The River to River Festival kicks off its 5th year on June 1st

This week marked the return of the Lower Manhattan River to River Festival, the largest free arts festival in New York City's history. Now in its fifth year, the festival will feature events at varying locations throughout Lower Manhattan, including 55 Water Street, Battery Park, Castle Clinton, City Hall Park, Rockefeller Park, the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, South Street Seaport, Wagner Park, and the World Financial Center. The festival kickd off on June 1^st with a "Boat, Bike & Buoy" parade, followed by concerts all weekend long with performances by Ricky Skaggs, Super Furry Animals, and Andy Votel.

The festival will continue throughout the summer, bringing with it more than 500 events, most of the free. From dance performances to film screenings, open-air concerts to theater productions, sporting events to nature walks, the entertainment options are endless. Headliners later this summer include Little Feet, the Sugar Hill Gang, Ray Sepulveda, BT Express, and pianist Jie Chen. A full schedule of performances and activities can be found at the River to River website, www.rivertorivernyc.org, where you can also sign up to receive weekly updates of upcoming events. Don't wait -- sign up now to take part in the fun.

The River to River Festival is sponsored by American Express in partnership with the Alliance for Downtown New York and other organizations.