APRIL 12-14

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MIRACLE MACKFEST 2024 IS A WRAP!

What an unbelievable year! We went from the brink of canceling to a record turnout!!! 🤯🥳 Just over a week before the event, we were seeing record low water levels. Instead, the skies opened up just in time to give us prime conditions.  Thank you all so much for supporting the event this year.  It is clear by the smiles, excited conversations, and laughter we documented through this weekend how much MACKfest is loved. 🥰  

Photo by Natalie Mahoney

MACKfest 2024 EVENT details (click here)

Event Date: April 12-14, 2024 (Back-up alternate date will be April 19 - 21)

Location: Marmora Curling Club, 2 Crawford Dr, Marmora, Ontario

Camping:  PRE-ORDER HERE! 

Meals: Pre-order deadline is April 2, 2024 PRE-ORDER HERE! 

T-shirts: Pre-order deadline is March 21, 2024 PRE-ORDER HERE! 

Grand Prize Raffle Tickets: $20 per ticket and sell a max of 100 for each prize.  PRE-ORDER HERE! 

MACKfest 2024 Vendors: 

Friday Schedule: 

Saturday Schedule: 

Sunday Schedule: 

ABOUT MACKfest (CLICK HERE)

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.

This three-day whitewater paddler get-together is hosted at the Marmora Curling Club by volunteers from one of the largest recreational paddling clubs in Ontario, the Kawartha Whitewater Paddlers (KWP) recreational paddling club.  

Paddlers come together during this weekend to celebrate the start of the paddling season, see old friends and meet new ones.   There are some amazing rivers in the area known as the "highway 7 Runs" as they intersect Highway 7, running between Peterborough and Ottawa. Paddlers organize their own river expeditions during the MACKfest weekend then spend the rest of the time enjoying the event festivities...and some people just come for the event festivities!

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

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 

MAP TO VENUE

RIVER DIRECTIONS & DETAILS (Click here)

We do not organize MACKfest river trips. 

Paddlers should plan their own paddling

Local river beta can be found here and will be posted on a bulletin board at the curling club for Beaver Creek, Upper and Lower Black, Skootamata, Salmon, Moira, Crowe Bridge and the Fish Hatchery


*River links take you to 

PaddlingMaps.com 

BEAVER CREEK (LOWER)

THE UPPER BLACK RIVER (COOPER TO QUEENSBOROUGH)

CROWE RIVER BRIDGE PLAYSPOT

CROWE RIVER CALLAGHAN RAPIDS PLAYSPOTS

MOIRA RIVER (SCUTTLEHOLE ROAD)

SALMON RIVER (UPPER)

SKOOTAMATTA RIVER (UPPER)

SKOOTAMATTA CREEK (UPPER FLINTON ROAD - HWY 7)

Whitewater Ontario gives thanks to Queensborough

During a presentation held the morning of March 24, 2012 in the hamlet of Queensborough, Whitewater Ontario unveiled a plaque recognizing the community for their continuing generosity in welcoming kayakers along the Black River.   Since 2005, the Queensborough Community Centre (QCC) has been hosting a fund raising luncheon for the paddlers who enjoy early spring runs on the Upper and Lower Black River.  The Money raised through the Saturday barbeques (known as Treats on the Black River) will be used to fund the drop-in children's summer program at the Community Centre this July.   Attending the presentation were, from left, Ann Barry (QCC), Joan Sims (QCC), Stephanie Sims (Children's Summer Program Counsellor), Susanna Sims, Ludwik Kapusta (QCC), Elaine Kapusta (QCC), Laura Duncan (Whitewater Ontario Advocacy Committee Chair), Wayne Donison (Whitewater Ontario Vice President), Gary George, Leah Kindree, and Ben Plumb (all Advocacy Committee members). The sign reads, "This access opportunity provided in partnership between Ludwik and Elaine Kapusta and Whitewater Ontario.  Erected by Whitewater Ontario in appreciation of the Queensborough Community's ongoing hospitality to whitewater paddlers, with a special thank-you to onwners Ludwik and Elaine Kapusta."


MEET THE LAND OWNERS 

WHO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE HIGHWAY 7 RIVERS

CLICK EACH HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE LAND OWNERS

Elaine & Lud Kapusta

Black River

Jerry and Kim Brodey

Black River

Dale Reynolds

Beaver Creek

Natalie Zanussi

Beaver Creek

Brenda Gorham

Beaver Creek

Phil & Amanda Kompass

Skootamatta River 

Lucille & Joe Orlando

Crowe Bridge

A special thank you to the community of Queensborough for offering such a warm welcome to paddlers!

SPONSORED BY

MACKFEST VIDEO LIBRARY

2011 RAPID MEDIA EVENT PROMO 

SOME OLD MACKFEST ARTWORK

Check out our YouTube channel for more M.A.C.K FEST  member videos