Southwest Florida Calusa Blueway Canoe and Kayak Paddling Festival


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Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival

The festival, held Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, offers something for every canoeing or kayaking enthusiast.

Kayak races are part of the fun.

Kayak and canoe races, a geo paddle, a fishing tournament, paddling clinics, live music, a pig roast and more fun events fill the 10 days from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, 2009, when kayak and canoe enthusiasts from Southwest Florida and beyond gather to celebrate the great sport of paddling.

The fourth annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival takes advantage of Lee County’s 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway, which follows ancient dugout canoe trails through coastal waters and up the Caloosahatchee River and its tributaries.

Trail markers and Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates guide paddlers as they ply the Blueway’s waters, from Bonita Springs in the south to Pine Island and Cayo Costa in the north. Festival headquarters are at Fort Myers Beach the first weekend of the festival, and at Pine Island (Pineland and Matlacha) the second weekend.

Take advantage of special offers during the festival from more than 80 merchants, outfitters, attractions, galleries and service providers throughout the region by sending in advance for a Very Informed Paddler Blueway wristband.

The 98 percent recycled plastic VIP Blueway wristbands are available with a $10 donation to the Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail. Contact John Kiseda at 239-432-2163 or via e-mail at kisedajb@leegov.com to make your donation.

Below are some of the festival highlights.

• Oct. 23-24 – Bonita Springs Riverfest Fish Fry & River Race. Come revel in community spirit and kayaking competition for two days at Riverside Park in downtown Bonita Springs. Saturday’s Imperial River Challenge is a two-mile time trial for canoeists and kayakers.

• Oct. 24 – Paddlers Reception. Canoe & Kayak and Sea Kayaker magazines sponsor this complimentary gulf-front happy hour at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach, starting at 5 p.m. At 5:45 p.m., a sunset Gulf cruise departs from the resort; some of the proceeds go to the Blueway Paddling Trail.

• Oct. 25 – Monofilament Madness Cleanup. Join other paddlers to pick up fishing line and other debris from the Blueway’s mangroves throughout Lee County, and help save the lives of marine and flying critters. Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc. (www.klcb.org) sponsors this event, which begins at safe light and continues until noon. Collection sites include Picnic Island near Sanibel, Waterfront Restaurant in St. James City and The Mound House on Fort Myers Beach. A volunteer appreciation luncheon for the clean-up crews follows.

• Oct. 25 – Paddlers Hog Roast Picnic. San Carlos RV Park hosts this Florida-style feed with live bluegrass music. Arrive by car or kayak.

• Oct. 30 – Calusa Costume Ball. You don’t have to dress like a Calusa Indian for this Halloween party, but costumes from the 1500s through the 1700s are encouraged. Calusa storytelling and reenactments are part of the fun at Tarpon Lodge in Pineland.

• Oct. 31 – Fishing Tournament. It launches from the Randell Research Center in Pineland at 1 p.m. An awards ceremony and social event follow.

• Nov. 1 – Paddle of the Pass. Paddlers depart from Matlacha Community Park at 10 a.m. to take on the 4-mile recreational course or 10-mile competitive course. Preregister to get a T-shirt and post-race lunch.

• Nov. 1 – Bluegrass for the Blueway. Free bluegrass music strikes up at noon at Matlacha Community Park. At the Taste of Matlacha, food samples will be sold until 2 p.m.

For more information on the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, call 239-433-3855 or 239-432-2163 or visit www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com. For maps and information about the Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail, visit www.calusablueway.com or call 239-433-3855.

Last modified on Nov 10, 2009