Kick off your festival experience with a thrilling river run at American River Music Festival

Golden West roots music fans have a lot of festival options, so a newer festival looking to make its mark needs to differentiate itself in one or more ways. For the American River Music Festival, gearing up for its third showing this September in the California Gold Country, one unique attraction is the opportunity to combine a great musical experience with a thrilling rafting trip down one of the region's top whitewater rivers.

The trip through the 12-mile Lower Gorge Run takes adventuring festival-goers through Class 3 rapids Satan's Cesspool, Haystack Canyon and others. In addition to regular raft-trip amenities such as catered deli lunch and souvenir photography, the trip includes a riverside concert by festival performers Sid Lewis and Jonny Mojo.

The river run takes place on Friday, departing from the Earthtrek campground at 11:30 a.m. Shuttle transportation is available to Earthtrek from either of the other two festival campgrounds. For non-rafters, a riverfront guided hike with music by festival performer Danny Schmidt is also offered. Friday night, each campground hosts a opening concert.

The two full days of music at the main stage in Henningsen-Lotus Park runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Performers for this year's festival include national folk acts Jimmy LaFave and Eliza Gilkyson (with Nina Gerber), indie singer-songwriters Jackie Greene and Tim Bluhm (from The Mother HIps) playing together as The Skinny Singers, plus top West coast roots acts Handful of Luvin', Blame Sally, City Folk and more.

That's a lineup that should appeal to regular attendees of regional roots festivals like Strawberry Music Festival and Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival. While you might expect to see the same styles of music and some of the same performers at those better established events, there is nowhere else you'll combine that experience with a river-rafting adventure—which is why the festival bills itself as "a celebration of music and moving water."

The American River Music Festival runs September 18-20 in Lotus CA, an hour's drive to the east of Sacramento and easily accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area or any northern California location. Advance adult tickets are priced at $35 a day or $60 for two days of music. An all inclusive pass including rafting and camping is $199 or $229 depending on which campground you choose.

Visit the festival website for more information and to purchase tickets.

FP American River Music Festival page