The city of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department's Outdoor Chattanooga division will host their annual Splash into Spring Paddlesports Festival and Demo Day on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at TVA Chickamauga Dam Reservation.
The public is invited to try various types of kayaks, standup paddleboarding, dragon boating and other human powered water sports for free.
Outdoor Chattanooga will be joined by local retailers Rock/Creek and SUP Paddleboards, boat manufacturers Jackson Kayak and Mohawk Canoes, and outfitter River Canyon Adventures. The Chattanooga Dragon Boat Club will offer free dragon boating demos and the Privateer Sailing Club will be in attendance with information about their introductory sailing events.
The Tennessee River Gorge Trust and the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center will have information available about their facilities along the Tennessee River Blueway National Scenic River Trail.
Outdoor Chattanooga staff and participating organizations will help participants with basics like boat selection and fit and paddling techniques, as well as offering short kayak trips on Chickamauga Lake.
The public will be able to sign up for scheduled activities on the day of the event.
“This is the perfect opportunity for the public to try kayaking, canoeing and other water sports that they thought were out of their reach or their budget,” says Outdoor Chattanooga Recreation Programs Coordinator Terri Chapin. “Most of these sports are very easy to get into with a minimum of instruction. We’ll be there to help people get started.”
People who own Coast Guard approved life jackets should bring them, especially those sized for small children. Outdoor Chattanooga will have life jackets available for those who do not have them.
To learn more, email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 643-6888.