The sun was blazing, the rapids were raging, the party tent was rockin and the black flies were… well they didn’t come to the festival this year.

On the past May 24^th long weekend Paddler Co-op in Palmer Rapids, Ontario was host to the sixth annual Rapid Media Palmer Fest.

“I think this one will go down in history as the best Palmer Fest ever” are the exact words quoted from some of the festival’s participants and exhibitors.

The thank you emails are flooding our inbox (it’s okay keep them coming) as Palmer Festers tell us about their awesome weekend experience.

Scott MacGregor, the big guy (he’s really actually quite tall) here at Rapid Media thought it would be cool to do a Palmer Fest by the Numbers sort of reflection.

Here goes…

330 – Participants enrolled in whitewater canoeing and kayaking clinics

145 – Participants trying whitewater for the first time

45 – Instructors teaching at Palmer Fest

9,000 - Dollars paid to instructors for teaching at Palmer Fest

1 – Instructor who didn’t show up (you know who you are)

30– Kids participating in whitewater kayaking clinics

14 – Kids in daycare so that parents could participate in on-water clinics

28 – The daily high in degrees celcius

26 – Degrees celcuis warmer than last year’s daily high at Palmer Fest

7.25 – Kegs of Steam Whistle drank on Saturday night

.75 – Kegs of Steam Whistle drank by Rapid Media and Paddler Co-op staff Sunday night

3 – Number of encores played by The Fireweed Company

73 – Hamburgers eaten by Rapid Media staff over the course of the weekend

500 – Dollars donated by Rapid Media to the recreation centre rehabilitation project in Palmer Rapids

50 – feet the size of Confluence Sales Rep Andrew Sterling’s boat trailer

5’6” – Height of Andrew Sterling (on his tip toes)(haha he’s shorter than me)

28 – Number of exhibitors at Palmer Fest

43 – CMS running through Madawaska River this Palmer Fest

180 – average CMS usually running through Madawaska River this weekend

475 – Number of whitewater canoes and kayak on the Madawaska River during Palmer Fest clinics

0 – Number of fistfights that broke out due to high volume of paddlers on the river

50 – Per cent of people who learned to roll in two-hour rolling clinics

22 – Trucks and other 4x4s parked in “wimpy car” parking area (you know who you are)

0 – Cars needed to be pulled out of parking area

1 – Number of bikini bottoms found at the campfire Sunday morning

Thanks to everyone for making Palmer Fest the #1 paddling event of the year. 

Don't forget to check out our complete list of paddling events happening across North America at adventurekayakmag.com/blogs/flotsam-a-jetsam/events.html

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