2nd Annual Brunswick WaterFest Debuts New Events and Location

LELAND, North Carolina – Paddlers, bird watchers, nature lovers and families will again descend upon the Leland area for one of the region’s newest and most unique outdoor events. The 2nd annual Brunswick WaterFest will feature a day-long family-oriented festival, paddleboard races, a kayak fishing tournament, guided outdoor tours, educational programs and a family movie at dusk. This year’s event will be held at the USS North Carolina Battleship Park (1 Battleship Rd. NE) and will highlight the natural beauty of northern Brunswick County and the surrounding region.

Glenda Browning, Director of the Leland TDA said, "We are so excited to partner with the USS North Carolina Battleship this year. The waterfront location of the battleship and the amount of space available makes this an exciting location for our event. As Brunswick WaterFest continues to grow, this location will allow us to add activities and events for all ages."

This year the WaterFest will be split into two dates, June 7th and September 27th, 2014. Said Browning, "After the successful launch of Brunswick WaterFest in 2013, we realized we would be able to include more events and make the event more accessible to both locals and people from outside the region if we held the event over two separate weekends."

Events for June 7th include:

• Stand-up Paddleboard Races
• Instruction, Yoga and River Tours, Kayak Instruction and Guided Tours, Reel Paddling
• Film Festival World Tour, Eagles Island Birding Kayak Adventure, Birding with Wild Bird and Garden, Alligator and Wildlife Tours, Educational Activities, Family Movie at Sunset – Surfs Up

Events for September 27th include:

• Saltwater Kayak Fishing Tournament
• Guided River Tours
• Alligator and Wildlife Tour, Birding Excursions, Photography Contest
• Awards Dinner

Browning said, "We are thrilled to be able to bring in new events including the Reel Paddling Film Festival and SUP Yoga while bringing back popular events including our Kayak Fishing Tournament, Kayak and Birding Tours and the crowd favorite SUP Derby!"

For more information or to register for tours and activities, visit www.brunswickwaterfest.com. The event is presented by the Leland Tourism Development Authority with assistance from the Town of Leland, Brunswick County and the USS North Carolina Battleship. Participating organizations include Carolina Paddleboard Company, Hook Line and Paddle, The Adventure Kayak Company, Paddle NC, Wild Bird and Garden, Cape Fear River Watch, Wilmington Water Tours, Cape Fear River Adventures and the Town of Belville.