Long before nationally touring artists filled the banks of the South Platte River, The Greenway Foundation had a much simpler goal: convince Denver that the river was worth paying attention to.
Founded in 1974, The Greenway Foundation has spent more than five decades working to protect, restore, and improve access to the South Platte River. Today, it’s difficult to imagine Denver without the bustling parks, bike paths, and gathering spaces that line the water. But that transformation didn’t happen overnight, and for many years, simply helping people rediscover the river was the mission.
That mission comes to life each summer through CROSSCURRENTS. Returning this year with a lineup headlined by NEIL FRANCES, the free festival has grown into one of Denver’s most anticipated summer traditions, bringing thousands of people to Confluence Park for live music, outdoor recreation, and a renewed appreciation for the river that helped shape the city.
What began as South Platte RiverFest in 2014 has steadily evolved into the modern CROSSCURRENTS festival. Since reimagining the event in 2022, The Greenway Foundation has partnered with Two Parts and Revesco Properties to transform the riverfront into a free, family-friendly celebration of music, community, and conservation. Last year alone, roughly 15,000 people attended the festival, a reflection of how deeply the event has resonated with Denver.
While music has become the festival’s biggest draw, it was never the original focus. Early editions centered around getting people into the river itself through tubing, kayaking, and hands-on activities. As organizers searched for ways to reach a broader audience, live music became the natural bridge. Beginning with local artists before expanding to nationally recognized acts like DRAMA, Girl Talk, Poolside, and now NEIL FRANCES, the festival has steadily grown without losing sight of its original purpose.
That purpose becomes clear as soon as you arrive. Unlike most music festivals, CROSSCURRENTS isn’t simply hosted near the river. The river itself becomes part of the experience. Two custom stages face one another from opposite banks of the South Platte, encouraging attendees to move throughout Confluence Park while remaining connected to the water at every turn. It’s a layout that could only exist in this setting and reinforces the festival’s central idea that the South Platte should be experienced, not simply observed.
That philosophy feels especially meaningful as Denver continues to reshape its relationship with the river. Once treated largely as an afterthought, the South Platte has become one of the city’s defining public spaces. At the same time, ongoing drought conditions and growing conversations around water quality have made environmental awareness more relevant than ever. CROSSCURRENTS offers an opportunity to celebrate the river while also educating attendees about the work happening to protect it throughout the rest of the year.
Keeping the festival free has remained one of its defining principles from the very beginning. That commitment ensures cost never becomes a barrier to enjoying one of Denver’s greatest public spaces, while an extensive network of community partners and sponsors helps make the experience accessible to everyone.
Behind the scenes, The Greenway Foundation’s work extends far beyond a single weekend. Its South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE) program introduces thousands of Denver students to hands-on environmental learning every year, while volunteer cleanup efforts help prevent thousands of gallons of trash from entering local waterways. The festival may be the organization’s largest public celebration, but it represents just one piece of a year-round commitment to protecting the river for future generations.
As CROSSCURRENTS continues to evolve, that commitment remains unchanged. Bigger artists and larger crowds help introduce new audiences to the South Platte River, but the festival’s identity still begins with the water itself. The music may bring people to the river, but the hope is they’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for everything it represents.
We caught up with Ryan Aids, Executive Director of The Greenway Foundation, to talk about the evolution of CROSSCURRENTS, Denver’s changing relationship with the South Platte River, and why keeping the festival free remains one of its most important priorities. Check out our conversation below!
[Rooster]: For people who may only know CROSSCURRENTS as a music festival, how would you describe the bigger mission behind the event and its connection to The Greenway Foundation?
[Ryan]: The inaugural version of this event actually took place in 2014 under the name South Platte RiverFest. The goal of the event, since the beginning, has been to provide an opportunity for the community to enjoy a fun day at the river. The event has always been free and open to the public to remove cost as a barrier to enjoying this incredible amenity. It is also an annual celebration of the work of The Greenway Foundation and all of its amazing partners throughout Denver.
