Two towns, two river carnivals

For the first time, they’re charging a $5 dollar entry fee, with a dollar going to the Friends of the Petaluma River. Look for a kids’ area, along with poker games for tweens, art-boat races, $5 dollar weddings and a trapeze artist who uses the river as a safety net. Helping the cause, Rivertown Feed is donating 800 hay bales, and Lagunitas Brewing is donating 50 kegs of beer.

“It just brings out the true heart of the community,” Backman says. “I just love the altruism and sense of community that occurs every year. That’s why we do it — to remind people we’re a river town and to be engaged in our community and be active in our community.”

Bay Area freelancer John Beck writes about entertainment for The Press Democrat. You can reach him at 280-8014, john@sideshowvideo.com and follow on Twitter @becksay.

View photo gallery of 2011 Healdsburg Water Carnival

What: Healdsburg Water Carnival
When: 11 a.m. Saturday July 14 (already passed)
Where: Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
Admission: Free
Info: healdsburgwatercarnival.com
Concert: Jazz Mafia kicks off at 5 p.m. with a separate $25 concert ticket

View photo gallery of 2011 Rivertown Revival

What: Rivertown Revival
When: 11 a.m. July 21
Where: Steamer’s Landing, East D and Copeland streets, Petaluma
Admission: $5.
Info: rivertownrevival.com