POWER OF PLACE: Conservation, Kayaking, and Culture
July 13, 2024 • 8 am - 5 pm
Be Part of Something Extraordinary
Attention all kayakers, families, and adventure enthusiasts! Join us at Menokin for our inaugural kayak race and festival to celebrate the Power of Place and the beautiful waters on Cat Point Creek in Virginia’s Northern Neck on Saturday, July 13th, 11 am - 5 pm (8 am for kayak racing; 11 am onward for festival activities).
There is no other event like this in the region. The Power of Place": Conservation, Kayaking, and Culture Festival offers recreational activities for the whole family, including kayaking, hiking, live music, food, film, tours and fun for the whole family. Come celebrate the Northern Neck’s pristine natural resources and rich historic cultural heritage while we raise awareness of the value of conservation and the beauty of our water, land and historic resources.
Kayaking on Cat Point Creek
Schedule
8 am - 11 am: Experience the Thrill of our First-Ever Kayak Race
Kayak and water enthusiasts can participate in a kayak race along the picturesque Cat Point Creek. This 7.5-mile run, organized in partnership with the American Canoe Association, promises breathtaking views and exciting competition as you navigate through the pristine waters from Menokin Bay to where Cat Point Creek meets the Rappahannock River.
11 AM - 5 PM: Fun for the Whole Family
After the race, the excitement continues with a day full of festivities at the Menokin property. With a bandstand, food vendors, tours, trail hikes and a movie reel in the Visitor Center, plan to immerse yourself in the rich history, vibrant culture, and conservation efforts of Menokin and the Northern Neck.
What to Expect:
Enjoy live music, short films and delicious offerings from food and drink vendors.
Engage with environmental advocates and learn about the importance of conservation in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Embark on special pontoon excursions across Menokin Bay to explore the newly opened Cat Point Creek Wildlife Refuge, featuring children's hiking trails.
Delve into the history of Menokin, a National Historic Landmark, with guided tours of the Menokin grounds throughout the day.
Walk our trails and look for installed fairy houses along the way.
FOOD & DRINK VENDORS:
If you are interested in participating in this event, please fill out the registration form or email Alice French at afrench@menokin.org for details.
Event Schedule
Subject to updates; check back regularly for time and event confirmations and additions
7 AM - 11 AM: KAYAK RACES
7:00 am - Kayak Race Registration
Registration at Menokin's Overflow Parking lot
7:30 am - Launch kayak on the creek
Kayakers launch and line up at Start
8:00 am - Kayak Race begins!
Race down Cat Point Creek to Rappahannock River at Naylor’s Beach Campground
8am - 12 pm - Hike the “Wild in the Woods”
Hike the Wild in the Woods’ trails at Cat Point Creek Wildlife Refuge during the kayak and throughout the day: take the FREE shuttle by land or boat across Menokin Bay!
11 AM - 5 PM: POWER OF PLACE FESTIVAL
11:00 am - 4:00 pm - Menokin Tours on the Hour
Learn about Menokin's Cultural Preservation work. Meet at Visitor Center
11:00 am - 5:00 pm - Visit Festival vendors
Learn and explore Conservation: Demos and educational enrichment
11:00 am - 5:00 pm - Hike and Seek Fairy Houses
Hike the trails at Menokin and admire the Fairy Houses installed along our paths
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
View the VMFA Exhibit Cultivating History: Food, Crops, and Art inside the Menokin Visitor Center
12:00 pm - Kayak Race Awards
Awards given from the Stage
12 pm - 5 pm - Live Music on Stage
Bands and DJ all afternoon; play Oyster Jeopardy with TOGA emcee
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Hourly film screenings of local documentaries at the Visitor Center.
Growing Up Osprey (approx 14 minutes)
Conserving Carter's Creek: A Tides Inn Shoreline Restoration (approx 5 minutes)
11 am - 5:00 pm - Food and Drink
Enjoy food and drink all day from our vendors!
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT
This event is made possible with funding from:
Northern Neck Planning Commission, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the
American Canoe Association (ACA)
Catalyst Sponsor
Essex County Conservation Alliance
We also celebrate and thank our partners for this event:
Town of Warsaw, for safety and travel
Naylor’s Beach Campground, for kayak landing
Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends
Friends of the Rappahannock
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA)
Northern Neck Soil & Water Conservation District
Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School
Rappahannock Adventures, LLC
Don't Miss the Boat—Secure Your Kayak Race Spot Today!
Whether you're a seasoned kayaker, a family looking for adventure, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the Northern Neck and wants to see it from the water, this kayak event is one you won't want to miss. Secure your race spot today by registering below. Registration fee: $25 if you are a member of the American Canoe Association; $35 otherwise (includes $25 registration fee and $10 insurance charge). All participants must sign a waiver.
Race registration details:
7.5-mile-long race with tide to mouth of Cat Point Creek, land at Naylors Campground on Rappahannock River
Review Safety Guidelines and online course
Fees include on water insurance for individual paddlers
