Big names and a pow wow at Festival of the River

Enjoy live music, a pow wow, children's entertainment at free Festival of the River
By Gale Fiege, Herald Writer

ARLINGTON -- People attending this weekend's Festival of the River can see some top entertainment for only the price of parking -- $5.

Guitarist Dave Mason and New Orleans bluesman Dr. John perform tonight. Well-known Canadian First Nations singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead fame and the popular Los Lonely Boys play Saturday evening, and country music stars Jana Kramer, Brett Eldridge and Lee Brice take the stage on Sunday.

In addition, the festival features a pow wow with dancing and drumming by tribal groups from throughout the region, environmental exhibits and interpretive walks, a logging show, lots of children's entertainment and activities, performances by the New Old Time Chautauqua circus troupe and sales of American Indian crafts, traditional alder-baked salmon dinner and other food.

The Stillaguamish Tribe's 23rd annual Festival of the River is from about noon to 10 p.m. or so today through Sunday at River Meadows County Park, 20416 Jordan Road, between Arlington and Granite Falls.

The free event, which is suitable for families (no alcohol allowed), seeks to honor the environment and native cultures, said festival coordinator Franchesca Perez.

The mission of the festival is to help people who live and work in the Stillaguamish River watershed understand how their actions can help make their environment cleaner for people, fish and wildlife, Perez said.
Article Originally Published at http://www.heraldnet.com/
More information is available at www.festivaloftheriver.com.

John Jackson, 23, from La Push, dances in traditional clothing during the Pow Wow at the Stillaguamish Festival of the River