Kayakers hit the water in Pascagoula for Paddlepalooza
KAREN NELSON/SUN HERALD Fletcher Songe of Pascagoula pedals out of a cove into the Pascagoula River preparing for a twilight paddle during the Paddlepalooza on Friday at Lighthouse Park in Pascagoula. The event is part of South Coast Summer Fest, which continues with events today in Ocean Springs.
Paddlepalooza draws kayakers with twilight trip, live music, food
PASCAGOULA -- The rain didn't dampen spirits at
Paddlepalooza on Friday at Lighthouse Park in Pascagoula. By sunset, the
river was full of kayakers ready for a twilight paddle.
The event is part of the South Coast Summer Fest, which continues today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with events at Fort Maurepas on Front Beach in Ocean Springs.
"The weather put a little damper on us, but people here are enjoying it," said Darcie Crew, director of Parks and Recreation for Pascagoula. "It's a family-friendly event."
About 300 people turned out for Paddlepalooza, enjoying live music and food, and learning more about kayaking as well as the natural resources available in the area.
It's the second year for the event, which was born out of the Ocean Springs Kayak Fest, said Leah Bray of Natural Capital Development, an environmental consulting and project-marketing firm that sponsors Summer Fest.
"Our target audience is twofold," Bray said. "First are the local, regional people. We want to show them the resources we have here. There's no place like South Mississippi."
She pointed out the barrier islands, the river and other natural attractions.
"We want to showcase what we have here," she said.
The second audience is international eco-tourists, targeted through kayaking magazines and through digital advertising. "You'd be surprised. We get people from all over the world," Bray said.
Proceeds from Paddlepalooza will benefit the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and its Habitat Stewards, a volunteer group that helps with projects on public lands.
The event is part of the South Coast Summer Fest, which continues today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with events at Fort Maurepas on Front Beach in Ocean Springs.
"The weather put a little damper on us, but people here are enjoying it," said Darcie Crew, director of Parks and Recreation for Pascagoula. "It's a family-friendly event."
About 300 people turned out for Paddlepalooza, enjoying live music and food, and learning more about kayaking as well as the natural resources available in the area.
It's the second year for the event, which was born out of the Ocean Springs Kayak Fest, said Leah Bray of Natural Capital Development, an environmental consulting and project-marketing firm that sponsors Summer Fest.
"Our target audience is twofold," Bray said. "First are the local, regional people. We want to show them the resources we have here. There's no place like South Mississippi."
She pointed out the barrier islands, the river and other natural attractions.
"We want to showcase what we have here," she said.
The second audience is international eco-tourists, targeted through kayaking magazines and through digital advertising. "You'd be surprised. We get people from all over the world," Bray said.
Proceeds from Paddlepalooza will benefit the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and its Habitat Stewards, a volunteer group that helps with projects on public lands.
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