DELAWARE — The City of Delaware Public Utilities Department is excited to announce the 13th annual Olentangy River Festival (ORF) will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, 12pm – 3pm, at Mingo Park, 500 E. Lincoln Avenue, Delaware.
The festival will have information booths from environmental organizations, live music, raffle prizes, rain barrel raffles, fly-fishing demonstrations, live aquatic life displays, food trucks, and more.
The highlight of the festival will be the announcement of the Conservation Award winner(s). The Conservation Awards celebrate the individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations who exemplify the true spirit of environmental stewardship and preservation in the Olentangy River Watershed.
As part of the rain barrel raffle, Public Utilities is accepting sponsors for artist decorated rain barrels now through May 29, 2026. Only a handful of spots are open for individuals or businesses to sponsor a barrel; requests will be made until supply runs out. The cost is $30, which covers the installation kit and preparatory supplies. Local artists have generously decorated the rain barrels which will be raffled off during the festival.
All of the proceeds will go to the Olentangy Watershed Alliance (OWA), a non-profit whose mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of the Upper Olentangy River watershed and to enhance and preserve the watershed’s natural integrity, biodiversity, water quality, scenic beauty, and recreational value.
For rain barrel sponsorship requests, or other questions relating to the ORF, please contact the City’s Watershed & Sustainability Coordinator, Lisa Roberts, at 740-203-1905 or lroberts@cityofdelawareoh.gov.
