Riverfront Park will be a hub of outdoor activity on Saturday, May 21, with several events happening throughout the day.  The day will begin with people able to borrow a bike for free or rent a boat, followed by group paddling trips on the river, then there will be a celebration for the new Take It Outdoors location, and the final event of the night will be an Outdoor Film Festival.

Outdoor Film Festival at 8:30 p.m.

People can bring their own blankets, chairs and snacks to the Outdoor Film Festival at the park on Saturday, which will include a Sly Fox Brewery beer garden.

The theater experience in nature will be a showing of award-winning films about real people and exciting paddling adventures. This is the third year the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area has hosted the outdoor movie event, but the first year it’s being held at Riverfront Park in Pottstown. Attendees will be able to get comfortable on the grass to watch the films from a large outdoor screen. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. and check-in starts at 7:30 p.m.

“Schuylkill River Greenways is excited to bring this international film festival to Pottstown once again. The thrilling paddling stories show how the outdoor activity helps people form true connections to nature. Those who are motivated to get paddling after the festival have many opportunities available to them through the Schuylkill River,” said Schuylkill River Greenways Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer. 

The family-friendly festival is the perfect way to enjoy an evening outside. Free popcorn and raffle prizes will be available. Children ages 5 and under can attend for free and the cost is $5 for kids ages 6 to 12. Adults can buy one ticket for $15 or save $5 by buying two tickets for $25. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or in-person the day of the event.

For more information, visit here.

Group Paddling Trips with Shuttle Service Begin at 4 p.m.

People can add a pre-show paddling trip to their film festival ticket order. Participants of the paddling trips will start at Riverfront Park, be shuttled to the start location of either Union Township or Ganshahawny Park, then paddle on the river back to the park. The cost of the shuttle is $10 per person. The trip start times are 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. People can either bring their own boat or rent a boat from Take It Outdoors Adventures on Saturday.

Take It Outdoors Grand Opening at 7:45 p.m.

Right before the film festival, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Take It Outdoors Recreation Hub at 7:45 p.m. Saturday. The recreation company moved to its new location this spring and are now conveniently located along the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park in Pottstown. The outfitter and service provider will operate out of a storefront made from retrofitted shipping containers. Take It Outdoors services include kayak and canoe rentals, shuttles, a free bike share, group events, guided trips, and educational programming.

The company is opening for the season beginning this weekend. Take It Outdoors will be open for business, including walk-ups, this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Pottstown Riverfront Park is a regional hub for outdoor experiences along the Schuylkill. The relocated Take It Outdoors will make it even easier for people to enjoy the trail and river through team building opportunities, bike maintenance programs and much more,” said Schuylkill River Greenways Deputy Director Tim Fenchel.

“It’s nice that our location now has easy access to both the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail,” said Take It Outdoors Director Noah Phillips. “We’re also walking distance from downtown Pottstown.”

The new Take It Outdoors storefront features a large map of the Schuylkill River to help people plan their trip. Renovations will continue through the spring and summer. Eventually there will also be a large map of the Schuylkill River Trail and a selfie wall for participants to use as a background during photos.

For more information about Take It Outdoors, visit here.

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