A FISH MIGRATION CELEBRATION!
Each spring, the Charles River becomes a vital spawning ground for diadromous fish species such as the Alewife, Blueback Herring, American Shad, and Rainbow Smelt. These fish are key players in the local ecosystem and are a historical representation of Indigenous food sovereignty and cultural ways of life. Join us for our annual celebration of fish migration to honor the herring with an afternoon of free, family fun!
This year, we are also premiering a community artwork titled “River Run”, developed in collaboration with muralist Sophy Tuttle. This piece is inspired and informed by the Indigenous experience with dams, including Watertown Dam, and the negative impacts they caused. Additionally, it is shaped by the community contributions from Herring Festival 2025, and the fish scales attendees decorated and installed on the large-scale Herring poster. The project was made possible by Watertown’s Edible Watertown Grant – Expert Pairings program, and we look forward to sharing it with you all!
Enjoy the spring weather, watch the fish migrate up the fish ladder, participate in a community art project, and eat from local food vendors! This year we also encourage you to bring a cotton t-shirt, tote bag, or other clothes to make your very own print design at one of our art booths!
Register here!
Activities
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Performances and talk from the Wampanoag singers and dancers
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Print your own clothes (Please bring cotton or canvas clothing to print on!)
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Make your own fish hats
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Face painting
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Fishing demonstration
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Local food from farmers’ market vendors
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Dam tours, hosted by CRWA River Restoration Director Lisa Kumpf, speaking to Watertown Dam and the challenges it faces.
