Making Waves at Paddlepalooza

Posted on: June 11, 2025

As city staff, we've often been behind the scenes at Paddlepalooza, assisting with race day registration or capturing action photos for the newsletter. But this year, we dove in (literally!) and experienced the event from an entirely new perspective – from a canoe! The morning of the race, paddlers of all ages lined up early, checking their gear and swapping stories. Some were seasoned veterans launching their watercraft with ease, and then there were us… the first timers. Let's just say tandem canoeing is team building at its finest!

The route was very scenic, offering views of the city we'd never experienced before (including two totally submerged views of the river bottom — whoops!). We even saw a snake. We met a few challenges that made us wonder if the phrase “learning curve” was inspired by the twists and turns of a river. Nevertheless, there's something special about a paddle in your hand, a canoe beneath you, and the Clinton River stretching out ahead. Paddlepalooza showcased the beauty of the Clinton River and its vital connection to Auburn Hills and our surrounding communities, especially our event partner, Rochester Hills.

Crossing the finish line was a huge accomplishment. We were met with smiling faces, and though our arms were tired, our spirits were high. Paddlepalooza showed off the best of Auburn Hills! There was even an awards ceremony (spoiler: we didn't win, but we had a blast trying).

This experience was incredible, and we can’t wait to do it again.  Until next year, Paddlepalooza — thank you for the laughs, the adventure, and the reminder that sometimes, the best way forward is to keep paddling.

Stephanie Carroll, Economic Development Manager and Lisa Passalacqua, Community Engagement Manager