ShadFest: The Fish, Fun, and Festivities Are Flowing Back to the Upper Delaware

Spring is here and that means one of the Upper Delaware’s most distinctive fish is returning, and so is the festival that celebrates it: ShadFest.

What started as a grassroots celebration of the American Shad’s annual return to the Delaware River has evolved into a multi-town festival on May 17 showcasing local culture, cuisine, and environmental awareness.

Tim Bruno caught up with Johnny Pizzalato, one of the main folks behind ShadFest, to chat about how it all started, what’s coming up in 2025, and why this festival is about way more than just fish.

Image Credit: New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife