CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A popular canoe and kayak race down the Fox River is back on this year.
The Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race will take place June 2.
Last year's event, put on by the Fox Valley Park District, was cancelled because the Fox River was too high and the river was moving more than twice as fast as would have been deemed safe. According to race director Krista Mulready, it was the first time in 20 years the race had to be cancelled.
She expects the river to be fine this year.
"Typically we have about 900 people coming down the river. There’s usually 600 canoes and kayaks," she said.
Participants can choose to do the 10- or six-mile race. The 10-miler begins in St. Charles at Mt. St. Mary's Park, while the 6-miler starts in Batavia. Both end at McCullough Park in Aurora where there’ll be burgers, brats, sandwiches and fun.
Race cost is $20 a person. Mulready said, "if you have a canoe or kayak, you’re welcome to use your own. If you don’t, we do offer rentals through our registration system."
According to the Facebook page for the race, the tandem kayak rentals for the Batavia starting location are already sold out, but you still may rent individual kayaks there.
First, second and third place finishers in each division receive a paddle. All 900 or so canoeists and kayakers will get a participation medal. There are 20 different divisions--11 for canoes, eight for kayaks and an open (non-competitive) division.
This is being called the race's 58th annual event, although officials still counted the years when the race had to be cancelled because of conditions.
According to the Facebook page for the Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race, the Fox River water flow rates were "historically fast" measuring "in excess of 5,000 cubic feet per second. Acceptable safe race conditions call for measurements of 2,100 cubic feet per second or less."
The Fox Valley Park District serves more than 236,000 people from Aurora, Montgomery and North Aurora. Race director Mulready said the race even attracts people from out-of-state.
To register online and for more information, go to www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/event/58th-annual-mid-american-canoe-kayak-race/