Fall Palmer River Festival 2026: Whitewater, Music & Community

Three days on the Madawaska River with paddling clinics, live music, and festival vibes

📍 Get Directions Full Schedule

Whether you’re paddling for the first time or pushing class III+ whitewater, the Palmer River Festival brings together Ontario’s paddling community for clinics, live music, local food, and the kind of riverside weekend that keeps people coming back twice a year.

🛶 Clinics for all levels 🎶 Live local music ⛺ On-site camping 👨‍👩‍👧 Kids’ programs

💡 This is a biannual tradition — the same festival returns in spring (May). Both weekends book up fast, especially the clinic slots.

Why Go Schedule Essentials Clinics Food & Music Getting There Tips FAQ

✨ Why Palmer River Festival Is a Paddler’s Pilgrimage

The Palmer River Festival has earned its reputation as one of Ontario’s best-loved paddling weekends. It returns twice a year — spring and fall — because once is never enough. The Madawaska River is beautiful, the instruction is world-class, the community is welcoming, and the whole thing is built on the principle that paddling should be accessible to everyone, beginner to expert.

What makes it special isn’t just the clinics. Yes, you can refine your kayak roll with certified instructors, learn to handle tandem canoe in whitewater, or challenge yourself with advanced class III runs. But the festival is really about the weekend. You camp on the river, listen to live local music Saturday night, eat from food vendors, meet paddlers from across the region, and come away with new skills and new friends in equal measure.

Whether you’re brand new to paddling and ready to dip a blade, a seasoned kayaker looking to sharpen your skills, or just here for the music and the river atmosphere, the Palmer River Festival is built for you. That’s why it keeps selling out.

📅 Weekend Schedule

The festival runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, with clinics focused on Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons.

🎟️ Festival Tickets & Pricing

Book early: Clinic spots fill fast. Register at paddlerco-op.ca to secure your place and confirm exact pricing for your chosen course.

What’s not included: Boat and paddle rentals, breakfasts, and dinners. Breakfasts and dinners are available from on-site food vendors for cash.

🛶 Whitewater Clinics by Discipline

All clinics run Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons, with instruction from certified Paddler Co-op instructors. Disciplines, levels, and pricing vary — check the full course calendar when you book to match your goals and experience.

🪂 Kayak Clinics: Beginner to advanced, covering strokes, bracing, rolling, and big water technique.

🚣 Solo Canoe Clinics: Learn whitewater control and efficiency in a solo boat, from beginner ponds to intermediate rivers.

🛣️ Tandem Canoe Clinics: Team paddling dynamics, synchronization, and how to handle whitewater as a crew.

🎒 Packraft Clinics: Lightweight, packable boats for paddlers who love mobility and adventure.

👶 Youth Programs: KidsCAN (ages 7–9) and Kids2CAN (ages 10–12) with age-appropriate instruction and lots of water time.

🎶 Live Music & Food

Live local music runs Friday evening and Saturday night, setting the soundtrack for the weekend. The vibe is low-key and community-focused — the kind of festival where conversation flows as freely as the river.

🍔 Food on-site: Local food vendors set up both days. Cash is strongly preferred. Breakfasts and dinners are available for purchase; lunches are included with clinic packages.

🎉 Saturday night is the big one: After a full day on the river, live music and food vendors create the heart of the festival weekend. Bring cash and plan to stay late.

🚗 Getting There & Parking

Paddler Co-op is located in Palmer Rapids on the Madawaska River, about two hours west of Ottawa and 90 minutes northwest of Kingston. Street parking on the property is limited, so plan ahead if you’re driving.

From Ottawa: Head west on Highway 7 toward Arnprior, then continue on Highway 60 toward Combermere. Follow signs to Palmer Rapids.

From Kingston: Take Highway 7 northwest toward Perth, then continue north on Highway 60 toward Combermere and Palmer Rapids.

Parking: Limited street parking on-site. Arrive Friday afternoon if possible to secure a spot. The venue is set up to accommodate festival camping, so most attendees are staying on-site anyway.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing

🧥 Bring layers and rain gear. Mid-September weather in the Ottawa Valley is beautiful but unpredictable. River spray, cool mornings, and afternoon showers are all possible.

💸 Bring cash for food and vendors. Most on-site food vendors are cash-preferred. Bring enough for meals you aren’t including in your package.

🛟 Non-paddlers are welcome. You don’t need to be in a clinic to enjoy the festival. Music, food, camping, and paddler community vibes are accessible to anyone.

🏕️ Camping is tent-only and tight. Space is limited and fills quickly, especially for a fall weekend. Book early if you want to stay on-site.

🗓️ The spring edition is just as good. If fall is sold out, the festival returns in May. Both are legendary in the paddling community.

Why Paddler Co-op Runs This Festival 💚

Paddler Co-op is a non-profit outdoor education organization built to make paddling accessible to everyone. The Palmer River Festival is their flagship event — a celebration of community, skill-building, and the pure joy of being on a river with other paddlers.

Supporting the festival means supporting on-the-water education, youth programs, and a paddling culture rooted in inclusion and safety.

❓ Common Questions