The Winter Haven Chamber wants to add a water-based sporting challenge to the April Chain of Lakes Festival activities. We would like to meet with local kayakers and canoeists to discuss the concepts and logistics necessary for a Chain of Lakes Challenge. If you or someone you know is a canoe or kayak enthusiast, please contact Bob Gernert at chamber1@winterhavenfl.com. Please forward this link to anyone you feel might assist with this project. If there are Florida-based canoe and kayak clubs, please post contact information here.
Our goal is to establish a nationally recognized annual Chain of Lakes event. We need your help. Please post any information you feel will be helpful in this effort. Thanks.
Rick Van Clief, pastor of Grace Baptist Church might be convinced to participate. I am a native of Austin, TX. This town used to have a huge water-centered annual event. It was called “Aqua Fest”. It evolved into a 3 day event and included multi-activities in addition to water events. Thousands of people came to Austin for this event and brought lots of money with them. I think this is awesome!
just moved to Winter Haven and very interested to enter with my own kayak or rental.
I love canoing! But i haven’t been much since I moved here. I would definitely enter if canoe rentals were available…
I have actually kayaked the chain before. While individually enjoyable, the chain bottlenecks can prove daunting if a large number of people are competing for the narrow canals. Yet, if the city were to offer some prize purse in conjunction with local businesses, I am sure many people would participate. Throw in some interesting music, conservation, a few vedors with interesting products at key portage points and most importantly something unique like a boardwalk fair and wallah, you have an intersting annual event….