By Kylie Keppler
The Willamette River has always felt like the heart of our neighborhood. It’s where people walk their dogs, ride their bikes, slow down after a long day, and reconnect with nature. For our family, it’s one of our favorite places to spend time together. My partner and I often take our daughter down to the river to wander along the bank to search for little critters and unusual rocks while the water rushes by. There’s something about being there that makes everything else feel a little quieter.
So when we heard about the 2025 River Celebration hosted by the River Road Community Organization (RRCO), we knew we wanted to go. It sounded like the perfect excuse to spend a sunny afternoon outside and a way to meet other people who care about this special place as much as we do.
The River Celebration turned out to be exactly that. We wandered between booths, learning about native plants, permaculture, and many local organizations doing great work in our community. People gathered under the trees to play music, swap ideas, and strike up conversations with neighbors they hadn’t met before. Meanwhile, our daughter happily made a bookmark at the Santa Clara-River Road Volunteer Library table before running off with a group of other kids to chase bubbles along the bike path. It was one of those afternoons that reminded us how lucky we are to call River Road home.
If you’ve never been to the River Celebration, I hope you’ll join us this year! It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the river that connects our neighborhood, meet your neighbors, and discover the many people and organizations working to keep this place thriving. This year, a children’s parade and a maker space show-and-tell will be added to this wholesome family event.
This year the fourth annual RRCO River Celebration will be held on Sunday, September 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along the Willamette Greenway Path, stretching from Filbert Grove (McClure & Stults) to Rasor Park. Bring your family, bring a friend, or simply come enjoy a walk along the river. We’d love to see you there.