Seek Sun, Surf and Stand-up Paddleboarding at Weekend Festival

Photo by Billy Delfs

If you lived in Ohio for any length of time, you know summer doesn't last long here. So soak up some late August sun this Saturday at Whiskey Island Paddle Board Race & Festival featuring racing, live music from local band Analog Union, eats from Boca Loca Burrito Factory, a beer garden and free Inner Bliss yoga classes. "It's gonna be a party," says Lynne Nagy, educator at Nalu Stand up Paddle & Surf in Rocky River. Here are three reasons to hit the beach.

Surf's Up: Dive into a 2-mile loop stand-up paddleboarding race at 8:30 a.m., or go big for the 6-mile, three-lap version, with a kids' course along the shoreline starting at 10 a.m. and a relay race starting at 1 p.m. For paddleboarding newbies, try a demo. In a fun twist on the regular demo, Nalu SUP & Surf combines yoga poses with paddleboarding —  right in the water. Don't have a board? Nalu has some available to rent. 

Keep the Peace: The festival goes from surf to turf when Inner Bliss Yoga Studio's Lanie leads a free lakeside yoga session on the shore. “[Lanie's] regular classes always sell out, because she brings something new every time,” Nagy says. Bring your own mat.

Jam Session: Cleveland surfer Scott Ditzenberger’s band Analog Union will bring a taste of California with their punk-infused surf jams. Stick around for a ukulele performance by Brad Sweet, who invites festival-goers to bring their own instruments and play along.