×

Kayakers turn out for Paddlefest

About 140 people paddled on the Ohio River on Saturday morning during the fourth annual Parkersburg Paddlefest at Point Park in downtown Parkersburg. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

PARKERSBURG — Over 100 kayaking enthusiasts took to the water Saturday morning at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers.

The fourth annual Parkersburg Paddlefest was organized by the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau with the goal of attracting people interested in people-powered watercraft to Point Park.

From 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, the Ohio River was closed by the U.S. Coast Guard to commercial traffic for a three-mile stretch between Point Park and Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.

Once the paddlers reached Blennerhassett Island, they were welcome to participate in activities provided by Temple Challenge, Full Circle Yoga and Appalachian Disc Golf. For a small additional fee participants could also tour Blennerhassett Mansion, take horse-drawn wagon rides, rent bicycles, or walk the paths around the park before paddling back up river.

Mark Lewis, president and CEO of the Greater Parkersburg CVB, said the paddlefest was going well, with increased participation across the board. On Friday evening, a “glow paddle” was held at Point Park with about 70 kayakers adding electric lights and glow sticks to their kayaks and going on a night row up the Little Kanawha River for a couple of miles.

Kayakers participating in the Parkersburg Paddlefest on Saturday had easier and safer access to the river after the city of Parkersburg created an access ramp at one end of Point Park. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

“We had double the number of people we expected for the night paddle,” Lewis said.

For Saturday’s main paddle on the Ohio River, Lewis said about 140 people participated, mostly with kayaks although a couple of canoe owners also showed up. He said the total was about 20 percent higher than last year’s event.

Lewis said local officials have been very support and accommodating of the event. In August, a new kayak access ramp was dug out of the riverbank at the Little Kanawha end of Point Park to provide easier and safer access to the water. In previous years, the kayakers had to climb down the rocks or board from the concrete steps and dock at the Point.

He believes having the kayak ramp will have an impact beyond the weekend Paddlefest.

“Here’s the nice thing about this: access equals usage. Now that we have this put-in down here, we’re going to see a lot more kayakers coming down to put in here,” he said.

The Ohio River between Point Park and Blennerhassett Island was closed to commercial traffic for six hours Saturday to accommodate the fourth annual Parkersburg Paddlefest. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

Since last year’s event, the section of the Ohio River at Wood County and the Little Kanawha River have been designated as an official water trail by the state of West Virginia, he said.

Friends Amy Henry, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and Harter Jackson, of Springfield, Ohio, made their first visit to Parkersburg Paddlefest on Saturday after participating in the Cincinnati event.

“We heard about it in Cincinnati so we decided to come down for this one,” Jackson said.

Henry said they both love history and she has visited Blennerhassett Island several times, riding the Island Belle.

“I just thought how cool it would be to get there paddling,” she said, with Jackson in agreement.

Kayaks of all sizes were lined up at Point Park on Saturday morning in preparation for the fourth annual Parkersburg Paddlefest. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

Both said they hope to come back to Parkersburg for the paddlefest in the future. They like the format and the shorter distance involved compared to the Cincinnati event.

“The Cincinnati event was so much longer, I don’t know that I will do it again but this one I think is very doable,” Henry said.

“Cincinnati was nine and a half miles and this is two and a half each way, so it’s much more enjoyable,” Jackson said.

Seth Cressey, of Parkersburg, has participated in Parkersburg Paddlefest each year and is glad to see it growing in popularity.

“It’s nice to see everyone out as a community,” he said.

“We have a beautiful river and it’s nice to see people enjoying the river,” Cressey said.

The paddlefest activities will conclude today with a farewell lake paddling excursion on North Bend State Park Lake, Lewis said.

As president of the CVB, Lewis said he was very pleased about this weekend in Parkersburg, with several events centered in downtown Parkersburg — Riverfest, Youth Fest and the Downtown Throwdown BBQ and Brewfest — and the longtime Harvest Moon Festival at City Park.

“I think it’s amazing. It’s really fantastic to see the response they’ve had for Riverfest and, of course, Harvest Moon,” he said.

“I had several people stop me (Friday night) and say this is just great to see so many people down here at the Point,” he said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today