This weekend people from all over New Mexico and the Southwest will be flocking to the mighty Rio Grande to enjoy one of the oldest river festivals in the Western U.S.  Mother’s Day weekend has always been synonymous with whitewater fun and camaraderie here on the Rio Grande.  This year we have had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm coming from the New Mexico River Outfitters and the great community of private boaters across the state to help organize one of the greatest festivals yet.  There will be three full days of activities to enjoy.  Starting with a great day of river and wilderness interpretive speakers and fun games and prizes at the River Rendezvous on Friday and continuing through the weekend with fun races and events for all ages and a special migratory bird display.  Here is the list of events so please come up and join us for a great weekend on the Rio.  Be sure to stop by the Downriver Kayak race on Sat to say hi to your favorite New Mexico River Adventures guides who will be organizing the event.  Happy Mother’s Day! Friday May 10, 2013 – 9:30-5:00 River Rendezvous- River Guide Orientation $15 per person including lunch from the Pilar Yacht Club $5 a la carte speakers for AM or Afternoon sessions. -Speakers: include Paul Bauer, Associate Director of New Mexico Bureau of Geology at NM Tech; John Bailey, Recreation Director, BLM, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument; Randy Roch, Manager of the BLM Orilla Verde Recreation Area; Brian Shields, Executive Director, Amigos Bravos: Because Water Matters, talks on Birds, Natural History and Archaeology– in progress. -1PM Keynote : Protecting Rivers in a Time of Water Shortage: Rolf Schmidt-Peterson, Rio Grande Bureau Chief, Interstate Stream Commission & Steve Harris, Founder Rio Grande Restoration. -5PM Kayak- SUP- Inflatable Kayak Skills Clinic- Free –4 Corners River Sports, Rio Grande To follow: Evening Rendezvous Mixer: Location: Orilla Verde Recreation Area. TBA Saturday, May 11, 2013 -8 – 10 General Registration. -$20 for the First Race, $10 for each race after, $60 per team of four, Rafting Race. First 100 entrants gets a Festival T-Shirt -9AM – 5PM Free Kayak, Inflatable Kayak, SUP Demos: River Sports River Sports, Durango, CO. sign up, Rio Bravo Camp 9AM Book Signing with Paul Bauer at Rio Bravo Campground -6:30AM – 12:00PM – National Migratory Bird Day: BLM Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center. 6:30 & 9:30AM Guided Bird Walk. 11AM. Reconvene at Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center. Kid’s activities. Live Birds of Prey from Santa Fe Raptors Center. Look for birds in Rio. 9AM Interpretive Hike with BLM Ranger on their new trails in Orilla Verde. Sign up Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center. Highway 64 in Pilar -10AM-3PM: Fly Fishing Demos on the Rio Grande with Professional Guide, Toner Mitchell, Director of Public Lands Outreach, Trout Unlimited. Sign Up Rio Bravo -10AM – Noon: Kayak and Canoe Downriver Race Men’s and Women’s Division Long Boat- 9 feet and above, Short Boat, under 9 feet, prizes for each category, free t-shirt -1PM – 3PM Kayak, Canoe, SUP Slalom -3:30 – 4:30 – Kid and Mom Raft Race – Junction Bridge to Lone Juniper or Lone Juniper to Quartzite take-out, prizes and free festival t-shirt. Find location at Rio Bravo or registration 5PM – 6PM Raft Downriver Race – prizes and free festival t-shirt 6:30-7:30 – Awards at Rio Bravo Sunday May 12th – Mother’s Day -8AM – 12:00PM Pilar Yacht Club, Mother’s Day Benefit Breakfast for NMROA- New Mexico River Outfitter Association: All Welcome 9AM Book signing with Paul Bauer at Pilar Yacht Club Breakfast 9AM – 10AM Free Demos on Kayak, Inflatable Raft and SUP Four Corners River Sports, Durango, CO, sign up at Rio Bravo Campground . Variety of kayaks, inflatable kayaks, SUPS. 9AM – Interpretive Guided Hike with BLM Ranger- Meet at Rio Grande Gorge Visitors Center 10AM – 1PM Paul Bauer: Geological Float on the Rio Grande for River Guide Education. Sign up at Rio Bravo. Space is limited -Noon to 1:30PM – SUP Races Men’s and Women’s Divisions Long Board 11 foot and longer, Short Board under 11 feet. Prizes for each category/t shirt -2 – 4 PM Kayak Rodeo at Sleeping Beauty- National Rodeo Judge: Ken Hovie of Colorado Men’s and Women’s Division – Prizes for each category and free festival t-shirt -2PM-4PM Blue Heron Brewery: Mother’s Day Music and Brews with popular singer, songwriter, Boris McCutheon. Just down road from races on right www.blueheronbrews.com