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Palmer River Festival

This hallmark paddling community celebration takes place on May 17th, 18th & 19th. Take a clinic to improve your skills, absorb knowledge from industry vendors, connect with other paddlers and families and enjoy the live music entertainment on Saturday night.


Quick Details

Paddlers
CA$303
Just Want to Hang Out
CA$63

LEGENDARY Biannual Whitewater Festival – May 17th, 18th & 19th, 2024

Join us for our exciting semi-annual weekend festival that connects our paddling community together, refreshes our paddling skills and, supports Paddler Co-op’s campaign to purchase the Paddler Co-op Property.  Join a clinic with friends to kick start your paddling progression for the year with the incredible instructors at Spring Palmer River Fest!

 What a typical festival weekend looks like:

  • Friday arrival, registration, welcome & music @ 4 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday registration @ 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday: 4 instructional whitewater clinics (high quality, safely facilitated) Saturday a.m./p.m. & Sunday a.m./p.m.)
  • Packafting! A fun introduction to whitewater
  • Hiking/Medicinal Plant Walks! Explore the Madawaska Valley from shore!
  • Kid-friendly whitewater canoe & kayak clinics
  • On-site camping Friday and Saturday night (tent only – we’ll be tight for space!)
  • Live music Saturday night – featuring The Valley Cats
  • Local food (bring your cash)
  • Radical raffle: sweet prizes & swag!
  • PRF proceeds go towards securing the Paddler Co-op property for the future

New This Year:

  • All proceeds from this event will go toward Paddler Co-op’s campaign to purchase the Co-op Property. Learn more here.
  • You asked, we delivered, this year we have separate Intermediate and Advanced clinics in all disciplines!
  •  A new clinic offering: Canoe Stroke Refinement and Rolling Clinic. Join for an on-water Saturday with stroke refinement in the morning and rolling & bracing in the afternoon. PLUS you have the option of joining the down river trip (a.k.a. The Day Run on the Lower Madawaska) on Sunday. Camping and Saturday lunch are included with this clinic.
  • Friday Fun Day: Join us Friday evening as a fellow paddler shares a once in a lifetime trip and live music until 11:00 pm

Perfect for EVERYONE: non-paddlers, brand new, experienced or expert paddlers! Who doesn’t like river fun, good music, good food, good friends new and old? Exactly!

 


https://youtu.be/0N6DOCyVt_w

Paddler Co-op Executive Director Ryan O’Connor shares what makes Palmer River Fest such a memorable experience for those who attend.

May 2024  Palmer River Fest Itinerary

 

Friday:

Registration outside office: 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Equipment Rental Pick up @ Boathouse: 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Merch Booth 5:30-8:00pm

Paddler Presentation: 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Live Music: 9:00 – 11:00 pm

 

Saturday:

Registration @ office: 7:30 -8:30 am 

Equipment Pick Up: 7:30-8:30 am

Walk on Rentals: 9:30 am – 10

Breakfast: 7:00 am & onward

AM Clinics: Canoe – 9:15 – 11:30

                     Kayak – 9:30 – 11:45

    Hiking -10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Lunch: 12:00 – 1:15 pm

PM Clinics: Canoe – 1:15 – 3:30 pm

                     Kayak – 1:30 – 3:45 pm

**Intermediate &Advanced clinics load boats on trailer**

Dinner: 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Merch Booth/Raffle tix: 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Talent Show: 5:00 – 6:00 pm

Raffle @ Stage: 6:15 – 7:00 pm

Music @ Stage: 7:30 – 11:30 pm

Quiet Hours: 12:00 am

 

 

Sunday:

Equipment Pick Up: 7:30-8:30 am

Walk on Rentals: 9-9:30 am

Breakfast: 7:00 am & on

Am Clinics: C – 9:15 – 11:30

                     K – 9:30 – 11:45

                     Day Run – 9:00 departure (drive yourself, carpool if possible, co-op will shuttle drivers back to Aumonds Bay)

      Hiking – 10:00 am – 2 pm

Lunch: DR pack lunch 

            12:00 – 1:15

PM Clinics: C – 1:15 – 3:30

                     K – 1:30 – 3:45

River Trip Return: 4:00 pm

Closing Ceremony: 4:15 – 4:30 pm

Gear Return: 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Merch Booth: all day!

Campsite Check out time: 5:30 pm

 

a close up of a logo

 

Call to book (saves you $) or book online with an small fee.