Moosefest, an annual whitewater kayaking event on the Moose River, will take place Friday through Sunday, October 18 to 20th. The weekend’s events will kick-off on Friday night with a film fest at the Strand Theatre from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring a number of whitewater-themed short films.
Dave Gardner of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company in Old Forge, organizer of the film fest, said his motive is to get people excited for paddling on Saturday and Sunday.
Films include, Tameless, which documents a 10-day kayak trip down the Kitoy and Biluti rivers in Siberia this past summer and includes two local Adirondack paddlers Tony Gianfagna and Matt Young.
Kelsey Thompson will show one of his films from his series titled, Portraits.
Mike McKay of Five2Nine Productions will premier his latest episode from the Made in Canada series showcasing some of Canada’s classic whitewater runs and the local paddlers who know them best.
The film fest is open to the public. A small fee will be charged.
Proceeds will be donated to the Strand Theatre for providing the use of the theatre for the event, Gardner said.
Other events during Moosefest include drysuit demos, paddler clinics and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mountainman store on Route 28.
Proceeds from the breakfast will go to the Strand Theatre and American Whitewater.
American Whitewater and paddler Chris Koll have been responsible for organizing the dam release for Moosefest.
“In the past Moosefest has been a gathering of paddlers. Myself and others from Mountain-man wanted to organize it to make it more of an attraction. I don’t think people realize the kind of world class whitewater we have in the Adirondacks. The festival can help raise awareness and make the area more of a destination,” Gardner said.
For more information on the weekend’s events go to:
mountainmanoutdoors.com