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World Paddle For The Planet Festival Oct 10-13

October 8, 2013 by SoWal Staff

World Paddle For The Planet 2013 is a four-day eco-educational fundraiser festival culminating with a 24-hour paddle on beautiful Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in the State of Florida and designated a "Pristine Florida Waterway". Festival events will be held in Carillon Beach and Camp Helen State Park October 10-13, 2013. Funds raised by this event will benefit Justin Riney’s Expedition Florida 500, a project of the non-profit Mother Ocean.

Update: See photos from the event.

World Paddle For The Planet (WPFTP) founder Bob Purdy will be arriving in Panama City Beach a week in advance on Oct. 6. The festival is presented by The Stand Up Paddle Radio Show and hosted by Walkin' on Water Paddleboards and the town of Carillon Beach.

With satellite events happening around the world, the purpose of World Paddle For The Planet 2013 is to educate and raise awareness for restoring and preserving the health of our oceans and waterways worldwide, sending the message to “Be the change you want to see”!

After a meet-and-greet on Thursday evening, the festival will open with Family World Paddle Day at noon on Friday, Oct. 11 on the shores of Carillon Lake. The day will be filled with fun, music, food vendors, SUP yoga and educational booths presented by NOAA, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, South Walton Turtle Watch, The Shark Whisperer, Lake Powell Community Alliance, and other groups known locally and nationally.

Festival-sponsor booths and the Carillon Farmers Market will line the main street of Carillon Beach while plein air artists capture the sights on canvas. At sunset on Friday Oct. 11 the Family Paddle begins on Carillon Lake.

Paddlers, families and nature lovers will join World Paddlers at Carillon Beach the evening of Friday, Oct. 11, for a film screening of Stand, a SUP adventure through the Great Bear Rainforest. The film will be shown outdoors on the lawn at Carillon Beach at 7:30pm. Viewers will need to bring lawn chairs and blankets. A donation of at least $5 per person is requested.

WPFTP main event begins on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Camp Helen State Park. Morning activities include qigong led by British Columbian Planet Paddler Bob Purdy, and an Ocean Hour shoreline clean-up led by eco-adventurer Justin Riney of event beneficiary Expedition Florida 500.

At midday on Saturday the 24-hour endurance paddle will kick off after a ceremony by the Maskoke People (Muskogee). Paddlers in canoes, kayaks, and on standup paddleboards will launch from the shores of Lake Powell at Camp Helen State Park. Particpants will paddle, solo or in teams, a course on the lake for part or all of the 24-hour period from noon on Saturday, Oct. 12, to noon on Sunday, Oct. 13. Lake Powell Community Alliance will have boats on the Lake to provide water, support, and emergency service.

The festival will close on Sunday, Oct. 13, with a recognition ceremony, event videos, and a concert. For more information please see the event website at www.worldpaddlefortheplanet.com. Registration for teams, individuals, family day or satellite event can be found at Active.com.

Donations and sponsorships are welcome. Event producers are grateful to sponsors Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida, The NightSup LED Paddleboards, and MelanSol 100% Natural Skin Care, and to media sponsor SoWal.com. Funds raised by this event will benefit

Expedition Florida 500, an education and awareness project of MotherOcean.org.