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2025 Herring Festival

  • 64 Pleasant Street Watertown, MA, 02472 United States (map)

A FISH MIGRATION CELEBRATION!

Each spring, the Charles River becomes a vital spawning ground for diadromous fish species such as the Alewife, Blueback Herring, and American Shad. These fish, beyond their cultural significance, are key players in the ecosystem.

Join us for our annual celebration of fish migration for an afternoon of free, family fun! 

Enjoy the summer weather, watch the fish migrate up the fish ladder, and participate in a community art build! Grab a bite from the Chicken and Rice Guys Food Truck or a refreshing scoop from the Frostee Ice Cream Truck. CRWA Senior Restoration Manager Lisa Kumpf will host dam tours for anyone interested in learning more about the Watertown Dam and the challenges it faces.

PLEASE NOTE: To enter the Festival space, please navigate to DCR’s Dealtry Memorial Pool Parking.


Event Booths

Community Art Build
Join local artists to create, share, and celebrate your dreams for a healthy, resilient Charles River.

  • Quinobequin Review with Bea Pugeda

  • Face Painting with Elizabeth Stone

  • Linocut Stamp Printing with CRWA

  • Coloring Station with CRWA

  • Fish Hat Making with CRWA 

Dam Trivia
Test your knowledge of fish, the Charles River, and dams in the Charles River watershed to win prizes.

Trout Unlimited Fly Casting Lessons
Learn how to fly cast with Mike Yeomans from Trout Unlimited

MA Division of Marine Fisheries
Ever wonder how a fish ladder works? Learn about the herring run and fish migration with
a Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries diadromous fish biologist,

Watershed in a Box
Our biggest hit with children and families is “Watershed in a Box!” Join X-Cel Education graduates and X-Cel Education Program Director Lisa Holden for a hands-on demonstration that shows how our watershed works! The unique model teaches kids the importance of nature, the different kinds of pollution, and how we are all interconnected.


Agenda

11:00 AM
11:30 AM

1:00 PM
2:00 PM
2:15 PM

3:00 PM

Registration Opens & Event Begins!
Watertown Dam Tour  (First of two with CRWA’s Senior Restoration Program Manager, Lisa Kumpf)
Watertown Dam Tour
Art Build Fish Parade
Speaking Program (Between the Registration table and the Community Art Build in the circle near the parking lot.)
Event Concludes


Fish migration is hindered by defunct dams, leading to a decline in their populations. The Watertown Dam removal project is a crucial step towards restoring their habitat and supporting biodiversity in the river. The 2016 inspection report deemed the Watertown Dam in "poor" condition. CRWA, in collaboration with the Department of Ecological Restoration, conducted the Watertown Dam Removal Feasibility Study, released in June 2021, demonstrating the urgency and feasibility of removing the dam and restoring the river.

To learn why removing defunct dams is critical to restoring the Charles, explore this StoryMap >

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May 3

Where Does the Stormwater Go? Walk and Talk

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May 19

Restoration Walk at Crystal Lake