities along across the region, celebrating shad and drawing tourists here. It has three ticketed tentpole events: a “Shad Shindig” in the evening of May 21 at Fort Delaware, with musical acts and shad food tasting prepared by chef Annika Sunduk of Nordic Preserves; a performance by Mike “Rocket Train” Edison and a screening of the features “Shad Run” and “A River Runs Through It,” held the morning of May 22 at the Callicoon Theater; and the “End of Shad Run Disco” at the Tusten Theatre that evening, with music headliner Say She She.
Check out those events, and the rest of the regional festivities, in the guide below. For tickets, visit https://myrivertickets.com/
Friday, May 20: Let the festivities begin!
2 - 9pm @ Hancock Town Square
Hancock Opening Event
2 - 6pm @ Hancock Town Square
Fish Festival & Fair (Fair/Food Vendors)
3 - 4pm @ Hancock Town Square
Children’s Fish-Themed Art Painting Class
Sponsored by Hancock Arts Alliance/HCEF
5 - 8pm @ Foundry 42
Port Jervis Opening Festivities
Hosted by Actor, Activist, and Author Amber Tamblyn, Music By Wiggle Room, cash bar, food and more
Music by Wiggle Room, Cash Bar, Live Performances, Food and More
42 Front Street Port Jervis, NY
FREE EVENT
6 - 8pm @ Hancock Town Square
Live Music Showcase
Mix of local bands playing
8 - 9pm @ Hancock Town Square
Moonlight Movie Night
“Shad Run” and “A River Runs Through It”
20 E Main St, Hancock, NY
FREE EVENTS
Saturday, May 21: World fish migration day
10am - 2pm @ Upper Delaware River
National Park Service Shad Viewing Float
Pre-registration and own canoes or kayak are required: don_hamilton @ nps.gov.
6-mile river paddle to observe migrating American shad, learn about their natural history and ecology.
10am - 2pm @ Hancock Town Square
Hancock Farmer’s Market
20 E Main St, Hancock, NY
Sponsored by Hancock Chamber of Commerce
10am - 1pm @ Barryville Farmers Market
Farmers Market & More
Brian Dougherty Acoustic Duo, Shadfest 2022 Celebrity Chef Annika Sundvik of Nordic Preserves Fish and Wildlife Company demonstrates SHAD preparations and samplings, NPS Talk on Shad, Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce Flotilla Raft River Race and Reber’s River Tours.
3401 Route 97, Barryville NY
FREE EVENT
10 am - 5pm @ Fort Delaware Museum
Grand Re-Opening
Period-dressed living historians depict colonial life in the Upper Delaware River Valley, Colonial music provided by reenactor Linda Russell (formerly of Federal Hall), discussion and book signing of “Patriots and Spies” by author A.J. Schenkman, and Sullivan County Historian John Conway tells the history of shad in the Delaware River and the story of how “The Founding Fish” saved America. General Admission: $10; Family Pass (up to 4 family members): $25, Military/Seniors/College Students with ID: $7, Children under 5: Free
10am - 12pm @ Cochecton Preservation Society
Shad Poster Contest for Students
The historic Cochecton Erie Depot Train Station on Route 97 hosts a Shad Poster Contest for students, judging at noon. Prizes awarded and refreshments available for purchase. Tours upon request until 4:00pm.
8537 Route 97, Cochecton, NY
FREE EVENT
11am - 12pm @ Foundry42
Children’s Fishy Story Time
42 Front Street Port Jervis, NY
FREE EVENT
Noon - 2pm @ Hancock Town Square
Flyfishing Camp educational programming
Sponsored by Friends of the Upper Delaware
12 - 4pm @ Barryville General
BG Down By The River
Music by Lacey Gutekunst, The River Ramblers
12 - 4pm @ Barryville General
One Grand book signing
With Melissa Gilbert and her new book, “Back to the Prairie”
12 - 3pm @ Barryville General
Zane Grey Plein Air Demonstration
2 - 3pm @ Barryville
Shad Fishing Demonstration by Andy Boyar
3385 NY-97, Barryville, NY
FREE EVENT
2 - 4pm @ Hancock Capitol Theatre
”A River Runs Through It” & “Shad Run”
170 E Front St Hancock NY
All Day: 2022 Hancock Art Walk, All Month: Flora, Fauna & Fish outdoor exhibit
2 - 4pm @ The Outpost
S-Scape to The Outpost
Special complimentary menu, The OutPost Live Goldfish Ping Pong Game
2378 NY-97, Pond Eddy, NY
FREE EVENT
6 - 10pm @ Fort Delaware Museum
Shad Shindig!
Music headliners Super Yamba, Dance party by DJ Shãno and DJ Buck Shad. Shad Food Tastings by Shadfest Celebrity Chef Annika Sundvik of Nordic Preserves. Additional food for purchase by General Jerk and cash bar by Stickett Inn Cider. Production by Brown and Jackson Productions.
6615 NY-97, Narrowsburg, NY
TICKETED EVENT $25*
Sunday, May 22: End of the run
10am - 2pm @ Callicoon Theater
Gospel from the Garage at Callicoon Theater
Brunch by Grizzly Bagels & Two Queens Coffee, “Gospel from the Garage” by Mike “Rocket Train” Edison, “Shad Run” short feature, and “A River Runs Through It” (1992 film starring Brad Pitt)
30 Upper Main St, Callicoon, NY
TICKETED EVENT $25*
10am - 5pm @ Fort Delaware Museum
Colonial Living History Demonstrations
Fort Delaware Museum continues its living history demonstrations featuring Native American and colonial American fishing and preservation of shad.
1 - 2pm @ Fort Delaware Museum
Car Show
Members of the Catskill Classic Car Club will cruise into the parking lot to display and discuss their rides.
2 - 3pm @ Fort Delaware Museum
History Lesson
Sullivan County Historian John Conway will talk about the 1950s-60s phenomenon of roadside attractions that grew up along U.S. highways such as Route 66 and how the creation of Fort Delaware fit into that model.
General Admission: $10; Family Pass (up to 4 family members): $25, Military/Seniors/College Students with ID: $7, Children under 5: Free
6615 NY-97, Narrowsburg, NY
2 - 4pm @ Hancock Capitol Theatre
Movies
“A River Runs Through It” & “Shad Run”
2 - 6pm @ Hancock Town Square
Fish Festival & Fair
20 E Main St, Hancock, NY
6 - 8pm @ Hancock Town Square
Live Music Showcase
(All Day) 2022 Hancock Art Walk
All Month: Flora, Fauna & Fish, outdoor exhibit
Sponsored by Campton’s Art Gallery, 169 E Front St. Hancock, NY
6 - 10pm @ Tusten Theater
End Of The Shad Run Disco
Music headliners Say She She, Dance Party x Salinger, readings of John McPhee’s works by One Grand Books, Bar by Stickett Inn. Grand Prize Winner Of Play Airlines Iceland Trip announced.
210 Bridge St, Narrowsburg, NY
TICKETED EVENT $25*
*All ticket holders for paid events are entered into a raffle to win a trip for two to Reykjavik, Iceland, compliments of PLAY Airlines. Flight from Stewart Airport.
The River Reporter runs My River Tickets, the ticketing platform that Shadfest is using for its ticketed events.
Narrowsburg
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