May 6th - 8th, Chattooga Sounds Campground
Welcome to Foothills Paddling Club’s largest event of the year! The first weekend in May, our members from South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia all come together at the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River for a time of paddling and camaraderie. At this event, we raise money through membership renewals, new member sign-ups, and the exciting Saturday night raffle. The money brought into the club from this single annual event helps to fund operating costs, offer educational opportunities, host conservation and awareness events, and make our annual donations to other non-profit organizations like American Whitewater, Save our Saluda, and Team River Runner.
Merch
Be there, do that, Get the T-Shirt
Show up to Chattooga Fest 2022 in style with our one-of-a-kind “Bring on the Banjos” T-Shirt, designed by one of our own Members. Order by April 18th to ensure you can have it in time to wear it to the fest!
Remember to stay hydrated
You are going to need some drinking water for those long days on the Chattooga. Why not sport the beautiful new FPC logo while you are at it!
Event Registration
Chattooga Fest is exclusive to Foothills Paddling Club Members and their guests. If you are not a member yet, sign up today for only $20/year to include everyone living in your household!
FPC Members can register for Chattooga Fest online through the Membership Portal, under Events. Prices below are per person with all options offered during the registration process.
Required: Event Registration: $12.50, per person, includes 5 raffle tickets, daily admittance to morning meeting at the group campsite, opportunity for participation in member-coordinated paddling/rafting trips, evening admittance for socializing at the group campsite, and entertainment. Your kids 12 and under may come with you for free, and you will be given an opportunity to pre-register a guest. This fee helps to cover FPC’s ACA Paddle America Club event insurance and our operating costs.
Optional Add-on: Camping: $12.50 per person per night
Optional Add-On: BQ Dinner (Saturday): $8 per person
Optional Add-On: Rafting Trip: FREE, spaces limited (must pre-register)
Member Coordinated Trips to be announced at the morning meeting: FREE, must attend morning meeting
Make a donation.
Unable to attend Chattooga Fest, but still want to contribute to our fundraiser?
Rafting Trips
Club members will have an opportunity to pre-register for a spot in one of our whitewater rafts for a trip down Section 3 of the Chattooga on Saturday, May 1st.
Space is limited, and reserved for members only.
Group Kayaking Trips
Want to join a group for a trip down Earls to Sandy? How about a personal first decent of Section 3.5? Looking for a flatwater lake paddle?
Let us show you the way!
Each morning at 8:30am we gather around the bandstand at the group campsite for our volunteer trip coordinators to announce opportunities for the day. These are not instructional clinics, just folks looking to have a good time with a safe group on the water.
There will be a Section IV PFD trip offered. People interested in that need to have appropriate skill sets and experience in class 3/4 creeking, a solid combat roll, and will need to pre-register. Space is limited.
All trip options are water level dependent and may be cancelled or not offered. Trip coordinators reserve the right to deny participation if someone does not have qualified experience and/or the necessary skill sets for safe passage on particular sections.
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 6th
Kick-off!
Chattooga Section 3 Trip | 12pm
Check-in
Group Campsite | 5-8pm
Saturday, May 7th
Check-in
Group Campsite | 7-9am
Morning Trip Meeting
Group Campsite Bandstand | 8:30am
Check-in
Group Campsite | 6-8pm
BBQ Dinner
Group Campsite Kitchen | 6:30pm
Club Meeting and Raffle
Group Campsite Bandstand | 6:30-8:30pm
Raffle Winner Announcements
Group Campsite Bandstand | 8:30pm
(Must be present to win)
Sunday, May 8th
Morning Trip Meeting
Group Campsite Bandstand | 8:30am
Clean up and Pack up
Group Campsite | 8:45am
Battle of the Bull
Bull Sluice | 12pm
(Competitors meet at 11am)
Everyday
Paddle Trips
Member Coordinated and Meetup trips on various sections of the Chattooga and Lake Tugaloo. Simply attend the Morning Trip Meetings for details on the day’s opportunities. **Section IV PFD and Rafting trip require pre-registration.
Networking
Meet new paddlers and reconnect with old friends.
Used Gear Swap
Have gear you need to sell? We’ll be hosting space at the group campground for a gear swap/sale. You are welcome to leave your item(s) with a price tag your contact information attached. (Neither FPC nor Chattooga Sounds will be responsible for monitoring your belongings nor handling financial transactions, we’re just giving you the space.)
Updates about trips and other Chattooga Fest Activities will be posted on our Club Discord Server.
Chattooga Fest Base Camp
Chattooga Sounds Campground
2851 Damascus Church Rd, Long Creek, SC 29658
Phone
864-647-6196
Foothills Paddling Club rents the group camping area for the weekend which includes:
space for up to 40 tents
kitchen cook shed
bandstand
amphitheater
nearby bathhouse
When you register to attend Chattooga Fest, you will be able to select to include one or two nights of camping at our group site.
Sponsors
