Broadkill River Canoe and Kayak Race set Aug. 27

The Milton Theatre is once again sponsoring the Broadkill River Canoe and Kayak Race Saturday, Aug. 27, held in conjunction with the Bargains on the Broadkill Festival at Milton Memorial Park, and registration for the race is now open.

This year is the 12th annual running of the race, which draws paddlers from all over the Eastern Seaboard and beyond. Both pros and amateur paddlers are welcome. Racers can get more information and register by visiting www.miltontheatre.org and downloading the registration form. Registration fees are $30 for single competitors and $40 for those racing in tandem. Details, including a map to the race’s start at Oyster Rocks, are available on the website. Race officials urge participants to register early, as only the first 100 paddlers registered will get the official race T-shirt.

“We are very pleased to be continuing this tradition,” said Maryellen Davis, interim president of the Milton Theatre Board. “While we work toward a move back into the theatre building, we have continued to produce events that could be held in another venue, such as our annual children’s summer theater camps, held this year at The Jefferson School. Holding the race was an easy call, as it has always been a popular event and an important one for the Town of Milton, as well as for our loyal paddlers. We hope to have a record number of participants this year.”

On-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, at Oyster Rocks. The 10-mile race begins at 10 a.m and concludes in Milton Memorial Park, where the Bargains on the Broadkill event will be going on all day. Crowds in the park greet the racers as they cross the finish line, and the judges award medals to the winners.

Quest Fitness and Kayak of Lewes will have kayaks for rent for the race, and will also provide transportation for paddlers and their kayaks or canoes from the park back to Oyster Rocks, if they have parked cars there. Note that parking at Oyster Rocks is very limited and paddlers should arrange to be dropped off if possible.

Chris Beckman, an avid paddler and webmaster of www.delmarvakayak.net, has long been a strong supporter of this race, and he is not surprised at its popularity. “Paddlers love this race, because they can bring their family and friends along," he said. "They can enjoy the festival and events in the park while the racers do the race. It’s a fun event all the way around!”