Adirondack Paddlefest will be making its return on May 18, 19 and 20, to the Lakefront in Old Forge. Sponsored by Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, the 14th Annual Adirondack Paddlefest is touted as the nation’s largest on-water canoe and kayak demo and sale.

There will be over 1,000 canoes and kayaks for sale, with on-site test paddling to help find the perfect boat. With over 75 of the leading manufacturers of canoes, kayaks and accessories, paddlers can find one-stop shopping for all their needs.

The festival will also include clinics, speakers, instruction, live music, food and fun for the whole family.

Over twenty makers of canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) will be on site, such as We no nah, Current Designs, Old Town, Dagger, Necky, Impex, Swift, Ocean Kayak, Liquidlogic, Wilderness Systems, Mad River, Pyranha, Native, Wave Sport, Perception, Hurricane and BIC.

There will be much more than just boats and gear on sale. Adirondack Paddlefest will provide a full weekend of fun and excitement for almost every outdoor enthusiast’s taste.

“This year we made a real effort to expand Paddlefest to make it into a more festival event,” said John Nemjo, owner of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company. “The number of free clinics and demos has increased dramatically.”

There will be demonstrations on paddling technique, stand-up paddleboarding, how to choose the right boats and gear, and more. There will also be a kid’s kayak clinic with classes held throughout the weekend, sponsored by Swift Canoe and Kayak, the American Canoe Association, and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

New at this year’s Paddlefest is the Adirondack Paddlers Photo Contest. The contest is open to both professional and amateur photographers. All photos entered in the contest were taken inside the Adirondack Park, while the photographer was in a canoe or kayak. Categories include wildlife, people, land, water, sky, and black and white. Judges for the contest are well-known photographers Nancie Battaglia, Susan Bibeau, Mark Bowie, and Clark Lubbs. The contest is sponsored by Adirondack Explorer, Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company and View.

Winners of the photography contest will be announced Saturday, May 19, at View during another new event, Rapid Media’s Reel Paddling Film Festival. The festival begins at 7 p.m. and showcases the†world’s best paddling films, promising stunning cinematography, funny shorts, breathtaking adventure, and amazing expeditions in whitewater, canoeing, sea kayaking, kayak fishing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

Now in its 7th year, the Reel Paddling Film Festival is a contest as well, awarding winning films in 10 categories. The winners and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than†100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 outdoor adventure enthusiasts and their friends and families.

Tickets for the film festival are available in advance at View, located at 3273 State Route 28, or online at www.ViewArts.org. Tickets will also be available the night of the show. Tickets will be $12 in advance, or $15 at the door.

Adirondack Paddlefest has been held in Old Forge since it started, as the area is known for its paddling opportunities. With nearly 30,000 miles of streams and rivers and over 3,000 lakes and ponds, the Adirondack Park is clearly a paddler’s paradise. Old Forge also marks the western end of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Nemjo says that the key ingredient behind Adirondack Paddlefest’s success is that, unlike most of the larger paddlesports shows in the country, Paddlefest is not held inside a large indoor arena, but is held outside on a beautiful Adirondack lake.

“Paddlefest is truly unique; paddlers can choose from literally hundreds of different canoe and kayak models to test paddle in real world conditions. And we provide live on-water demonstrations by some of paddlesports leading experts.”

Paddlefest will be open 12 to 6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 per day, with free admission for children 12 and under. Visitors can also choose to test paddle all three days for $20, which includes admission to the show. The $20 test paddle fee is applied toward a canoe, kayak, or SUP board purchase.  

For more information on Adirondack Paddlefest, visit www.adirondackpaddlefest.com, or call (315) 369-6672.