Community News

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum announces the return of the Oswego Paddlefest on Saturday, July 13!

Register now for the unique opportunity to “lock through” the historic Oswego River Canal and celebrate the beauty of this local wonder.

Participants in this non-competitive paddling event will launch from points in Fulton or Minetto. Paddlers are asked to arrive at their preferred starting point 30 minutes ahead of launch time. Following their paddle, participants are invited to Wright’s Landing Marina on Lake Street in Oswego where snacks, water and music will be provided.

New this year, is the addition of a second short course which runs from Indian Point Park on NYS Rte. 481 in Fulton to Minetto Riverview Park on NYS Rte. 48. Paddlers can launch between 8:30 and 10 a.m. for this six-mile trip, which takes about two hours. This course does not travel through any of the canal locks but offers a scenic paddle on the Oswego River.

Paddlers running on either of the original courses will travel through four canal locks. The original short course is approximately 5.5 miles and launches from Minetto Riverview Park between 8 to 10 a.m., ending at Wright’s Landing in Oswego Harbor.

The long course, geared for experienced paddlers, is approximately 13 miles and launches from Indian Point Park between 8:30 and 10 a.m. The full paddle trip, which can take up to six hours or more, also ends at Wright’s Landing.

Both kayakers and canoeists are welcome to participate; however, stand up paddle boarders are excluded from the event due to NYS Canal Corporation safety restrictions. Life jackets and whistles are required.

Minors aged 4 to 11 years of age must be the passenger of an adult. For everyone’s safety, this event is recommended for paddlers ages 12 and older and no pets are allowed.

Registration is $35. Participants can click on this link to register online or sign up the morning of the event. Keep in mind, there is a limit of 450 paddlers and the event will go on rain or shine!

A shuttle service will again be available with a separate cost of $10 per person. Participants must sign up for the service when they register for the event.

Participants can also add an Oswego Paddlefest t-shirt to their ticket purchases when registering online until June 26. Shirts are $22 each for any size. A limited number of shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the event.

Advanced check-in will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 12 at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, 1 W. First St. Pier, Oswego. The first 100 people to check-in on Friday will receive a goody bag.

New York Sea Grant (NYSG) is a supporter of Oswego Paddlefest and will be at Wright’s Landing to provide Paddlefest participants with clean, safe and environmentally friendly boating information. Beach and boating hazards information cards in English and Spanish will be also available at the table while supplies last.

NYSG Great Lakes Recreation and Tourism Specialist John Cannaday will also be at hand to provide education on “Clean, Drain, Dry” practices that both non-motorized and motorized boaters can apply to help reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Other supporting agencies include United States Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York State Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Oswego County, City of Fulton, City of Oswego, Town of Minetto, Murdock’s Bicycle & Sports, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, Robert Berkley Physical Therapy and Wayne Drugs.

For those who want to join in the fun, but don’t have a kayak, Fair Haven Kayak has rentals! Contact Ron Alexander at 315-466-6649 or ronald.alexander@oswego.edu, and he will deliver a kayak to the launch site and retrieve it from your end stop when you’re done.

Paddlefest qualifies for the Erie Canalway Challenge. For information on how to participate by logging miles along the canal, go to www.canalwaychallenge.org.

For more information about Paddlefest and other activities, including shuttle details, visit the H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hlwmm or website at www.hlwmm.org.

For area accommodations and visitor information, go to www.visitoswegocounty.com or call 1-800-248-4FUN (4386).