Here are two kayak and canoe events in Connecticut that really have something for paddlers of all levels! These events sound like a lot of fun whether you’re a competitive paddler or a recreational paddler.

The Great Pachaug Canoe and Kayak Race

• Sunday, September 27, 2009
• Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold Connecticut.
• According to their website, this event is for both the seasoned paddler and the recreational paddler. There will be three paddling courses. One for racing canoes, which is 10 miles, another for racing kayaks, also 10 miles, and the third course will be a 2.8 mile paddle for recreational boaters. This event benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

The Third Annual Mannkind Candlewood Lake Canoe and Kayak Race

• Saturday, September 26, 2009
• Brookfield Town Park, Brookfield, Connecticut.
• Divisions: tandem canoe, solo canoe, 12 foot & under kayaks, tandem kayaks, 14 foot & over kayaks, and ironman. Men’s, Women’s, mixed, family, youth and senior. According to their website canoe and kayak rentals are available. They will also be the First Annual War Canoe Race with youth and adult divisions.

For more information and to register, please click here to go to our Races and Event page.

To find other places to paddle, kayak and canoe all over the USA, go to our Places to Paddle page and click on any state, or check out nationwide kayak, canoe and paddle events and races on our Paddling Events and Races page.

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Here is a listing of some kayaking and canoeing races, events and festivals that are happening in August. All these events sound like they would be a lot of fun to paddle.

Fort Edward, NY

Monday, August 3rd starts The Great Champlain- Hudson Paddle. This paddle is a fifteen day, 195 mile kayaking trip from Fort Edward to New York City. According to the website, this event is designed for paddlers of varied skill levels. There will be two groups, thru-paddlers and getaway paddlers. Thru-paddlers will paddle the entire trip and getaway paddlers can sign up for three day segments of the paddle. Kayakers will be paddling along the Champlain Canal and Hudson River. The event is scheduled to end on August 17th.

Auburn, NY

Saturday, August 9th is a triathlon called The Great Race in Auburn, New York. The Great Race is also known as the Captain Myles Keogh Paddle. This is a run, bike, and paddle relay race. You can paddle either a canoe or kayak. The race starts at Emerson Park on Owasco Lake, which is in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Paddlers can enter the traditional race or short race. The traditional race is a 6.2mile run, 19.5 mile bike, and a 4 mile paddle.  The short race is a 3.1 mile run, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile paddle (kayak or canoe). The teams for the traditional and short race are: four person canoe team or three person kayak team. There is also a short tandem race for two person canoe teams.

Milford, CT

Saturday, August 15 is the 35th Annual Milford Oyster Festival’s Canoe and Kayak Race. This race is held at the Milford Boat Launch in Milford, Connecticut. The kayak race is 5 miles. The canoe race will be in two classes, racing and novice. The racing class will paddle four miles and the novice class will paddle one mile. According to their website the Milford Oyster Festival is the largest one day festival in Connecticut. This sounds like a paddling event and festival that the whole family can enjoy.

San Antonio, TX

Saturday, August 15th is the Ford Canoe Challenge in San Antonio, Texas. This race is on the San Antonio River. Corporate teams, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts compete in this paddle, which begins at the Chamber of Commerce, and goes through and around the Convention Center Lagoon, then through the River Center Mall Lagoon and back to the Chamber of Commerce. This sounds like fun event for the whole family.