202 paddlers registered for the 11th Annual Paddle Antrim Festival, September 18–20, celebrating Northern Michigan’s Chain of Lakes Water Trail. Paddlers traveled from 13 states and Canada to experience the Pure Michigan-designated water trail, in the Festival’s first year under its new Friday–Sunday format.
Fifty paddlers completed the full 42-mile route from Ellsworth to Elk Rapids over two days and were recognized during the closing ceremony at the Final Bash. Nine paddlers were added to the five-year Hall of Fame, having paddled all 42 miles five years since the event began in 2015.
“This year’s Festival was a true celebration of our waterways and our community,” said Deana Jerdee, Executive Director of Paddle Antrim. “Seeing paddlers come from 13 states and Canada, and watching hundreds of neighbors fill Ellsworth River Park for the Expo, reminds us how special the Chain of Lakes Water Trail is. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us on and off the water.”
New Kick-off Party & Expo Draws a Crowd
The Festival opened Friday with the new Paddle Antrim Festival Kick-off Party & Expo at Ellsworth River Park, which drew more than 250 attendees. Highlights included boat demos from Fluid Fun Canoe & Kayak, where attendees could test new kayaks, and vendors such as Tiny Traveling Boutique and Mr. Mock’s Hammocks, alongside local outdoor recreation and stewardship organizations, live music from Ellsworth local, Trent Breithaupt and a Non-Alcoholic Happy Hour.
Community Support
The Festival was made possible by top sponsor Short's Brewing Company, along with the Village of Ellsworth, the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce, the Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, and Paddle Antrim's Wavemakers, the local businesses and organizations that provide vital support year-round. A full list of Wavemakers is available at www.paddleantrim.com/
The chambers also helped bring the Festival's finish lines to life, bringing local businesses out to welcome paddlers with specials, refreshments, and encouragement along the route. In Bellaire on Saturday, the Coldwell Banker Schmidt Bellaire Office drove the portage shuttle, helping paddlers move their boats to the Day 2 launch. On Sunday, Michigander Coffee and Waterside Wellness hosted pop-ups at Elk Rapids Rotary Park to treat paddlers as they came off the water. Short's Brewing Company hosted both end-of-day celebrations, welcoming paddlers, volunteers, and the community to its Bellaire Beer Garden on Saturday and its Pull Barn in Elk Rapids on Sunday. "Our communities make the Festival what it is," said Jerdee. "Seeing local businesses show up for paddlers at every stop is a big part of what makes this weekend special."
More than 100 volunteers ensured the event ran smoothly, assisting with registration, boat moving, on-water support and shoreline guidance. On Saturday, over a dozen National Honor Society students from Central Lake High School volunteered at Thurston Park, the Central Lake checkpoint, where they helped paddlers on and off the water and kept the lunch stop running smoothly. “Without our amazing volunteers this event simply wouldn’t be possible,” said Jerdee “They are the heart of this festival from the shoreline to the water, they’re the reason every paddler feels safe, supported and welcomed.”
Stewardship of local waterways is central to Paddle Antrim’s mission. The Antrim Conservation District provided a boat wash station, ensuring every paddle craft was cleaned before entering the Chain of Lakes Water Trail in Ellsworth, helping protect these valuable waters from aquatic invasive species.
September Match Challenge: $3,900 Left to Double
Longtime Paddle Antrim Festival volunteers and supporters have issued a generous challenge: every donation made in September will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. So far, the community has contributed $6,100 toward the goal, which leaves $3,900 still available to be matched before the challenge ends at midnight on September 30. Every gift goes twice as far to support healthy lakes and rivers, inclusive nonmotorized access, and lifelong connections to the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. Donations can be made at paddleantrim.com/donate.
The 12th Annual Paddle Antrim Festival will take place the weekend of September 18, 2027. For more information about the Festival and Paddle Antrim’s mission, visit www.paddleantrim.com.
