Paddlefest at DE Seashore State Park

Delaware Seashore State Park

Paddlefest 2022

Important News & Details

The 6th annual Delaware Seashore State Park Paddlefest is less than 2 weeks away (August 27th if you've forgotten)! We have planned for the paddling course to depart from Savages Ditch and end at Tower Road Bayside. This year's course is at high tide, allowing us to venture into some new creeks!

In the event of bad weather, we may make some last minute changes to the event. Please check your email on Friday evening for any last minute updates.

PARKING, CHECK-IN, and LAUNCHING

The launch site is at Savages Ditch which is located about 1 mile north of the Indian River Inlet bridge on the bay side. If you prefer to navigate via Google Maps, please visit https://goo.gl/maps/Y22ivjwB2xH2.

Parking

The parking area will not open until 8:15 a.m. There is plenty of parking available at Savages Ditch. Please note that park entry fees WILL be in effect. You will either need an annual pass, or you may print out this parking voucher and leave it on your dashboard. When you arrive, you'll need to check in with park staff under the pavilion. Park staff will also give you a map and some other helpful information.

As the parking lot fills, we will have a designated unloading zone for those that bring their own kayaks (we don't want anyone to have to drag their kayak from a parking spot far away!). If the parking lot fills completely, you may still unload your kayak at Savages Ditch, and we will start a shuttle from a satellite parking area.

Check-In

Please don't launch without first checking in! The registration table will not open until 8:30 a.m.

Launching

Please adhere to the launch time that you selected when you made a reservation. We could have up to 250 paddlers on the water and we need to make sure the launch doesn't get too crowded.

Park staff will be available to direct you to the launching area and answer any questions you have. Please keep in mind that this is not a guided tour, but a self-paced course. We will have 6 educational "stops", as well as several safety crew scattered throughout the course.

Kayak Rentals

If you have reserved a rental kayak from Coastal Kayak or Quest, they will be delivering the kayak to Savages Ditch. You'll first need to check in with their staff, and then check-in with park staff. Please note that if you wish to rent a kayak, you MUST reserve through Coastal Kayak in advance. Rentals will not be available without a reservation. Please email [email protected] to reserve your rental if you haven't done so already.

The Course!

While you're out on the water, there will be directional signs posted on the marsh islands so you can find your way.

There will be plenty of staff along the course to help you navigate.

To view the map on your Google Maps app, please click here. We will also have QR codes available to scan at the registration table so you can have the digital map accessible on your phone during the course.

Required Equipment:

Water bottle

Sun protection

Closed-toe shoes

If bringing your own kayak:

Kayak

Life Jacket (you will be required to wear this at all times on the water)

Paddle

Whistle

Recommended Equipment:

Snacks

Cell Phone

Camera

Binoculars

Money for the food trucks at the After-Party!

PARTY LIKE A PADDLER

at the Paddlefest After-Party!

When you arrive at the finish line at Tower Rd, you will be greeted with lots of cheering from your parks team! Also at the finish line will be the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, available for optional vessel safety checks of your kayak.

Multiple shuttle buses will be running throughout the day so just hop on to head back to your car. If you brought your own kayak, we are unable to transport your kayak on the bus so you will need to drive back to Tower Rd to retrieve your kayak at the end. If you rented a kayak, Coastal Kayak or Quest will pick it up at Tower Rd at the end of the day.

Once you've retrieved your kayak at the finish line, join us for the After-Party. This party is NOT to be missed! (and please invite your family & friends, even if they're not paddling). The party will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tower Road Oceanside, located near the finish line, but on the OCEAN side of the highway. Live music, food trucks, vendors, and exhibitors will be present. For all the details, visit https://www.paddlefestde.com/after-party

We will also be raffling off some cool prizes!

If you finish the course prior to 11 a.m. when the party starts, feel free to bring a beach chair and relax on the beach until the party gets going. Or utilize the bathhouse showers to get that salty bay grime off!

Please note that you MUST stop by the after-party if you wish to receive your Paddlefest goody bag and t-shirt (t-shirts only guaranteed for those that purchased in advance, otherwise they will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis).

Questions? Updates?

Please call (302) 227-6991 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

If there are any last minute updates we will notify you by email. If you would like to receive Paddlefest updates via text (and you have not already signed up), please send a text message to 81010 that says @paddlefest (it may then ask if you are a student, parent, or teacher and ask for your birthdate – just say student and any date before 2009!).