Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival Oct. 25 through Nov. 2
The nine-day festival spans Lee County, Fla.’s, waterfront communities (think: Fort Myers-Cape Coral-Sanibel-Bonita-Pine Island, etc.)
Win a Free Kayak: Register to win an Ocean kayak from Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World by visiting the Blueway Mobile, a funky van that will appear at various events and businesses in Tampa & Orlando and Lee, Collier & Charlotte counties from now through festival time. Or visit the festival Web site. (Online registration starts later this month and will run till festival time.)
Calusa Pro-Am Kayak Fishing Tournament: Professionals compete Nov. 1 and amateurs tackle the waterways Nov. 2 in this catch-and-release, digital weigh-in tournament.
Paddling races in Bonita, North Fort Myers and Matlacha: Race to the finish line: the Imperial River Challenge is Oct. 25, the Midpoint Paddle Sprint is Nov. 1 and the Paddle of the Pass is Nov. 2.
Community Fests: Show support for eco-tourism, kids’ activities, educational happenings, music, fun and being outdoors in a waterfront community. From Bonita Springs to Sanibel and North Fort Myers to Pine Island, there’s something for everyone.
Free Clinics and Demonstrations: Learn some key tips and strategies to maximize your paddling experience in a variety of how-to series from Oct. 25 through Nov. 2. Or just come out and watch to get an introduction to paddling. (Most of these are free.)
Guided Tours: Explore the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail with a local expert. Guided cultural and nature tours happen throughout the festival.
Speaker Series: Win prizes and get the low-down on everything from photography to the Calusas at Rutenberg Park’s Eco-Living Center for this free, after-work speaker series Oct. 27 through Oct. 31.
All details for events listed can be found at http://www.calusabuewaypaddlingfestival.com/
