Canton Canoe Weekend

In early May each year a weekend paddling event draws as many as 300 paddlers to the Village of Canton, NY, tucked in the St. Lawrence Valley, between the St. Lawrence Seaway and the foothills of the Adirondacks.

Canton was home to John Henry Rushton and his famous boatworks, founded in 1875 along the banks of the Grasse River. In his honor, this historic event began in 1962, and was originally known as the “Rushton Memorial Canoe Race” Today pro, amateur and recreational races all remain an integral part of the weekend line up.

The Canton Canoe Weekend pro and amateur races are official events in the sport of marathon canoe racing. In addition to being the home of the World Championship Pro Race, featuring a purse of over $7,000, Canton Canoe Weekend hosts amateur and recreational races over the two-day event. The various categories include canoe, kayak and stand up paddleboard (SUP) races, a relay race, and antique and voyager canoe races. Amateur and recreational paddlers of all skill levels from the local community, New York State and the Northeast, and pro paddlers from across the U.S. and Canada, paddle distances ranging from 3-14 miles on the scenic Grasse and Little Rivers.