Merced River Fest Returns April 18 

April 3, 2026 – In a salute to stewards everywhere, the Upper Merced River Watershed Council will host the fourth annual MERCED RIVER FEST at The Grove House on Saturday, April 18, featuring a showing of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

According to Watershed Director Kristina Rylands, “This year’s theme–small actions lead to BIG change–highlights how much we can do when we come together as a community. The Merced became a federally designated Wild and Scenic River in 1987 thanks to a group of passionate locals who refused to see the river diverted. As a small nonprofit, we look to build on the work that started around kitchen tables to rally our community and make sure our river remains protected and free-flowing for future generations.”

For the second year in a row, the Merced River Fest event will host a FREE youth film festival from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. to announce the awards for the Mariposa County STUDENTS ON THE RIVER film contest. This year, 14 local students–ages 9 to 17–submitted short films celebrating the natural world in their backyards. In addition, there will be a showing of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival’s WILD CHILD program with 10 delightful short films suitable for all ages.

In addition to being a volunteer-raiser event, there will be an evening showing of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Eight selected films celebrate the inspiring work of everyday folks who rally others in support of solutions to create lasting change. From a look at what FOREVER means from a child’s view, to the relentless drive of tribal communities to call for the Klamath River’s restoration, the films will bring cheers and possibly some tears.

The Merced River Fest also celebrates the 2026 recipients of the Holly Warner Memorial Watershed Steward scholarship given to selected Mariposa County High School graduating seniors. As a co-founder and decades-long board member of the Watershed Council, Holly Warner was a tireless advocate for protecting the watershed. Selected scholarship recipients share Holly’s love for the watershed and plan to study environmental science in college.

Held at The Grove House in Mariposa, the community is invited to join the Merced River Fest festivities:

• FREE youth film festival from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• A social hour gathering takes place from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. where you can meet with new and old friends while learning more about how to volunteer with the Council. AND you are invited to bring used wearable gear items to consign with The Approach Trading Post for the launch of a gear drive to support the Upper Merced River Watershed Council.
• The Wild & Scenic Film Festival program shows from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
• Rounding out the Merced River Fest fun will be a silent auction and door prizes.

Tickets for the evening film program are $35 (plus fees). In-person program tickets include a video-on-demand link to view the films at home from April 18-24.

If you are unable to make the event, you can purchase a video-on-demand ticket for $20. Details can be found at: www.merced-river.org/mercedriverfest.

This Merced River Fest event is made possible thanks to funding from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management grant.

Sponsors and donors to the Merced River Fest include Zephyr Whitewater, Tenaya Lodge, McGrath Arts, KEEN, Yosemite Bug, Yosemite Pilates, Raw Roots Farm, The Approach Trading Post, Sierra Sown, Mariposa Flower Farm, Sticks Coffee, Chef Zachariah Reese, Sal’s Tacos, 1850, Casto Oaks, Pierce Motor Center Boat Repair, Christina Rouse quilting, Jacqui Radanovich jewelry, Nick Warner in memory of Holly and Miranda Warner, and Margarita King. All proceeds benefit the Upper Merced River Watershed Council.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started in 2003 by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced ‘circle’), a watershed advocacy group based in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild & Scenic status on 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. The films illustrate not only the challenges facing the planet but the work communities are doing to protect the environment and the places they love.

The Upper Merced River Watershed Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Mariposa County whose mission is to protect and enhance the Merced Wild & Scenic River and its watershed through education, stewardship, and partnership-based projects.

To learn more, to volunteer, and to purchase tickets for the film festival, visit: www.merced-river.org and visit Upper Merced River Watershed Council on Facebook.

Stewards of all ages reinvigorate the Upper Merced River Watershed Council’s water quality monitoring program and help with river and roadside cleanups. Learn how to sign up at: www.merced-river.org/volunteer.

Source & photo: Upper Merced River Watershed Council