CANTON -- The weekend events will kick off on the Grasse River with the Friday afternoon Rushton Tour on May 2. The Rushton Tour is a 4.5-mile one-way, downstream recreational paddle from Pyrites to Taylor Park, or you may choose to launch at Taylor Park and paddle upstream and return to Taylor Park. Launch anytime between 5  and 6 p.m.

On Saturday, May 3, there will be a variety of activities from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at Taylor Park. The day begins with recreational races at 9:30 a.m. of one, four or eight miles in length on the Grasse River.

The Saturday morning recreational races will be followed at 12:30 PM by pro and amateur 14 and 12 mile races in solo canoes and kayaks. Saturday features the C-1 Men’s and Women’s Pro World Championships race held on the Grasse and Little Rivers.

NCPR is our media sponsor, and thanks go to Walmart for a Spark Good Local Grant. DJ Double Dutch will be providing music during the day and GT’s Family Restaurant will be offering their famous chicken BBQ, available to the public and paddlers, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. or until sold out. The BBQ is available for picnicking at the park or as takeout.

At 3:30 p.m. the Joe Randi/Rushton Relay Race takes place. This is a two-mile relay race with classes for family and friends, high school, college challenge and open division teams.

The day will conclude at 4:30 PM with an awards ceremony.

On Sunday morning, pro and amateur races of 14 and 12 miles in tandem canoes and kayaks will begin at 10 a.m.

While recreational races draw many local paddlers, the pro races attract paddlers from across the United States and Canada. The 63rd Canton Canoe Weekend promises to be a fun and festive event!  Come out to the Park to cheer on the racers or enter an event to join in the fun.

Online registration for all races and the Rushton Tour is now open. You may also reserve a chicken BBQ dinner or half chicken. Visit the Canton Canoe Weekend website to register.

For more information, visit: www.cantoncanoeweekend.org