View More Events


Potomac River Festival

71st Annual! June 10 - 12, 2022

2022 Schedule:

  • Wednesday, June 8
    Normally the Carnival would be on Town Hill thru Sunday, but just like last year it will not be taking place during 2022s event.

  • Friday, June 10
    6:00 p.m. ArtWalk until 9pm
    7:30 p.m. Fire/Rescue Parade. Begins on Colonial Avenue, turns onto Washington Ave.
    Miss Colonial Beach Pageant on Town Stage after the fire/rescue parade.
  • Saturday, June 11
    10:00 a.m. Pirate's Grotto, Kids Zone, Arts & Crafts Vendors and Food Vendors on Town Hill and the Boardwalk until 4pm.
    12:00 p.m. Grand Feature Parade on Colonial & Washington Avenues

    9:00 p.m. (approximately) Fireworks

  • Sunday, June 12 - All events canceled due to inclement weather.
    10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Vendors on Town Hill and the Boardwalk
    11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Kids' Zone on Town Hill
    12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Pony rides on Town Hill
    1:00 p.m. Boat Parade. - CANCELLED - Great views of the parade from The Riverboat's outdoor deck or from the Municipal Pier.
    2:00 p.m. Pet Parade on Town Stage


    The annual Potomac River Festival is in its 71st year in Colonial Beach. It's a weekend-long event taking place the second weekend each June with fun for the whole family.
    The gentle river breezes and warm sunshine make for a great time as you take in all the fun-filled events, sights and sounds of this wonderful event, sponsored by the Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce.

    2020s event was postponed until 2021

    Potomac River Festival Logo

    Potomac River Festival Events

    The was a Carnival that usually arrived on the Wednesday before Festival weekend. This event halted since 2020, sadly.

    Friday

    The Potomac River Festival usually kicks off at 7:30pm with the Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire/Rescue Parade. Units from all around the region join in. If you've never been, you should know that it's quite a sight, as well as quite an earful! Those engines will have their horns and sirens blaring, and lights flashing. Here's the video from 2015's parade:

    More video clips can be found on our YouTube Channel. The Miss Colonial Beach Pageant typically also takes place during the Friday evening festivities, but has been known to be held on Saturday.

    Saturday

    Vendors on Town Hill and along the Boardwalk open their booths at 10:00am until 5:00pm. You'll find various vendors with all sorts of wares such as clothing, food, art, jewelry, wood sculptures, yard ornaments, furniture, antiques, sewn items, dolls, candles and other knick-knacks. Here's a tip: Buy it when you see it, because if you come back for it later, you won't be able to find it.

    DJ on Town Hill provides music for your listening pleasure. Heck, you can even get up and dance if you feel like it. Oftentimes, line dancing will take place and it's a blast!

    Grand Feature Parade and entertainment and is so much fun! You'll see some great groups and floats as they make their way through the streets from their beginning point, usually at the High School

    Click or Tap here for parade pictures

    Sometimes live bands on Town Stage provide the music for an enjoyable afternoon and evening concert.

    A grand display of Fireworks cap off a great day of festival fun and usually begin at 9:00pm. Get there early as the beach area fills up quick! There's always a good turnout for this event because Colonial Beach always puts on a great fireworks show. I sometimes park near the Truist bank branch and walk a few blocks. It's a good idea to bring chairs or a blanket to set down - especially if you're in the sandy part of the beach area. A flashlight is also helpful.

    Sunday

    The vendors usually open their booths at 10:00am and will last until 4:00pm.

    Colonial Beach Yacht Club puts on a Boat Parade travels from Monroe Bay up past the Town Pier, to the Riverboat and back. Get your cameras ready for all the beautiful boats as they float by.

    Pet Parade usually begins at 2:00pm at the town stage. Ponder pretty pooches prancing past parade participants. It is so cute to see all these dogs, some in costume, some performing tricks. Of course there's judging and your dog may even win a prize! Here are some pictures from the 2010 pet parade


    2014's Potomac River Festival took place June 6 - 8
    2013's event notes: 62nd Annual Potomac River Festival

    June 7 - 9, 2013
    Grand Marshal for the Grand Feature Parade: TORREY SMITH
    of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens
    parade theme: Hometown Heroes The Miss Colonial Beach pageant was rescheduled to Saturday, June 8th due to a tropical storm.
    The Friday night Firemen's Parade was moved to Saturday and was a part of the Grand Feature Parade.


  • Friday, June 7, 2019
    10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. There were Deck tours of the historic sailboat Edna E. Lockwood at the Municipal Pier.


    Return from Potomac River Festival to Events


    Return to the Home page

    New! Comments

    Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
    Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

    Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

    1. Click on the HTML link code below.
    2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

    Connect with us:

    Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions - Blog RSS
    Twitter Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions
    Facebook Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions
    LinkedIn Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions
    Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions - YouTube
    Flickr Photos - Colonial Beach Virginia Attractions
    Follow Us on Pinterest
    View ColBchVAttracts's profile on slideshare
    Virginia Is For Lovers logo