Second Creek Run Festival even bigger success
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A group of paddlers makes its way to the take-out spot at Double Bridges to end the 2024 Creek Run Festival’s float. Photo by Christa Jennings
Kayaks line the side of Hatchet Creek along Double Bridges at the end of the float while paddlers enjoy refreshments and music, relaxing after the long float. Photo by Christa Jennings
Blooming Cahaba lilies were a highlight of the creek float that paddlers had the opportunity to enjoy seeing during the Creek Run Festival. Photo by Yancey Brown
Heather and Doug Daniel were the first paddlers to reach the take-out point for the 2024 Creek Run Festival after enjoying an approximate 4-hour float along Hatchet Creek. Photo by Christa Jennings
First-time kayaker Rachel Reams beat her dad, Matthew Reams, to the take-out spot, already saying she wanted to do it again. Photo by Christa Jennings
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The second annual Creek Run Festival held by the Coosa County Association of Scenic Waterways, or CCASW, proved to be an even bigger success than last year’s event.
CCASW had well more than double the participation, with a total of 53 paddlers for this year’s event compared to 19 paddlers last year. With experience under their belts, CCASW board members were able to better plan for and promote the event, which was also held in the spring rather than the fall like last year.
This gave participants the opportunity to enjoy better water flow, as well as see the Cahaba lilies in bloom along Hatchet Creek. The float began at Kings Bridge put-in outside of Rockford, with take-out at Double Bridges near Richville.
All paddlers were on the water by 9 a.m., with them being put into the water in groups. Doug and Heather Daniel were the first paddlers back in at approximately 12:05 p.m., with the last paddlers taking out at about 3 p.m.
While some flipped or fell out of their kayaks and canoes, all reported enjoying the event. The CCASW Board of Directors also had eight safety paddlers with the groups to ensure everyone’s safety.
The board thanks Danny Nelson, Tommy Chamberlin, Matthew Reams, Dewayne Rathel, Jamey Johnson, Scarlet Brown, Brandon Byrd, and Yancey Brown for serving as safety paddlers.
Sponsors for the 2024 Creek Run Festival were Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, First Community Bank of Central Alabama and Alabama One Credit Union.
Sheldon Hutcherson, president of the CCASW, stated that they received nothing but positive feedback from this year’s float. Some were kayaking for the first time, some returned from last year’s event, and some floated that portion of Hatchet Creek for the first time, but all paddlers commented on how much fun they had, with many voicing that they want to do it again next year.
Hutcherson said that the association’s board will start planning the third annual float shortly. He stated that they hope to grow the festival in the coming years.
Those interested in the next Creek Run Festival or the Coosa County Association of Scenic Waterways in general are encouraged to follow the organization’s Facebook page, Coosa County Scenic Waterways, at www.facebook.com/coosawaterways for information and updates.
