There are many reasons to attend paddling festivals. Two of the driving forces behind their popularity and among the joys of attending paddling festivals include building camaraderie among fellow paddlers as well as staying informed on the issues that impact our passion.
The following "Paddling Festival and Event Calendar" will help you plan out your paddling adventures. The specific dates have been deliberately omitted so that this calendar will be relevant from year to year. If you know of a festival, event, or expo that is not included here (regardless of size or location) please feel free to contact me by clicking on my name at the top of this page. Start filling up your calendar!
Paddling Festival and Event Calendar
- January
- February
- National Paddling Film Festival
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Franklin County, Kentucky
- National Paddling Film Festival
- March
-
Adventure Times Kayak Expo
- When: 1st Weekend
- Where: South Florida
- California Rivers Festival
- When: 2nd Saturday
- Where: Sacramento, CA
- NAWFest (North Alabama Whitewater Festival)
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Northern Alabama
-
Adventure Times Kayak Expo
- April
- Upper Klamath River Festival
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Upper Klamath River, OR
- East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Charlestown, SC
- Paradise Coast Kayak Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Naples (Isle of Capri), FL
- Kern River Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Kernville, CA
- Spring Paddle Festival
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Bend, OR
- Vancouver Kayak Festival
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Chilliwack River, British Columbia
- Upper Klamath River Festival
- May
- Cheat River Festival
- When: 1st Weekend
- Where: West Virginia
- Black Creek Kayak and Canoe Festival
- When: 1st Weekend
- Where: Hartsville, SC
- Reno River Festival
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Reno, NV
- PaddleFest
- When: 4th Weekend
- Where: Southeast Wisconsin
- Kachemak Bay Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Halibut Cove, Alaska
- Cheat River Festival
- June
- Teva Mountain Games
- When: 1st Weekend
- Where: Vail, CO
- Wenatchee River Festival
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Washington State
- Lyons Outdoor Games
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Lyons, CO
- Harper's Ferry Outdoor Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: West Virginia
- FIBARK: America's Oldest Whitewater Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Salida, CO
- The Great River Adventure or GRA (Susquehanna River)
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Harrisburg, PA
- Teva Mountain Games
- July
- Canoefest
- When: First Weekend
- Where: Brookville, IN
- Potomac Whitewater Festival
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Great Falls, MD
- Black River Festival
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Upstate, NY
- Eppie's Great Race / The Great Race 37
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Sacramento and Rancho Cordova, CA
- Deerfield River Festival
- When: 4th (or last) Weekend
- Where: Massachusetts
- Canoefest
- August
- Lockapalooza
- When: 1st Weekend
- Where: Pittsford, NY (Rochester, NY)
- Gore Canyon Race
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: Grand County, Colorado
- Lockapalooza
- September
- Kipona Festival
- When: First Weekend
- Where: Harrisburg, PA
- American River Festival
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Northern California
- Adirondack Canoe Classic (90 Miler)
- When: 2nd Weekend
- Where: Old Forge, NY
- Gauley Fest
- When: 3rd Weekend
- Where: Summersville, WV
- Feather River Festival
- When: Last Weekend
- Where: North Fork Feather River, CA - Hwy 70
- Kipona Festival
- October
- Moose River Festival
- When: 2nd or 3rd Weekend
- Where: Old Forge, NY
- Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
- When: 10/29 - 11/7
- Where: Fort Meyers, FL
- Dam to Dam Paddle
- When: 10/24 - 10/25
- Where: Tennessee River Blueway, Chattanooga, TN
- Moose River Festival
- November
- Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
- When: 10/29 - 11/7
- Where: Fort Meyers, FL
- Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
- December
