Haw River Festival
2026 Haw River Festival Was A Success!
Thank you to everyone who attended our 2026 Haw River Festival on May 2 as we kicked off Saturdays in Saxapahaw! Since 1990, the Haw River Festival is an annual event that serves as a fundraiser for Haw River Assembly and includes live music, a farmers’ market, a silent auction, a kayak raffle, and (weather permitting) – a river walk, river monitoring, and a puppet parade in Saxapahaw, NC!
The Haw River Festival is held on the first Saturday of May, so stay tuned for more information as we gear up for our 2027 Haw River Festival. Would you like to donate a silent auction item or volunteer for the festival? Email events@hawriver.org for more information!
Volunteers Needed for 2027!
Join our volunteer team to help us set up the festival, work at one of our booths or activities, or help us break down at the end. Email events@hawriver.org for more details!
If you want to be a festival vendor, you can contact Haw River Ballroom.
2026 HAW RIVER FESTIVAL AND KICKOFF FOR SATURDAYS IN SAXAPAHAW
MAY 2, 2026 4-8PM
We are so excited about this year’s Haw River Festival! We will help kickoff Saturdays in Saxapahaw with live music from Jasmé Kelly, The Spectacles and the New Potatoes, a giant puppet parade from Paperhand Puppets, stand-up paddleboard raffle, canoe rides for kids, stream monitoring, river walk, food trucks and farmers market!
Buy a chance to win an inflatable paddle board from Great Outdoor Provision! The winner of the "Weekender" inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board + $200 gift card will be announced at the Festival on May 2 before 8:00pm. You do not have to be present to win.
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the festival.
Our deepest gratitude to the village of Saxapahaw and especially Haw River Ballroom, Paperhand Puppet Project and Haw River Canoe and Kayak for making this such an amazing event with us every year!
This year, our auction is bigger than ever, so we’re putting some of our biggest and best items online for a full week before the festival.
Bidding for the online auction is open now and closes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 3.
And don’t worry...we’ll still have some incredible arts and crafts available in the in-person auction during the festival!
2026 Haw River Festival
4 - 8 p.m. FREE!
On Stage: (approximate times)
New Potatoes 4:15 to 5:10 p.m., Jasme Kelly
5:30 to 6:15 p.m., The Spectacles 6:45 to 8:00 p.m.
Around the Festival
4:30 p.m. Hike led by Almetta Fearrington (meet on Saxapahaw Island)
4 - 6 p.m. River Monitoring & finding river critters (on Saxapahaw Island)
4:00 - 6:30 p.m. Short Canoe Rides for kids (12 & under) Cross over the road to the old Paperhand Puppet Studio and walk the trail to the Saxaphaw Lake Paddle access.
5:45 p.m. Gather to take part in Puppet Parade at the old Paperhand Puppet Studio. The parade starts around 6:15 pm.
4 - 7:15 p.m. Silent Auction on tables behind the stage. Beautiful arts and crafts, event tickets, massage certificates and more! Closing bids at 7:15 pm. Check for winning bids and make payment at the auction table.
7:45 p.m. Raffle Drawing for Paddle Board $5 tickets on sale beside the HRA tent. You don’t have to be present to win.
All Day:
Farmer's Market - local produce and more! Haw River Assembly T-shirts under the Himalayan tent! Learn about river issues at the HRA membership table! Delicious Food and drinks for sale at food trucks, farmers' markets, and at The Eddy, Cup 22, and Saxapahaw General Store!
BIG THANKS to everyone for helping the Haw River Assembly raise consciousness and funds to protect the river! Thanks to the bands, auction and raffle donors, and volunteers! Thanks for the special help from Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co., Paperhand Puppets, and "Saturdays in Saxapahaw".
The Haw River Festival would not be possible without our volunteers, donors, and local Saxapahaw businesses! A special thank you to:
*Haw River Ballroom is allowing us to have the festival as part of their Saturdays in Saxapahaw series and donating all access tickets to our silent auction!
*Haw River Canoe & Kayak for providing free canoe rides for children!
*Great Outdoor Provision of Chapel Hill for donating a paddle board for the raffle!
*Saxapahaw General Store, thank you for allowing us to display our paddle board!
Haw River Activity Locations
Stage: Main Festival Area – with Music Stage, Farmer’s Market, Haw River Assembly booths, silent auction, kayak raffle, food trucks and kids activities.
Kid Canoe Rides: Voyager Canoe rides for kids age 12 and under. Meet at Haw River Canoe and Kayak office on Saxapahaw Lake.
Puppet Parade: Meet at old Paperhand Puppet Studio, if you’d like to take part in the Puppet Parade. All are welcome!
Saxapahaw Island: Use the pedestrian walkway on the bridge across the Haw to Saxapahaw Island Park – then follow signs on the island to take part in River Monitoring from 4 – 6 pm. All ages welcome!