Winfield Watersports Weekend brings free paddleboarding, music, and family fun to Putnam County

By Hannah Yost, RealWV

WINFIELD, W.Va. — Winfield Watersports Weekend is returning to Putnam County this summer, offering two days of free paddleboard lessons and rentals, races, live music, food trucks, vendors and family-friendly activities along the Kanawha River.

The event, set for June 5-6, 2026, will take place at the Winfield boat ramp near the Winfield Community Center. The weekend is designed to get more people out on the water and introduce them to paddleboarding, kayaking and other river activities in a safe and welcoming environment.

Organizer Kelli Steele said the goal is simple: help people feel comfortable trying something new.

“It’s a good way to get people out on the water, learn how to do so safely, and it’s a good free event,” Steele said.

Participants are welcome to bring their own kayaks or paddleboards to take part in races, while beginners can take advantage of free stand-up paddleboard lessons. Rentals and race signups will also be available on site, according to the event website.

Steele said the event grew out of two things happening around the same time in Winfield: the presence of a local paddleboard outfitter, Mountaineer Paddle, and improvements to the town’s water access point.

“We have a paddle-board outfitter here in Putnam County,” Steele said. “The initial idea was just to get people out on the water and familiar with it.”

She said the recently renovated water access point in Winfield is one of the area’s biggest assets. Located just upstream from the Winfield Locks and Dam, that section of the Kanawha River is wider, calmer and flatter than other parts of the river.

“That section of the river is just upstream from the locks and dam in Winfield, which makes the water there flat and calm, more like a lake rather than a river,” Steele said.

Because of the calm water and limited current, Steele said the location is ideal for beginners, families and children. Barge traffic is generally on the opposite side of the river, making the area easier for new paddlers to navigate.

“It’s so wide, it makes it a safe, easy place for people to get out and learn,” Steele said.

The weekend will include free stand-up paddleboard lessons, a sunset float, youth and beginner races, food trucks, live music and DJ music. The schedule also includes the Rubber Duck Race benefiting local Backpack Buddies, which will take place Saturday afternoon.

Steele said one of the main messages organizers hope to share is that paddleboarding is more approachable than it may look.

“We want people to learn that paddleboarding can look really intimidating and difficult, but almost anyone can do it,” she said. “Whether you’re 5 or 75 years old, you can get out on the water and have a great time.”

For those who prefer to stay on land, Steele said the weekend still offers plenty to enjoy. Visitors can listen to live music, grab food from local vendors, watch the races from the riverbank or cheer on children as they compete in the youth race.

“You can line up along the riverbank and watch the races, especially the kid race, to see the kids who have just learned, race to try and win a prize,” Steele said.

Organizers have also seen the event grow over the years, with families returning each season and new people discovering the river access point for the first time.

“It’s fun to see families come back year after year,” Steele said. “It’s the kickoff to the season in terms of water sports.”

She said the event also helps raise awareness of outdoor recreation opportunities in Putnam County, an area people may not always associate with paddling or river-based recreation.

“We see growing interest in outdoor recreation across the board, both in Putnam County and across West Virginia,” Steele said. “Sometimes people don’t associate this area with outdoor recreation, but we’re seeing it grow faster than other areas.”

Steele said she is an example of that growth herself. She first learned to paddleboard in Winfield in 2018 and now gets out on the river several times each summer.

“That’s not something I would have ever done before,” she said.

The weekend’s Rubber Duck Race adds another community-focused element to the event. The 50/50-style fundraiser benefits Backpack Buddies, a program that helps feed children in need during the summer months. Half of the proceeds go to the winner, while the other half supports the local program.

Steele said people do not have to attend Winfield Watersports Weekend in person to participate in the duck race. Tickets can be purchased online, and organizers will contact the winner if they are not present.

For Steele, the weekend is about more than paddling. It is about showing people what is available in their own community and encouraging them to see the Kanawha River as a place to gather, learn and enjoy.

“We would love to see it grow even more,” she said.More information, including the full schedule of events, is available at winfieldwatersports.com.