Since 1980, the Yampa River Festival has been the Friends of the Yampa’s signature event to raise awareness about the wild Yampa River. As predictable as the snow melting every spring, this annual River Fest is held the weekend after Memorial Day, typically on the same weekend as the Steamboat Marathon. Over the years, the festival has evolved to include a variety of recreational events in and around the river as well as parties, fundraisers and speaking functions, with the main event taking place all day on Saturday.