Teams of friends and family face off in boat-building tests in the great outdoors during the annual Central Florida event. Just the ingredients? cardboard and duct tape.
Kelley Park’s Cardboard Canoe Regatta returns to the frigid 68-degree waters of Rock Springs on January 17th to compete to see which of the handmade crafts is the most spring-appropriate. Sixteen teams of five people each compete in a canoe race.
Registrations will be accepted until January 9th at 5pm or until all slots are filled. Registration fee is $50 per person. Only building materials will be provided by park staff. Team members must be at least 12 years old, but “boat artists” under the age of 12 can help decorate and build canoes. These young helpers do not contribute to the team’s numbers.
Prizes are awarded to race winners, crowd favorites, and the “most spectacular sinking.”
In past years, participants have dressed up in inflatable Tyrannosaurus costumes and added shark and crocodile decorations to their ships.
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore will help organize the event.
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If you go
The Kelly Park Cardboard Canoe Regatta will begin with canoe building from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Jan. 17, with racing beginning at 1 p.m. at 400 East Kelly Park Road in Apopka. Teams wishing to register should email KellyCamping@ocfl.net. The general public can view the event for an admission fee of $3 to $5 per vehicle. For more information, call 407-254-1902 or visit ocfl.net or facebook.com.
