Around 60 participants took part in the Glow Paddle Friday evening where kayakers put lights on the boats at night and headed up the Little Kanawha River with Belpre Police and Fire personnel to Worthington Creek and then turn around and come back. Prizes were awarded for decorations and more. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — People were able to get out on the Ohio River Saturday and kayak to Blennerhassett Island to enjoy a variety of activities as part of the annual Parkersburg Paddle Fest.

Around 100 people signed up to participate in the event which saw people kayak and canoe over to Blennerhassett Island Historic State Park for a variety of activities to promote fitness and spending time outdoors. The event was put on by Wild River Kayak Co.

“This is basically a day for kayakers, canoers or anyone with a non-motorized boat to safely go out on the water,” said organizer Jennifer Bartlett. “It is to show people that there are different ways to get healthy without just going to a gym.”

During the event, river traffic was controlled for a few hours to allow people to safely kayak along the Ohio River with the assistance of the US Coast Guard alerting barges and other vessels on the river as well as local police and fire agencies with boats, Bartlett said. Kayak rentals were available if people didn’t have one of their own.

Once on the island, people could tour the grounds and participate in a number of activities, including yoga, a temple challenge, dancing exercises with the YMCA Wayward Dancers and more. Kona Ice, Aunt K’s Kitchen and other food vendors were on hand.

Nettie Slack and Rosie Southall of Millersburg, Ohio carry a kayak to the river at Point Park Saturday to participate in the annual Parkersburg Paddle Fest. People were able to kayak on the Ohio River down to Blennerhassett Island and back. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“These are all different groups that do different styles of exercise in very different ways,” Bartlett said. “It is a way to introduce people to the idea that you don’t have to go to the gym everyday. There are different ways to stay healthy and stay fit, get outside, get active and get off the couch.”

Organizers had kayaks people could rent to go up the river. If people didn’t want to kayak, they could take the regular sternwheeler to the island and participate in the activities there. Participants were given a free breakfast Saturday morning before starting on the river.

People came in from as far away as Charleston, S.C., Kentucky and elsewhere.

“There were multiple states being represented with people coming in to enjoy the festival,” Bartlett said. “Many have been coming for years.

“I hope the people who come out have a nice relaxing day on the water and on the island without the fear of being washed out by fast boats. I hope they also come out for the comradery.”

Izabella Pennacchio, John Penacchio and Sierra Cox of Gandyville, W.Va. prepare to participate in the annual Parkersburg Paddle Fest that was held Saturday at Point Park. People were able to kayak down to Blennerhassett Island for some activities. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Around 60 participants took part in the Glow Paddle Friday evening where kayakers put lights on the boats at night and headed up the Little Kanawha River with Belpre Police and Fire personnel to Worthington Creek and then turn around and come back. Prizes were awarded for decorations and more.

Rosie Southall and Nettie Slack of Millersburg, Ohio came out to be able to kayak up the river. Southall is Barnett’s sister and wanted to support her.

“We love being on the water and paddling,” Southall said. “I have been here the last couple of years.

“It is amazing. It is a great day. There is a lot of comradery, especially over on the island.”

She was not able to participate in Friday’s Glow Paddle, but said she has participated in years past.

Izabella Pennacchio of Gandyville, W.Va. gets her life jacket on as she prepares to participate Saturday in the annual Parkersburg Paddle Fest with her parents. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“It has been awesome,” Southall said.

John Pennacchio and Sierra Cox of Gandyville, W.Va. came out and took their six-year-old daughter, Izabella, out on the river.

“It is a chance to go kayaking on the river,” Pennacchio said “This was a chance to come out and go kayaking with family and spend some time outside.”

Cox, who was originally from Parkersburg, said this was the first chance they have had to go kayaking on the Ohio River.

“We have never been out on the large river before,” she said. “I have been over to the island by ferry before, but I have never been able to kayak over there before.

The annual Parkersburg Paddle Fest was held Saturday along the Ohio River. Kayakers were able to paddle over to Blennerhassett Island and enjoy a number of activities while there. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“This is just a really cool opportunity for folks to be able to do that.”

On Sunday, they held a Sendoff Paddle at North Bend Lake where participants will do a final group paddle before heading home.

Next year, Bartlett said they would like to do a kayak regatta and a build-your-own-raft race.

Many people have been part of the event for the past few years, she said.

“They have made friends with the other kayakers,” Bartlett said. “This is a chance for all of them to come back together and see each other.

“It is a way for people to get out and see some old friends.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.