Spend a family-fun filled day celebrating National Trails Day on June 2 with Big Paddle!
The Friends of Ridgefield NWR will be hosting a booth in the Paddlers Village, come check us out! To help us table at this event, contact us and let us know your availability!
June 2nd | 7am – 5pm- Port of Ridgefield
Join your community for A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PADDLING EXPERIENCE, Festivities at the waterfront and downtown, and TROLLEY rides shuttling in between.
At the waterfront enjoy a canoe, kayak or paddle board adventures in the morning and afternoon and other festivities like vendors at Paddler’s Village, live music, a wine and beer garden, and an obstacle course for all ages.
In downtown Ridgefield, enjoy Farmer’s Market, a Totally Awesome Scavenger Challenge, a follow-the-fish trail, live music and BIG GAMES!
There’s something for absolutely everyone on this fun-filled day downtown and on Lake River. Breakfast, paddling, obstacle course, live music, beer & wine garden, BIG games and a Totally Awesome Scavenger Challenge!
- 7:00AM Registration begins @ Port of Ridgefield Waterfront
- 7:30AM Guided Birding Tour by Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge @ Waterfront
- 8:00AM-4:30PM Paddler’s Village Opens @ Waterfront (NO entrance fee)
Fun-filled festival atmosphere – Celebrate the excitement of outdoor recreation by visiting vendor booths, enjoying the Carty Lake interpretive walk, being creative with hands-on activities, enjoying an outdoor massage, listening to live marimba music, enjoying a cold beer and a refreshing lunch, and MORE! A vendor application is attached below.
- 9:00AM @ Waterfront
Welcome Ceremony with Chinook Drumming and Blessing
9:30AM BIG PADDLE @ Ridgefield Waterfront
Flotilla of kayaks, big canoes and stand-up paddleboards launch for a 5 mile, two-hour interpretive tour along Lake River, through the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and to the confluence with the Columbia River and returning to the launch site. Registration is required for this paddle in advance on Eventbrite or on the day of the event for a $5 event fee or $20 for groups up to 6 members. The event fee does not include a rental. You can bring a boat or rent on location from Ridgefield/Alder Creek Kayak. RESERVE in advance at Ridgefield/Alder Creek Kayak.
- 9:30-3:00PM Obstacle Course — Sponsored by Cliff Sallee of Unleashed Fitness NW @ Waterfront (FREE)
Hilarious thrills, magnificent spills and larger-than-life obstacles combine to make an epic, painfully funny experience. Jump, balance and crawl through this kid friendly course. Test yourself with the archery challenge. No set start time. No timer. Become an obstacle course hero!
- 9:30AM-2:00PM Totally Awesome Scavenger Challenge
Turn Ridgefield into a giant game board that will provide a sightseeing tour of downtown Ridgefield and the waterfront. As an individual, with a buddy, or as a team, you decipher clues to find well-known locations and overlooked gems in the area while completing fun and easy challenges. All participants who complete the challenge receive prizes. Begin at the waterfront or at Overlook Park.
- 1:00PM – OPEN Recreational Paddle – Sponsored by Ridgefield Kayak @ Waterfront
The Open Paddle starts at 1 pm at the Boathouse. We provide naturalist guides on this 2.5 mile paddle anlong the Lake River. There are many activities going on at the port throughout the day but the Tribal Blessing and big canoes are only part of the morning activity.Registration is required through Ridgefield Kayak.
AND MORE AT THE WATERFRONT
- 9:30AM Live Music with ChicaMarimba
- 11:00AM Beer Garden Opens – Brother’s Cascadia Brewing
- ALL DAY – Self Guided Lake River Waterfront and Carty Lake Interpretive Walk
- ALL DAY – Food Carts with Herb N’Roots, Franz Bakery Grilled Cheese machine and Fire & Ice Snacks
- ALL DAY – Paddler’s Village – Vendors, activities, recreation & natural resource information4:30PM
- Closing Ceremony – Enjoy bonfire with s’mores!
FIRST SATURDAY EVENTS AROUND TOWN
- 9:00AM – 3:00PM Farmer’s Market @ Overlook Park in Downtown Ridgefield
- BIG GAMES! Play larger than life sized versions of checkers, twister, and more!
