Croton-on-Hudson Ñ Even though they were hot and sweaty, festivalgoers rose in the near 90-degree heat to give folk singer/activist Pete Seeger a standing ovation Saturday at Clearwater's 41st annual Great Hudson River Revival.

People drove, took the train or were shuttled in by bus to attend the world's largest environmental festival, formed by Seeger, which featured an activist area, marketplace, workshops, demonstrations and, of course, music. People came to the fest to support its cause, but anyone in the crowd will tell you what they really came to hear was Seeger.

Seeger walked onto the Rainbow Stage at 11 a.m. with The Power of Song, a group of 10 young adults between the ages of 16 and 22, and opened with a song from the Broadway musical "Rent."

"He still has it," said Polly Whiterhorn, 58, of Great Neck. "I've been a fan of Pete's almost my entire life. Folk music is in my blood, and he's such a force in folk music."

A few songs later, Seeger performed a rousing rendition of Lorre Wyatt's and Jimmy Reed's "Sailing Up, Sailing Down," which got the crowd back up on its feet, with many taking pictures.

Later, he left the stage and headed over to the Circle of Song tent, near the working waterfront, where he enjoyed listening to other singers and songwriters perform and joined in with the crowd.

Many festivalgoers took brief sails on the sloops Clearwater and Mystic Whaler, while others kayaked.

People on all kinds of boats listened to the music from the river, while farther down the beach, some enjoyed a swim near their campsites.