Get Your Paddle On! at the Riverlands Paddle Festival

Published April 23, 2013
Kayaks’ and canoes’ line the shore of the Mississippi River at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, MO.

Kayaks’ and canoes’ line the shore of the Mississippi River at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, MO.

Alton, Ill. - The Mississippi River Water Trail Association, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation and their associated partners invite you to experience the Mississippi River first-hand at the Riverlands Paddle Festival in the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Paddling and other activities will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Come out and try paddling canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards in the calm backwaters of Ellis Bay in West Alton, Mo. Certified instructors will be available to answer any questions you have about paddling in our area. The cost is only $5/person, which will get you a lifejacket and time to try as many boats as you can! This event is open to all ages and skill levels. Kids 11 years old and older can paddle solo with their parent or guardian permission. Kids 10 years and younger can paddle with an adult in a canoe or tandem kayak. 

Come out early for some yoga by the river from 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Get warmed up and limber before your paddling adventure. The yoga session is free to the public, but registration is required. To register for this session call the National Great Rivers Museum at (618) 462-6979. Between kayaking and stand up paddle boarding, listen to music and enjoy the Mississippi River waterfront with guided bird walks and BBQ. 

At 1:00 PM the Mississippi River Water Trail Association will be celebrating the dedication of the Mississippi River Water Trail as a national water trail with a dedication ceremony. All paddlers on the water and spectators from the waterfront are invited to participate. The ceremony will feature a paddle parade on Ellis Bay! 

This event will be held at the Riverlands Way shelter next in West Alton, MO near the Rivers Project Office, 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO 63386. For more information about the Festival or other upcoming water trail events, visit www.greatriverwatertrail.org or contact the National Great Rivers Museum at 618-462-6979.


Contact
Janet Mifflin
619-462-6976
janet.k.mifflin@usace.army.mil

Release no. 13-031