CROSSCURRENTS started in 2022, but the work of The Greenway Foundation stretches back more than 50 years. What inspired the idea to use a music festival as a way to engage people with the South Platte River and its future. When the event started, it was centered around getting attendees on tubes and kayaks and in the river. As we looked to expand the event to a wider audience we felt music was the way to do that. We originally focused on local talent which set the stage for a more music focused event. In 2023, we decided to increase the talent budget to draw an even larger audience. Now, attendees can enjoy nationally renowned artists, free of charge, while also enjoying all that the river has to offer…..right at the birthplace of Denver!
The layout of the festival feels really unique, with the stages positioned across the river from one another. How intentional was it to design the experience around the river itself rather than simply placing a festival near it?
The Greenway Foundation and CROSSCURRENTS has always been about the river first. It was never a question that the South Platte River would be the focus of this event. Trust me, there are many venues that would be much easier to program but that’s not the goal here. Two Parts, the event producer, does an amazing job of programming this unique space.
Over the last few decades, Denver’s relationship with the South Platte River has changed dramatically. From your perspective, how has public perception of the river evolved, and what role do events like CROSSCURRENTS play in continuing that shift?
We used to joke that one of the goals of The Greenway Foundation in the early days was to let Denver know there was a river in town. We have come a long way since then but there is still a lot of work to be done. The extreme drought conditions we are experiencing this year bring increased attention to our waterways, where our water comes from, and water quality. Events like CROSSCURRENTS provide an opportunity for increased education around these topics. It also offers us a chance to highlight the ongoing work of The Greenway Foundation.
One of the coolest things about CROSSCURRENTS is that it remains free and family-friendly while continuing to grow each year. How have you been able to preserve that accessibility as the festival expands?
The answer here is simple, we have incredible partners. I would be remiss to not mention a few of our major supporters of this event that include The Revesco Community Foundation, The Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Pacifico, REI, Confluence Kayaks and DaVita. There are so many sponsors that make this event possible. I encourage everyone to check out www.crosscurrentsdenver.com and see the full list of sponsors that allow us to keep this event free.
CROSSCURRENTS now draws thousands of people annually to Confluence Park. As the event has evolved over the years, what moments have made you realize it was becoming something bigger than a one-day fundraiser?
2023 was the first year that we decided to dramatically increase the talent budget for the event and bring in DRAMA as the headliner. When I looked around that night as they were playing and saw a packed Confluence Park, I knew that this event was special and was becoming what we had always envisioned it to be, a celebration for EVERYONE.
The Greenway Foundation does so much work year-round that many attendees probably never see directly. What are some of the organization’s biggest priorities outside of the festival itself?
The Greenway Foundation’s SPREE (South Platte River Environmental Education) offers hands on environmental education opportunities to thousands of Denver youth each year. This program is crucial as we create the next generation of environmental stewards. We also feel an obligation to be stewards of our waterways and riverside spaces. We host numerous volunteer river clean up events throughout the year, preventing thousands of gallons of trash from entering our waterways. Interested volunteers can find information about these clean ups and all of our events on our website www.greenwayfoundation.org.
Denver’s riverfront has become one of the city’s most active gathering spaces, but that wasn’t always the case. When you look ahead, what do you hope the next generation’s relationship with the South Platte River looks like?
I hope these spaces continue to be gathering spaces and places of respite for all. It is so important that these types of places remain available for everyone to enjoy. For many, it may be their only chance to experience nature in an urban environment. I also hope that they understand the importance of caring for these spaces so that they’re here for future generations to enjoy.
As CROSSCURRENTS continues to grow, what feels most important to protect about the festival’s identity and purpose moving forward?
Safety will always be a top priority. While we want this event to offer something for everyone, we want them to feel that they can enjoy the event safely. It’s extremely important to us to keep this event free. The river is for everyone, not just those that can afford to enjoy it and that’s what this event is all about.
All photo credit / @juliannaphotography
