Borden-Carleton’s fledgling paddle sport festival has undergone a rebranding for its upcoming second edition.
What was Waterways Paddling Festival in 2017 will be Sea the Coast Paddle Festival in 2018.
The proponents of the event, Central Coastal Tourism Partnership, have brought on a new company, Infinity Media Group, to manage and market the festival, which was launched just last year.
This year’s festival is shaping up well and is intended to be not just a celebration of the sports of kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing, but also of Island food, history and culture, said Diane Johnstone, a co-owner of Infinity Media Group with her husband Dean.
The diverse vision the proponents had for the event is partly what originally made them want to get involved, said Diane.
“It was very much an event that wasn’t just about paddling, it was about celebrating the Island and we were very much in tune with that.”
The festival is still a few weeks away from being able to take online registrations, but anyone interested in participating can keep an eye on the event’s website www.seathecoastpaddlefest.com and its various social media channels.
Sea the Coast is scheduled to take place June 22 to 24 and many of the events will take place in or nearby Borden-Carleton.
There are a lot of events scheduled, a list of which, subject to change, can be found on the event’s website. Some examples include paddles along the Tryon River, along the coast to Chelton and under the Confederation Bridge and classes for beginners to the sport. All lead by Paddle Canada certified instructors. There will also be musical entertainment by the Amanda Jackson Band and Dylan Menzie, a banquet hosted by former paddle-sport Olympian Andrew Russell, workshops, races, and more.
A weekend pass for the festival is $120, plus tax, but there are also day passes available. Equipment like kayaks and safety equipment is also available for an additional fee.
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