Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival
Posted by Scott McCormack on
PIJINUISKAQ PADDLE FESTIVAL 2025
Following the phenomenal success of the Bridgewater 125 Parade of Paddlers on the LaHave River/Pijinuiskaq, CKNS, Cape LaHave Adventures & the Town of Bridgewater are pleased to launch the 2025 Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival.
The Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival will run Saturday & Sunday, September 20 - 21, 2025 coinciding with the Bridgewater Harvest Moon Festival. A full day of clinics will be offered at Cape LaHave Adventures in Dublin Shore followed on Sunday by the 2nd annual Pijinuiskaq Mass Paddle. Registration is required for all clinics and events. Clinics are $20 per session and the mass paddle is free!
Saturday clinics will include basic skills, skills development and training in facilitating adaptive paddling.
PIJINUISKAQ PADDLE FESTIVAL ITINERARY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
Cape LaHave Adventures, Dublin Shore
Clinics require pre-registration and are $20 per session. Register with CKNS.
Discounted Full Day Single Kayak & SUP Rentals available through Cape LaHave Adventures. Use the following discount code at the check out: ZAXNJ698CJN4
08:30 - 09:00 Check-in
09:00 - 16:00 Full Day Route Planning & Navigation Workshop for Sea Kayakers
Level: Beginner to Advanced
Spaces available: 12
Come learn about route planning and coastal navigation, while spending the day sea kayaking in the beautiful LaHave Islands. Together we will plan our route and practice navigation along the way. Bring a picnic and snacks!
09:00 - 11:00 Introduction to SUP
Level: Beginner
Spaces available: 6
This 2hr session will introduce you to the basics of Stand Up Paddleboarding. Come give a new paddlesport a try!
09:00 - 12:00 Introduction to Sea Kayaking
Level: Beginner
Spaces available: 6
This 3hr session will introduce you to basic sea kayak safety features, strokes & safety skills. Just beginning your adventures in sea kayaking? Begin here! This is also a great morning session if you'd like to join an afternoon rescue clinic, but are new to kayaking.
09:00 - 11:00 Introduction to Greenland Style Rolling
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Spaces available: 4
Learn about kayak heritage & traditional Greenland rolls and their applications
12:00 - 13:30 Break for Lunch
Pack a picnic to enjoy on the beach at Cape LaHave Adventures, or plan to visit one of our excellent nearby local bakeries: The LaHave Bakery or Ploughman’s Lunch
13:30 - 16:30 Women's Kayak Rescue Skills Clinic
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Spaces available: 12
Join us for a 3hr Kayak Skills Clinic taught by women for women and non-binary folks. We'll work on some paddling techniques and re-entry & rescue tips and tricks. A great opportunity to get on the water with like minded people and improve your skills in a welcoming, safe environment.
13:30 - 16:30 Sea Kayak Rescues
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Spaces available: 6
Join us for a 3hr workshop to practice and refine our sea kayak rescues and self-rescues. This is a great opportunity to brush up on your skills and learn some new techniques!
16:30 - 17:00 Wrap up & farewells
Check out Bridgewater’s Harvest Moon Festival running Sept 19-20. Each evening there will be free concerts in Pijinuiskaq Park, with Saturday night featuring a fireworks display at sunset. For more information on other Harvest Moon Events click here.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
2nd Annual Pijinuiskaq Mass Paddle
Shipyards Landing
Bridgewater
The Sunday mass paddle will depart from and return to Shipyards Landing in Bridgewater. The paddle will follow the river into the downtown core, passing Pijinuiskaq Park, continuing under the Old Bridge and the ‘new’ Bridge, before returning to Shipyards Landing. Food trucks and concessions will be available at Shipyards Landing.
The 2 km route will offer picturesque views for paddlers and spectators expected to line the park edges and bridges.
10:00 - 11:00 Registration/Check in
11:00 - 11:30 Welcoming remarks/Boat Launch
11:30 ~ 13:00 Paddle
The parade begins from Shipyards and heads up river through Bridgewater, passing Pijinuiskaq Park, under the ‘Old Bridge’ and ‘New Bridge’ and returning to Shipyards Landing.
Length of Paddle: 2kms return
Expected duration: 90 minutes
Want to participate but need to rent a kayak/paddleboard?
A limited supply of single and tandem kayaks, or SUP’s, can be pre-booked, to be picked up onsite at Shipyard’s Landing on September 22. Pre-book your watercraft for 10am – 2pm with discount code PIJINUISKAQ2025 before September 19th.
