Outdoor gear festival and paddling festival coming up at Nantahala Outdoor Center

Sounds like fun. Here's the press release:

BRYSON CITY, N.C. – The Nantahala Outdoor Center’s (NOC) Nantyfest/Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF), the Southeast’s largest outdoor gear sale and paddling festival, will take place September 26-28 at NOC’s Nantahala River campus. The event, now in its 25th year, is anchored by NOC’s used gear sale featuring boats, rafts and other equipment from the nation’s largest commercial rafting operation and paddling instruction program at extraordinarily low prices.  

This year’s Nantyfest/GAF has more activities than ever complimenting NOC’s used gear sale, including live music, a kids moonwalk, manufacturer’s boat demos, free paddling clinics and a loaded event schedule. Events include an “old school” rodeo presented by Dagger Kayaks, a giant slalom challenge presented by LiquidLogic Kayaks, a big-trick freestyle competition presented by Jackson Kayak, a sumo challenge presented by Riot Kayaks (where festival goers can challenge one another in sumo wrestler suits), a book signing by Will Leverette, author of A History of Whitewater Paddling in Western North Carolina, the Total Vertical Feet central division awards ceremony and the premier of Lunch Video Magazine 27. Additionally, NOC staff will be firing up the Big Wesser Smoker for barbeque, the Outfitter’s Store will be offering storewide discounts on new outdoor equipment and guests will be able to peruse the used gear flea market, where outdoor enthusiasts from all over the East come to sell, swap and buy gear.

In addition to all the festivities, guests are welcome to engage in any of the Nantahala Gorge’s standard recreational opportunities, like whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking, hiking and biking. Event activities begin Friday evening and proceed through the weekend, so there’s plenty of time for guests to both recreate and enjoy the festival.

For more information about GAF/Nantyfest call NOC at 800.232.7238 x 185 or go to noc.com