National river-picnic events cancelled due to heavy rains

The organization Río Urbano, which promotes awareness and conservation of Costa Rica’s rivers, announced that its “Picnic at the River” event scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 has been cancelled due to the heavy rains the country has received in recent days, which can create treacherous riverbank conditions.

The event, part of Río Urbano’s celebrations of World Rivers Day, sought to draw attention to the country’s neglected and often heavily polluted rivers by reviving the tradition of picnicking along the banks. Activities had been planned at rivers nationwide and even internationally, with expat Costa Ricans honoring their country’s natural treasures from afar.

“For the organizing team it’s very sad to communicate this news, but citizen safety is our top priority,” architect Alonso Briseño, the director and founder of Río Urbano, said in a statement Saturday.

Visit the Río Urbano Facebook page for more information.