Join us for the 10th Annual Paddle Antrim Festival, Presented by Short's Brewing Company.
The Paddle Antrim Festival celebrates the amazing waterways and communities of Northern Michigan. The Festival, always the second weekend after Labor Day, includes a two-day paddle event through the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. This choose your own adventure paddle provides the opportunity for you to paddle one or both days and decide how far to travel. There are exits strategically placed along the route so you may go anywhere from 7 miles to all 42 miles.
Tandem paddlers please note: each individual participant must complete their own registration.
Thursday
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Paddler Check-in, boat drop off, and boat wash station open.
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Kick off Party hosted by the Village of Ellsworth
Friday
8:30 - 9:30 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Paddler Check-in. Breakfast will be available to those who purchased with registration.
9:30 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Safety brief. All paddlers must be in attendance.
9:45 am – Launch!
Central Lake’s Thurston Park (7854 Bradford St) – Lunch for paddlers who purchased during registration.
1:15 pm – All paddlers who intend to paddle to Bellaire must be past the Central Lake Checkpoint.
2:00 - 5:00 pm – Short's Beer Garden (118 N Bridge St, Bellaire) – Block Party hosted by Short's Brewing Company. Saturday only paddlers may check-in and pick up packets during the Block Party.
Saturday
6:45 -7:45 am – Ohio Street Launch (google directions) – Paddler Check-in. Breakfast for those who purchased with registration.
7:45 am – Ohio Street Launch – Safety brief. All paddlers must attend, even those who paddled Friday.
8:00 am – Launch! We will launch paddlers who are going past checkpoint 1 first. A bagged lunch will be provided for paddlers who purchased it during registration (please have a drybag to store until you are ready to eat).
4:00 pm – After 3:30 pm paddlers must exit at the next checkpoint they come to.
3:00-8:00 pm – Final Bash – hosted by our top sponsor – Short’s Brewing Company at their Pull Barn in Elk Rapids (211 Industrial Park) – Join us for a great celebration!
Shuttle service will be provided for people, no boats. New this year, shuttle service is included with all registrations! When you register, identify where you are going to end your paddle. That is the location you will drop off your vehicle the morning you paddle (times/locations below). Shuttle buses will pick up passengers and drive you to the launch. This way your vehicle is waiting for you when you get off the water. You must drop off your boat/equipment at the launch prior to taking the shuttle. All shuttle passengers must pre-register for shuttle service with registration to ensure enough seating.
DAY 1:
DAY 2:
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 27 Miles
Type — —
08:00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 42 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$140.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 24 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$140.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 32 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$140.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 16 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$130.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 24 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$140.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 15 Miles
Type — —
09:15
$110.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 7 Miles
Type — —
09:15
$100.00
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 42 Miles
Type — —
09:30
Sep 19, 2026
Distance — 15 Miles
Type — —
09:30
Sep 20, 2026
Distance — 27 Miles
Type — —
07:30
$110.00
Sep 20, 2026
Distance — 17 Miles
Type — —
07:30
$110.00
Sep 20, 2026
Distance — 9 Miles
Type — —
08:00
$100.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Elk Rapids.
Learn more about the host city, Elk Rapids.
Elk Rapids is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. The village is the largest incorporated community in Antrim County, with a population of 1,529 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Elk Rapids Township, in the southwest of Antrim County, and is on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay, a bay of Lake Michigan. Elk Rapids is located about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Bellaire, the county seat, and about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Traverse City, the largest city in Northern Michigan.
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location_on Bellaire, Michigan, US
calendar_today Aug 01, 2026
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