Kayakers Flock to Schuylkill for America250 Celebration this Summer
The snow is still melting in Philadelphia, but summer is on its way - and kayakers are getting a head start. In July, more than 100 paddlers will take part in the Philly Phlotilla, a vibrant procession down the Schuylkill River that marks an important chapter in America's 250-year history.
On Saturday, July 11, the river will be awash with red, white, and blue as kayakers make their way from Walnut Street Dock to Fort Mifflin, the historic site known as "the Fort that Saved America." This pivotal location played a key role in the Revolutionary War, and now it's set to host a lively flotilla.
The event is part of the region's lead-up to America250, which commemorates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Spectators can watch from bridges and riverbanks as the paddlers make their way south, adding a splash of color to Center City.
The day will kick off with parking and check-in at Fort Mifflin, followed by a shuttle to Walnut Street Dock. After a boxed lunch at Schuylkill Banks, kayakers will paddle from 1 to 4:30 pm, arriving at the fort for an afternoon celebration featuring food, drinks, tours, and even a cannon firing.
Registration for the Philly Phlotilla opens in April, so mark your calendars for July. For those still braving gray skies, this event promises a welcome splash of summer fun on the Schuylkill River.
The snow is still melting in Philadelphia, but summer is on its way - and kayakers are getting a head start. In July, more than 100 paddlers will take part in the Philly Phlotilla, a vibrant procession down the Schuylkill River that marks an important chapter in America's 250-year history.
On Saturday, July 11, the river will be awash with red, white, and blue as kayakers make their way from Walnut Street Dock to Fort Mifflin, the historic site known as "the Fort that Saved America." This pivotal location played a key role in the Revolutionary War, and now it's set to host a lively flotilla.
The event is part of the region's lead-up to America250, which commemorates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Spectators can watch from bridges and riverbanks as the paddlers make their way south, adding a splash of color to Center City.
The day will kick off with parking and check-in at Fort Mifflin, followed by a shuttle to Walnut Street Dock. After a boxed lunch at Schuylkill Banks, kayakers will paddle from 1 to 4:30 pm, arriving at the fort for an afternoon celebration featuring food, drinks, tours, and even a cannon firing.
Registration for the Philly Phlotilla opens in April, so mark your calendars for July. For those still braving gray skies, this event promises a welcome splash of summer fun on the Schuylkill River.
I'm thinking it's gonna be lit! A kayaking flotilla sounds like an awesome way to celebrate America250 
. The idea of paddling down the Schuylkill River with all those kayakers in red, white, and blue is just so cool 
. It's a great way to show off Philly's history and beauty at the same time. And I love that there'll be food, drinks, tours, and even cannon fire 
! What a fun event to look forward to on a gray spring day.
kayakers are gonna rock the schuylkill river for America250 celebration 
and i need to get my tickets ASAP 
can't wait for the food, drinks & cannon firing 
...anyone else as hyped as me? 
but hey, if it's part of America250 celebrations then i guess its kinda cool that ppl r gettin all dressed up in red, white & blue 
. and what about the parking & check-in stuff? isnt that just gonna make it all boring?
just saw that the Schuylkill River is gonna be flooded with kayakers next summer...and I'm not even talking about the good kind of flooding where the river overflows its banks and creates beautiful scenery 
. No, I'm talking about the crowds of people that are gonna make it impossible to enjoy a peaceful walk along the riverbanks 
. And don't even get me started on the parking and shuttle situation...it's just gonna be a headache 
. And what really gets my goat is that this event is just another example of how Philly is trying to cash in on its history 
. I mean, who needs to preserve historic sites when you can just turn them into tourist traps? 
And 100 kayakers? That's just a lot of noise and chaos on the river. Can't they see it's still spring? The fish are probably still recovering from the last winter... And what's up with the cannon firing? Some kinda over-the-top, touristy nonsense, right? 
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. maybe the crowds will be okay if everyone is having too much fun to notice 
.
. I mean, who needs to spend that kind of money on a boat when there are plenty of other ways to get around the city that don't involve going all out and buying a whole new watercraft? It's just another example of how we've gotten too caught up in trying to 'experience' things instead of just enjoying them.
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like what happened to the actual historical significance of the day? just saying, let's not forget why we're here, you know? anyway, sounds like it's gonna be lit on the Schuylkill River, can't wait to see all those kayakers showin' off their skills 
. but hey, if u wanna watch some kayakers in red and blue floats, be my guest 