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The 8th Annual Great Canadian Kayak Challenge kicks off from Participark this Friday afternoon, and there’s some details that you need to know.

 

GETTING THERE

First off, you need to get to the site.  No problem, there is lots of parking available around the Participark area, including the lawn on the north end of the park, side streets in the Mountjoy area, the Game On Ball Hockey lot and other lots on the east side of the Mattagami Bridge.

The lot on the south end of the park is reserved for those with parking passes assigned by Tourism Timmins to vendors, sponsors and those with disability stickers.  This will be strictly enforced, as this lot will also be what emergency vehicles will use to access the park.

Of course, you don’t need to take your vehicle to the park as there is a free shuttle service being offered by the city via First Student of Canada.  There are 16 different pick up locations.  CLICK HERE for details on the shuttle service.

If you’re competing in the kayak races, you are asked to park in the Game On Ball Hockey lot.

 

ONCE YOU’RE THERE

The festival is offering a number of games and displays for all ages!

On top of the kayaking among other things, there will be a water sports stunt show, live pro wrestling action, magic shows and my personal favourite, the Alzheimer’s Society annual “Duck Race.”

CLICK HERE for the full list of events.

 

FIREWORKS DETAILS

Fireworks will be on display on Saturday night at 9:30pm at the Mattagami Bridge.

As such, officials are putting in a road closure from 8pm to 10:30pm on Riverside Drive from Norman and Fogg Street easterly to across the bridge itself.

Two eastbound lanes will be kept open on the bridge for emergency vehicles to use.

 

LEAVING PARTICIPARK

There will be plenty of traffic moving in and out of the park throughout the weekend.

Give yourself time and patience, especially at the end of the nightly concerts and fireworks.  Last year, traffic was quite congested on Norman Street, all the way northbound to the Lafleur Bridge.

 

ATV DRAW

On top of all this, we will be giving away a Polaris Sportsman 450 ATV from Bourque’s in Cochrane at NOON on Saturday.  Ballots will be available at Participark up until 11am Saturday, just check out our booth with the Timmins Garage Street Team truck.  (Remember to read the Rules and Regulations before entering.)

 

111 corporate sponsors stepped up (including us at Rogers Radio) to contribute.  CLICK HERE for the festival’s official page.

Over 100 paddlers are already signed up from all ends of Ontario.  Manager of Tourism Guy Lamarche anticipates at least 20,000 people will spend time at the festival throughout the three days.

The festival ends late Sunday afternoon.

Filed under: Local News