Beth McDermott
Reporter assisted by AI
Revels RiverSing, a beloved family-friendly fall tradition, is returning to Harvard Square on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The annual sing-along celebration of the autumnal equinox kicks off at Winthrop Park and on the banks of the Charles River by the John W. Weeks Memorial Bridge, according to a community announcement.
The event, hosted by Revels Artist-in-Residence David Coffin and Revels Music Director Elijah Botkin, will feature music, puppetry, dance and a puppet parade. The parade, which begins at Winthrop Park, will feature puppets provided by The Puppeteers Cooperative and music from Good Trouble Brass Band and Wheelwright’s One Man Band.
Visitors waiting on the riverbank for the parade’s arrival will be treated to a Morris dance performance from Muddy River Morris, according to the announcement. Once the parade arrives, audiences will participate in a community singalong led by Coffin, Botkin, the Revels RiverSing Chorus and the Boston City Singers. The event will also feature appearances from the Revels Dragons, dancer Isaura Oliveira as Yorùba river goddess Oshun and vocalist Jireh Calo.Top municipal salaries Who were the top paid Cambridge employees in 2024? We have a list
The celebration will conclude with saxophone virtuoso Stan Strickland sailing down the Charles and greeting the setting sun with music, according to the announcement.
Revels RiverSing began as a partnership with the Charles River Conservancy in 2004. The event is a participatory musical celebration of the change of seasons and the splendor of the Charles River and its parklands, according to the announcement.
The program begins at 5 p.m. in Winthrop Park and at the Weeks Bridge. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. Parking is available in nearby Harvard Square.
Attendees can pre-purchase a picnic meal from Harvard Square’s Grendel’s Den, which will be available for pickup on the day of the event. They’re also welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, Revels RiverSing will move to Sunday, Sept. 21. Updates will be posted on the Revels website at revels.org.
The event is sponsored by the Harvard Square Business Association, the Cambridge Community Foundation, Houghton Chemical and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.