Florida has a Paddling Festival that has something for every paddler in the family!

If you haven’t heard, The 2011 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival off the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel is happening in November.

This 6th annual event celebrates Southwest Florida’s 190 mile marked canoe and kayak trail, The Great Calusa Blueway. The Great Calusa Blueway meanders through the coastal waters and inland tributaries of Lee County, Florida.

According to their website:

The 2011 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
November 3rd -November 6th.
Off the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Paddlers, competitors, families, and outdoor enthusiasts from around Southwest Florida, the state, and the nation attend this one-of-a-kind eco-event.

 
Festivities include competitive canoe/kayak races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, family activities, archaeological and environmental events, guided tours, and more celebrations along The Great Calusa Blueway.

Kayak Race, Canoe Race, Stand Up Paddleboard Race

 
Saturday, Nov. 5
Calusa Classic for Sea Kayak, Fast Sea Kayaks, Surf Skis and Outriggers
10 mile elite race of the Sanibel Causeway

 
Sunday, November 6
Calusa Dash for Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) and Kayaks
4 mile recreational race off the Sanibel Causeway

 

To find more information on the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival or to find other
paddling events, paddlefests, kayak races, canoe races, festivals,
adventure races or triathlons, click here to go to our kayak & canoe races & events calendar.

Looking for kayaking locations or canoeing locations in your state?

Search our places to paddle page for places to kayak or canoe for flatwater or whitewater. Kayaking and canoeing paddling locations are listed by U.S. State.

If you have a kayak race, canoe race or paddling event that you would
like listed on our paddling races and events calendar, please use our handy contact form to send us the details.

 

October is a very busy month for paddling events.

 If you are looking for a paddling challenge, you might want to enter the Suwannee River Challenge or the Suwannee River Marathon on Saturday, October 10th.

The Suwannee River Challenge is a 52 mile race that starts in Fargo, Georgia and ends in White Springs, Florida. According to their website, they have designed this race to push the limits of even the most experienced paddler.

If you are looking for a shorter race than check out the Suwannee River Marathon which is a 26 mile race that starts at the SR 6 Bridge and ends in White Springs, Florida. 
 

Both races will go through Big Shoals which is Florida’s only class III whitewater.

There are many divisions for kayaks and canoes for both races.
 

To participate in these races you will need to be a member of the USCA. The cost for an event membership is $5.00.

 

Paddling Festival
 The Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, October 23 thru November 1st has races and events that the whole family can enjoy.

The Calusa Blueway is Florida’s 190 mile marked paddling trail that goes from the southern tip of Bonita Springs to the northern most point around Pine Island Sound and up the Caloosahatchee River.

Festival events include:

The Imperial River Challenge: in Riverside Park in Bonita Springs on Saturday, October 24. This is a 2 mile race on the upper Imperial River. There are six race categories.

 Paddle the Pass: in Matlacha Park, Matalcha, Florida on Sunday, November 1st. This race has a recreational 4 mile paddle and a competitive 10 mile paddle.

There is also a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics, paddling demonstrations, seminars, and family activities.
 

For more information and to find out how 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.

If you would like us to post your favorite place to paddle, kayak or canoe or your favorite paddling event or race, please use our handy contact form to send us the details.