MACKfest Venue: 

Event date: April 14-16, 2023

Location: Marmora and Area Curling Club, 2 Crawford Dr, Marmora ON, K0K 2M0

MACKfest Schedule:

Friday April 14:

• 10am – 3pm – Instructional CREEKING CLINIC by Paddler Co-Op; $50 donation recommended, with proceeds going to MACKfest (This may be very popular but needs to be limited to a maximum of 10 participants - Info on how to sign up is coming soon!)  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

• 12 noon – 5pm – “Treats on the Black River” will be served to paddlers in Queensborough (bring cash)

• 3pm - Curling Club & Fairgrounds open to paddlers, campers and vendors 

• 4pm - 8pm - Registration Desk open to pick up pre-purchased items, including dinner tickets, raffle tickets and MACKfest merchandise

• 4pm - Bar is open; last call at 10pm (Note: only alcohol purchased from bar is allowed indoors)

• 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Dinner for $22: Lasagna or Veggie Lasagna with caesar salad, garlic bread, tea/coffee & desert – (Note: you must pre-order meals)

• 11pm – Curling Club is locked overnight until 7am; Porta-Potty provided for campers in Fairground

Saturday April 15:

• 7am - 9am Curling Club open to warm up, meet other paddlers and plan your day 

• 12 noon – 5pm – “Treats on the Black River” will be served to paddlers in Queensborough (bring cash)

• 3pm in Queensborough – MACKfest Paddler's Polar Dip (led by Wayne "the ice man" Donison) :)

• 4pm - 8pm - Registration Desk open to pick up pre-purchased items, including dinner tickets, raffle tickets and MACKfest merchandise

• 4pm - Bar is open; last call at 12 midnight (Note: only alcohol purchased from bar is allowed indoors)

• 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Dinner for $25: Beef & Chicken Dinner or Veggie Stuffed Peppers, with mashed potatoes, gravy, tea/coffee & desert (Note: you must pre-order meals)

• 7pm – 8pm - Fundraiser Raffle

• 8pm – 12 midnight - Live music by the Valley Cats

Sunday April 16th:

• 7am – 9am - Curling Club open to warm up, meet other paddlers and plan your day 

• 12 noon - Fairgrounds need to be cleaned up and vacated

• 12 noon – 5pm – “Treats on the Black River” will be served to paddlers in Queensborough (bring cash)

Camping:

• Camping will be in Fairgrounds behind Curling Club 

• A Porta-Potty will be provided

• Open fires not allowed

Friday Creeking Clinic:

Paddler Co-op Creeking Clinic

Paddler Co-op will be hosting a guided, low cost kayak creeking and river running clinic on Beaver Creek on Friday April 14, 2023. 

The goal of this clinic is to provide participants with a guided experience to get to know and explore the river, to build confidence in paddling narrow and steeper rapids, paddling in cold temperatures at the start of the season and to explore the limits of their comfort zones in a safe and supportive setting. 

The clinic takes place over the entire river run where we will explore warm-up techniques, refine basic skills and maneuvers to inspire confidence, set goals for the day, scout and dissect the more challenging rapids, encourage self-regulation and safety with our line choices, river running styles, options to walk, and explore the river in a way to inspire confidence and familiarity. 

The cost for this clinic is entirely by donation ($50 minimum suggested), and all funds will be donated to MACKfest. 

The clinic will be capped at 10 paddlers to ensure safety and quality. Instruction will take place throughout the river run, and is suited to experienced but novice-and-up paddlers looking to build confidence. Participants must have cold-immersion gear (dry suit preferred), a consistent roll in class 2 and a willingness to challenge themselves and implement coaches’ feedback.

Ryan O’Connor, will be the clinic’s head coach, supported by additional qualified and professional guides from Paddler Co-op. Ryan’s experience and instructional expertise is second to none when it comes to diagnosing and refining technique, building confidence in paddlers and addressing the mental game, as well as breaking down skills into digestible, bite-sized pieces that are practical and applicable. Some of his accreditations are ORCKA Moving Water Canoe and Kayak level 3 (advanced) Instructor and Instructor Trainer, River Rescue Instructor and North American Whitewater Open Canoe Championships silver medalist. With over a decade of professional instruction and guiding under his belt participants are sure to walk away with more confidence, clarity and ability on the water and much more value than they paid for.

Set yourself up for the best MACKFest yet and sign up today, spots are sure to book up fast!

Since its inception in 2008, the Marmora and Area Canoe and Kayak Festival, MACKfest for short, has grown significantly in popularity and developed a reputation as one of the “must make” spring whitewater festivals in Ontario.

The three-day whitewater paddling event is organized by volunteers from one of the largest recreational paddling clubs in Ontario, the Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers (KWP). 

MACKfest promotes some amazing rivers, known as the “Highway 7 Runs” as they intersect Highway 7, running between Peterborough and Ottawa.

• The Upper and Lower Black,

• Beaver,

• Skootamatta,

• Salmon,

• Crowe and others typically only flow in early spring with the snow melt and seasonal rain.

They feature river runs from Class II-IV as well as a number of quality park and play spots.

New to the festival for 2023 is the MACKfest Paddler Polar Dip in Queensborough and a Friday Creeking Clinic hosted in partnership with Paddler Co-op (pre-registration required).

This annual festival is a great way to kickstart your paddling season, dust off your winter cobwebs and meet new and old friends. Aside from exciting spring boating, the event promises amazing prizes from many sponsors and great live music, with proceeds going to local community organizations and river advocacy initiatives.  Organizers are looking forward to boaters gathering in Marmora once again to celebrate spring paddling in Ontario!

A Little MACKfest History:

MACKfest and WO Advocacy have negotiated with landowners over time to establish and maintain river access land-sharing agreements on a number of the Highway 7 runs. We greatly appreciate the generosity of the following landowners:

1. Beaver Creek put-in at the hydro cut: This land is owned by Dale Reynolds and family

2. Beaver Creek Bridge Drop rapid: The land river right is owned by Natalie Zanussi 

3. Beaver Creek Fidlar’s Take-out: The grassy meadow is owned by Brenda Gorham

4. Upper Black River - BBB Falls portage on river right: The land is owned by Jerry and Kim Brodey and family

5. Upper Black River Take-out in Queensborough: This land is owned by Elaine and Lud Kapusta and family

6. Crowe Bridge play waves: River right wave access is on land owned by Lucille and Joe Orlando 

7. Skootamatta River Take-out: The cottage and trail at the take-out is owned by Phil Kompass and family