
Saturday, August 20, 2022
ROTARY ISLAND PARK
Sault Riverfest celebrates Sault Ste. Marie as an amazing playground for paddling and outdoor recreation. Come join us for a day full of fun, competition and relaxation on Rotary Island in beautiful Sault Ste. Marie, MI. With so much to see and do in Sault Ste. Marie you will definitely want to spend your weekend taking in all that this area has to offer.
Events and Activities
Ample parking available at Aune Osborn park.
9:00 am Michigan Canoe Races Association – MCRA C2 Race
Registration begins at 7 am on Rotary Island
- $20 – E1, E2 Online registration here
- $30 Day off Registration
- $1,000 purse
The Riverfest committee is excited to again partner with Michigan Canoe Racing Association (MCRA). While racing, you have the excitement of seeing the Great Lakes lake freighters up close and personal. You will enjoy all the beauty that the upper peninsula has to offer while racing down the St. Mary’s River.
$30 race day per team Registration begins at 7 am on Rotary Island or still through the online website.
The Race Course is two 7 mile loops down the St. Marys River and back to the starting line for a total distance of 14 miles.
PLEASE Bring your Mandatory Life Jackets and a canoe Bow Cover. The bottom portion of the loop is in shallow water along the shore of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but with an open Wind Fetch of 2 to 3 miles. If the wind is out of the South waves can build in this area. If conditions are determined to be unsafe for paddling through this open area the course will be adjusted.
9:00 am Mimosas & Yoga
Mimosas + Two Yoga Sessions (now you can do yoga both on land or your standing paddle board!)
- Yoga is free
- Mimosas will be for sale on site
Mimosas from 9:00 am to 11:00 am under the Marchetti’s Beverage Tent.
- Break & Yoga: 9am – 11am
- Two 45-minute Yoga sessions
- 9:15 am – 10:00 am
- 10:15 am – 11:00 am
Bring your paddle board (a limited number of paddle boards will be available on a first come – come first bases.) and join us for yoga on the St. Mary’s River. If stand-up paddle board yoga is not exactly your thing, bring your yoga mat and join in along the shoreline (Fair and full disclosure – there is goose poop)
10:00am Communitywide Battleship Challenge
Registration begins at 9:00 am
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Teams will assemble at Rotary Park to participate in this event. Your team of three people representing your organization, sports team or business will take sail in a canoe and face three other teams in the Rotary Lagoon area with the purpose of sinking the other teams. The Community Foundation will arm your team with water guns, buckets and more, and we will provide all the canoes, life jackets and paddles you will need. Think you have what it takes to be the top team in the city and take home the first ever Riverfest Cup? Bragging rights are on the line and team costumes are encouraged!
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This event is limited to the first 32 teams to sign up and spots are filling up fast. There is no cost to participate, so get you team together, grab a fan club and start working on your technique
Ready to sign up? click here
11:00 am – 4:00 pm RIVERFEST EVENTS
Rotary Island
- St. Mary’s River Float
- Canoe Battleship
- Beast Jousting
- Large Voyageur Canoe Rides
- Water slide
- Slackline
- Frog Fishing with a chance to win an LSSU Norris Center Membership
- Music throughout day
- Food vendors
- Marchetti’s Beer and Beverage Tent
River Float
- FREE Event
- 11am – 5pm
- A leisurely float down the scenic St. Mary’s River
- River tubes and paddles provided on-site
- Life jackets provided on-site
Canoe Battleship
- FREE Event
- 11am – 5pm
- 6 Canoe Battleship – Canoe battleship is a fun event where teams of four people try to sink other teams’ canoes and be the last boat floating at the end of the day.
- Canoes and paddles provided on-site
- 5 gallon buckets and super soaker cannons provided on-site
- Life jackets provided on-site
Marchetti's White Claw Tent
- All Day located on Rotary Island
- Enjoy a variety of your favorite refreshments and music in Marchetti’s Distributing White Claw Tent
Large Voyageur Canoe Rides
- FREE Event
- 11am – 5pm
- 10 person adventure through the islands near Rotary Park
- Giant canoes and paddles provided on-site
- Life jackets provided on-site
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm St. Mary’s River Scavenger Hunt
Registration begins 9am
- Free Event!
- First 50 people can reserve tubes/life jacket for free
Think you know the St. Mary’s River?
Twenty plus challenges. Two hours. One epic adventure. Your two person team will solve puzzles, complete challenges, and explore the chain of islands in the St. Mary’s River. Sign up as a team of two. Registration starts at 9:00 am on Rotary Island. Scavenger hunt 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
You can use any non-motorized (canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board, paddle boat, etc) vessel. All participants must have an approved lifejacket.
2pm – 3pm Talley results and award winners
Prizes for the winners (and a new love of the St. Mary’s River)!
1:00 pm MCRA C1 Canoe Race and Amateur Paddle Race
Registration 7:00 am - noon
- $10 for professional canoers Online registration here
- Race time: 1:00 – 2:00
- 40 minute Race with a $500 purse
The Riverfest committee is excited to again partner with Michigan Canoe Racing Association (MCRA) to bring our first ever PRO/AM race. Think you have what it takes to compete with a professional canoe racer, now is your chance. While racing, you have the excitement of seeing the Great Lakes lake freighters up close and personal. You will enjoy all the beauty that the upper peninsula has to offer while racing down the St. Mary’s River.
This is a competitive race with several classes (youth 14 – 17, adult 18 – 49, masters 50+, male/female) in both Stand-up Paddle Boards and Kayaks.
The Race Course is 4 miles takes paddlers on a beautiful scenic tour through a chain of four islands and back to Rotary Island. There will be signs along the banks pointing the way. You never know what wildlife you will see along your way!
Amateur Stand-up Paddle Boards and Kayaks race
1:10 PM Start Time
Awards for both the C2 and C1 MCRA races will be handed out approximately 30 minutes after the last C1 competitor finishes
3:00 pm Riverfest Paddle Parade
Thank you to all of our sponsors that help make
Sault Riverfest possible!
Voyageur Island Sponsors
Kayak Sponsors
Stand-Up Paddle Board Sponsors
Canoe Sponsors




Vietnam Vetreans Chapter 180


Paddle Sponsors
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Any questions, suggestions or inquiries you may have, send them to us by filling out this form!
We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Phone: (906)635-1046
E-mail: [email protected]