Waltham’s Riverfest falls through

Riverfest, an annual local arts, music and cultural festival, is not being held this year.

The reason: the lack of a lead organizer.

The festival, which had been a fixture on Moody Street since 2009, is run in part by the nonprofit Downtown Waltham Partnership.

However, the event requires another nonprofit to act as a lead organizer, organizing volunteers, fundraising and coordinating with the artists, musicians and local vendors who want to participate, according to Doug Waybright, vice president of the Downtown Waltham Partnership.

The lead organizer also must obtain approval from the city’s Traffic Commission to close Moody Street.

But no group emerged as lead organizer this year.

Robin Capello, founder of Watch City Arts, a local nonprofit, had tried to take on that role but pulled back from the effort following a back-and-forth with city leaders over what was needed to plan the event.

Capello sent a proposal to run Riverfest to the city’s Traffic Commission on Oct. 1, 2024. In it, she requested that the city close Moody Street for three days, from June 20 to June 22. In the past, the festival was a two-day event.

Under the proposal, Moody Street would be closed from Ash to Orange Street on Friday, June 20, and from Chestnut to Spruce Street on Saturday, June 21, had the event happened this month.

However, Capello rescinded her proposal on Oct. 17, 2024.

Capello said in a June 2 interview with The Waltham Times that Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris asked her to withdraw the request because a meeting was never set up with her and Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan. Harris and Logan represent the areas where the festival would have taken place.

Harris disputed this claim, telling The Times on June 10 that she simply requested that a meeting be held to discuss the potential impact that the event could have on surrounding neighborhoods. She said she did not tell Capello to withdraw her request.

Logan said much the same in a June 11 interview with The Times.

“The only reason that we get involved at all is because it affects the neighborhood and the area that we represent, just to make sure that there aren’t any unintended consequences or unforeseen problems,” said Logan.

Harris said that in the past a meeting between city councilors, the Downtown Waltham Partnership, the lead organizer and the city’s Chamber of Commerce would happen before any petitions were submitted to the Traffic Commission so that any potential impacts to residents could be addressed.

Such a meeting is not an official requirement for prospective organizers for Riverfest, but given the request to extend the event to three days and close roads, the councilors felt it was reasonable to request the meeting. 

Requested street closures of concern

On Oct. 24, 2024, Capello sent an email to the Traffic Commission, asking about next steps.

Frank Lombardo, the clerk of the Traffic Commission, responded, saying that the closures of those sections of Moody Street on Friday and Saturday were not typically granted for Riverfest and were an area of concern to Michael Garvin, the city’s senior traffic engineer. He also noted that there was no official requirement for the involvement of city councilors in decisions made by the Traffic Commission.

A report written by Garvin for the Traffic Commission detailed these concerns, noting that residents of one-way side roads off Moody Street would be unable to enter or exit their streets during the closures. Wadsworth Avenue and Brown, Cushing and Taylor streets would be affected. The Traffic Commission also suggested that Capello set up a meeting with Garvin to discuss these issues.

Capello said that her proposal would allow Watch City Arts to achieve its mission of bringing tourism to the city while creating spaces for local artists and musicians to share their work.

Without three days for the festival, Capello explained, Watch City Arts couldn’t effectively fulfill this goal. 

Capello ultimately decided to drop out as a potential lead organizer in April of this year, due to what she felt was a lack of support for the three-day festival and what she described as “political pushback.”

An organizer is needed for next year

Waybright said that as of now no lead organizer has stepped in to organize Riverfest for 2025 and now the Downtown Waltham Partnership is anxious to find an organizer for next year.

“Maybe we could find somebody, but we’ve got to start looking now,” he said.

Waybright said that once a lead organizer is found, the planning process for the festival typically takes six months, so time is of the essence.

Both Harris and Logan also voiced support for reviving Riverfest for next year.

Still, that’s not much comfort for those who are missing Riverfest now.

“I was quite disappointed because it was a highlight of the year,” said jazz guitarist Gerry Boudoin, who has performed at multiple Riverfests.

Boudoin said he enjoyed getting a chance to share his music with his hometown.

“I think people missed out on the community part of it, the great music and learning about all the vendors that do the event,” he said.