Women's Paddlefest

Description

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of paddling, connection, and adventure at the annual Women’s Paddlefest, hosted by Mind Body Paddle and NOC—all proceeds go to the Shannon Christy Memorial Fund. Your ticket includes yoga sessions, guided Saturday River or lake trip, an optional Sunday paddle, a Saturday group dinner, motivational morning chats with Anna Levesque, a special event t-shirt, and more.  

• Please bring your own boat, but if you need a rental ducky for the Nantahala River or SUP, and flatwater kayak for Lake Fontana, let us know in advance, and we’ll get you set up.  

• If you have any dietary restrictions for Saturday’s dinner, please inform us ahead of time.  

Tickets go on sale

Monday, March 23rd, 2026

Friday May 29th  

6-8pm | Check in early to grab your passes and swag in the Outfitter’s Store. On your way through enjoy yummy Fruit Smashes from New Belgium and enjoy a Women’s Paddlefest ONLY discount at the store! 

Saturday May 30th      

Get ready for a wonderful Saturday packed with paddling, community, and Mother Nature!  

7:15 AM | Morning Yoga on the Tennis Courts at NOC 

9:00 AM | Mandatory meeting and Group Photo at Relia’s 

9:45-10am | Meet at the Backyard of Big Wesser and get ready to Depart for your Trips! 

Choose one of these group trips: 

• Lake Fontana – Enjoy a flatwater paddle on SUP or flatwater kayak. This is the easiest level with a capacity of 30 participants and is right on NOC’s Campus. 

• Tuckasegee River is beginner to advanced paddler difficulty with a capacity of 30 participants. Guests will be shuttled from NOC to and from the Tuckasegee. 

• Nantahala River is an experienced required river with a capacity of 40 participants and ends right at NOC! Guests will be asked to meet at the put-in and shuttled to their cars at the end of the trip. 

• Ocoee River is the most advanced river with a capacity of 15 participants. This trip is meant for experienced paddlers and will be shuttled to and from the put-in and take-out. 

6:30pm | Group Dinner at Relia’s Garden 

7:30pm | Raffle, bonfire, and social outside of Relia’s Garden 

Sunday May 31st  

Don’t let the final day of Women’s Paddle Fest slip away—this is your last chance to soak up the adventure and sisterhood! Attendance is optional. 

8am-9am | Morning Yoga on the Tennis Courts 

9:30am | Coffee Chat with Anna Levesque of Mind, Body Paddle at the lawn of Relia’s Garden. 

10 am | Optional Nantahala River Trip – Choose to gather a group for a raft or try a ducky and let’s paddle the river together! For those who do not have a raft, NOC will provide one or you can hop on a raft with your fellow women paddlers. Those with their own boats, please meet at the put-in and we will bus you back to your cars afterwards.

Scholarship Opportunity

Nantahala Outdoor Center is happy to offer three equity-based scholarships for Women’s Paddlefest. Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary admission, a group paddle with equipment provided, dinner on Saturday night, and shared Basecamp lodging on Friday and Saturday nights. 

If this opportunity would help you attend, please fill out the form below. We look forward to paddling together! 

Interested in joining Women’s Paddlefest 2026?

Keep up to date and be notified when tickets go on sale by joining our event interest list below

Have a question? Email our Events Coordinator at events@noc.com