ELY – Ely’s first ever Great American Canoe Festival launched last weekend with something to float everyone’s boat, canoe, or kayak.

The festival honored the history and culture of the canoe, resulting in three days of activities demonstrations, races, and seminars at various venues around town.

“Visitors could choose from among thirty events each day, from rugged individual challenges to family-friendly adventures,” said Ginny Nelson, Events Coordinator Bureau president.

Adrenaline junkies competed in the Mighty Canoe and Kayak Race early Saturday morning. Just four boats competed and they started out in calm winds but were quickly met with head winds and choppy water.

The competitors paddled about 20 miles on Shagawa, Burntside, Little Long, and East Twin lakes as well as the Dead River. They portaged just over two miles and ended up back at Semer’s Park, said Carl Skustad, Wilderness and Recreation manager for the U.S. Forest Service.

“We had a great paddle, despite the wind in our face,” said competitor Elton Brown.

Paddling neophytes had an opportunity to perfect their J-stroke and learn how to prepare for their first adventure. Lectures about invasive species, adventuring with the Sherpa people, and canoeing along fur routes appealed to those seeking a more cerebral experience.

Stand up paddle boarding, the even hipper cousin of surfing, made a splash in demonstrations and classes. Children and beginners had the advantage of using out-riggers, like training wheels, to learn the basics without tipping over.

Music and food were available all weekend in the park.

Many outdoor businesses were represented, including, Boundary Waters Journal, Stewart River Boatworks, Piragis Northwoods Company, Chosen Valley Adaptive Paddling, Bourquin Boats, Crane Creek Kayaks, Raven Productions,Bending Branches, Lake County,Vermilion Community College, NE Minnesotans for Wilderness, Outward Bound, Veterans on the Lake, Listening Point Foundation, Red Rock Gear, Root River Photography, Silver Creek Paddle, Stellar Kayaks, Leave No Trace, Wenonah, Adventure Sherpas, Simply Native Foods, Ely Field Naturalists, and Path of the Paddle Association.

For those seeking inspiration rather than action, Expedition Con, a collection of real-life adventure stories told by the individuals themselves, was held at Vermilion Community College and spotlighted six of the biggest names in boundary-pushing exploration.

Presenters over the weekend included epic paddle boarder Jared Munch and adventure canoeist Dan Blessing, Polar adventurers Will Steger, Lonnie Dupre, and Eric Larsen, and extreme filmmaker Frank Wolf.

Local bars hosted Music and Brews, where restaurants competed for Best Walleye Dish, and outfitters challenged each other to high-stakes races—and bragging rights.

The Ely Folk School hosted a hand-made canoe and paddle demonstration and exhibit. The Great American Canoe Festival became a reality through the combined efforts of five Ely entities paddling together. Last year, the Ely Chamber of Commerce, Merchant Committee of the Chamber, Ely Area Tourism Bureau, city of Ely and Incredible Ely joined forces and formed the Events Coordinator Bureau as a committee of the chamber.

This group is working at creating events to fill in gaps within the calendar year, especially in the shoulder seasons between summer and winter. The inaugural Ely Marathon, which debuted in 2015, was a great success with participation exceeding the committee’s expectations, according to Events Coordinator Wendy Lindsay. “The Great American Canoe Festival, is one of the only canoe festivals in the nation, she said. “and we expect this to become another major event for the Ely area.”