What a weekend! From September 18–20, 202 paddlers joined us for the 11th annual Paddle Antrim Festival, paddling up to 42 miles across the Chain of Lakes Water Trail — Northern Michigan’s only state-designated Pure Michigan Water Trail.
Over three days, paddlers and neighbors gathered in Ellsworth, Central Lake, Bellaire, and Elk Rapids to celebrate the lakes, rivers and communities that make this place so special. This year also brought something new: a Friday-through-Sunday schedule and our biggest Kick-off Party yet. Here’s a look back at the weekend.
Friday: Kick-off Party & Expo in Ellsworth
The festival got rolling Friday afternoon at Ellsworth River Park with our free, family-friendly Kick-off Party & Expo. Paddlers checked in, dropped off boats and ran them through the boat wash station, while neighbors came out to explore, eat and enjoy the riverfront.
Expo highlights included:
- Kayak demos with Fluid Fun Canoe & Kayak
- Local outdoor recreation and stewardship nonprofits
- Tiny Traveling Boutique, Mr. Mock’s Hammocks and the Ellsworth Farmers Exchange
- Hourly giveaways for attendees
Guests grabbed dinner from Claudie’s Fresh Flavs and stayed for live music from Ellsworth local, Trent Breithaupt. Our first Non-Alcoholic Happy Hour was a hit, with King Orchards cherry mocktails, and Short’s Brewing Co. Thirst Mutilators. Thank you to the Village of Ellsworth and the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce for helping host.
Earlier in the day, paddlers sharpened their skills in our Festival Prep Paddling Strokes and Basic Rescue Skills classes.
Saturday & Sunday: Two Days on the Chain of Lakes Water Trail
On Saturday morning, paddlers gathered at Ellsworth River Park for the safety briefing and a full group launch at 9:15 a.m. Day 1 wound through small, calm lakes and connecting rivers, with finish lines at Thurston Park in Central Lake (7 miles) and Richardi Park in Bellaire (15 miles).
Sunday started early at the Ohio Street Launch. Paddlers chose their distance, finishing at Dockside Beach, the Torch River Bridge or Elk Rapids Rotary Park. Those going the distance crossed the big waters of Torch Lake and Elk Lake.
A few highlights from the water:
- 202 paddlers registered, taking to the water by kayak, canoe, and paddleboard
- 50 paddlers finished the full 42-mile route from Ellsworth to Elk Rapids
- One dedicated paddler has now completed the full 42 miles every year since the festival began in 2015
- Elk Lake tested everyone at the finish: a strong headwind near Elk Rapids meant our safety team brought some paddlers to shore early. Thank you to everyone for your patience and flexibility — safety always comes first on the water
Protecting these waters is part of every paddle. Thanks to the Antrim Conservation District, every boat was washed before launching to help keep invasive species out of the Chain of Lakes.