60th Canton Canoe Weekend Events
May 6-8th, 2022
Friday, May 6th
4:00pm - 6:00pm
The Rushton Tour - Join us on a one-way downstream recreational paddle on the Grasse River from the Pyrites access site on County Route 47 to Taylor Park, a distance of 4.5-miles. The afternoon paddle will take place, with a flexible start time and follows along much of the original race course. Choose you own start time between 4:00pm and 6:00pm!
Along the Grasse River on the 2018 Rushton Tour
Saturday, May 7th
9:30am - 5:00pm
Try Out A Boat! - Boatbuilders Slipstream Watercraft, Hornbeck Boats and GRB Newman Designs will be set up at Taylor Park during the day so that you to try out their boats!
Vendors - NCPR (North County Public Radio) is our media sponsor, and will have an information table at the park. Music entertainment will be provided by DJ Double Dutch, and GT's Famous Chicken BBQ is planned for the afternoon. Other vendors include: TAUNY (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York), St. Lawrence County Historical Association, Commercial Press Ink, Grasse River Outfitters, Southern Tier Canoe, Mountain Warrior Sled Hockey, St. Lawrence Valley Paddlers, Rotary Club of Canton, Grasse River Heritage, St. Lawrence Land Trust, Northern Power & Light, Encompass Workplace Testing, Lake Placid 2023 World University Games and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce!
9:00am - 9:15am
Dedication of the Accessible Canoe & Kayak Launch - Join us for the dedication ceremony of the 'John Henry Rushton ADA Adaptive Canoe/Kayak Launch' by the Town of Canton.
An ADA accessible canoe and kayak launch
9:30am - 11:30am
Start of the Rushton Recreational Races
Modern Rushton Races - Sponsored by Richard and Sherree Rushton: Bring your canoe or kayak and join us for the morning recreational races of 1-, 3-, 5- or 8-miles. A special ‘Rushton Division’ sponsored by Slipstream Watercraft has been added this year in the 1- and 3-mile races for those paddling Rushton 'Wee Lassie' type canoes, either homebuilt or produced by various commercial manufacturers. Special awards for the ‘Rushton Division’ will be presented by Slipstream Watercraft. The 'Wounded Warriors Division' in the 1-, 3- and 5-mile races is sponsored by Mountain Wounded Warriors Sled Hockey Team.
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Marathon Canoe and Kayak Pro and Amateur Races - C-1 Pro International World Championship - 14-miles, and C-1/K-1 Amateur Races - 12-miles. These races are held on the Grasse and Little Rivers. Awards will be presented to the top finishers in the pro and amateur divisions following the races.
C-1 Pro Racer on the Little River
GT's Famous Chicken Barbeque
12:30pm - 4:00pm or until sold out!
GT's Famous Chicken Barbecue - Join us for a chicken barbeque dinner or just a 1/2 chicken. The chicken dinner includes 1/2 chicken, salt potatoes, pasta salad, homemade roll, brownie or cookie and a drink for $13. Half chicken is only $9. Please pre-order by Sunday, May 1st to help GT's plan, pre-order cutoff will be Thursday, May 5th at 12:00pm! Please have cash ready at pick-up time on Saturday (exact change preferred). You may also pay via Venmo. Sorry, we cannot take credit cards at Taylor Park.
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Joe Randi/Rushton Relay Race - Join in for this fun relay race with classes for Family and Friends, High School Teams, College Challenge Teams and an Open Division. This is a fun 2-mile race!
Relay Race Paddlers Switching Crew on the Grasse River
Sunday, May 8th
10:00am - 12:00pm
Marathon Canoe and Kayak Pro and Amateur Races - C-2 Pro - 14-miles, and C-2/K-2 Amateur Races - 12-miles. These races are held on the Grasse and Little Rivers. Awards will be presented to the top finishers in the pro and amateur divisions following the races.
C-2 Pro Paddlers on the Little River
12:45pm - C-2/K-2 Races Awards Ceremony
Other Happenings in Canton on Sunday, May 8th
1:00pm-3:00pm - Bring Your Hornbeck Boat to TAUNY Day!
Let's fill downtown Canton with Hornbeck boat-topped vehicles! See the exhibit Hornbeck Boats: Lightest Boats in the Deep Woods, enjoy live music and refreshments at The TAUNY Center, 53 Main Street, Canton, NY. Followed by...
3:30pm - TAUNY’s Hornbeck Boat Group Paddle
Following the festivities at TAUNY, head over to the Grasse River at Taylor Park in Canton with your Hornbeck boat for a 1- or 2-mile group flatwater paddle. Let's fill the Grasse River with Hornbeck pack boats!
A Hornbeck on the Raquette River in Potsdam