NantyFest/Guest Appreciation Festival
September 26-28, 2008

Thanks for an Awesome NantyFest/GAF!

The rain held off almost all weekend, making for a spectacular GAF Saturday. Thanks to all of you who joined us for the grandaddy of all gear sales. We couldn't have done it without you!

And here's the winner of our "Sweetest GAF Deal" contest:

Join us for GAF in September!

We’ve pushed up the date of the granddaddy of all gear sales to September 26-28. Make a plan to catch up with old river pals, catch a few eddies and get some sweet deals on new and used gear. It's the 25th year for our famous Guest Appreciation Festival.

Click to view extended GAF hours at the Outfitter's Store.

Attention Used Gear Vendors:

Follow the link below to download the registration form for personal used gear/equipment. Spaces in the gear market are limited, so return your registration with payment today.
The public Marketplace if full. All registrations will now be put on a waiting list.

Download GAF Vendor Registration (PDF)
Download GAF Marketplace Information

GAF/NantyFest Daily Schedule

(Events are tentative and subject to change.)

Saturday's Event Details

Roll Poll Clinics
River Right, Outfitter's Store Parking Lot
Jump in the pool and take a tip from the pros on your roll. Don't worry, it won't be too cold this GAF.

Family-Friendly Activities - 10am-6pm
River Left, near Slow Joe's Café
Join NOC's Adventure Programs specialist Sean Chen as he leads fun games for family members of all ages.

Riot Kayaks Sumo Challenge - 10am
River Right, Outfitter's Store Parking Lot
Win a Riot Thunder! Bring your sumo thunder and compete in the challenge. Open to anyone, we'll keep a tally of the winners throughout the day. For the finale, we'll make a bracket, with the top two competitors racing though a sumo obstacle course. The first to touch the Riot Thunder wins!

Jackson Kayak Wesser Falls Creeking Clinic - 11am
Meet at boater take-out beach by Slow Joe's, paddle to Wesser Falls
Join Jackson team paddler Clay Wright as he imparts the do's and don't's of big, creeky drops. What better place to learn than the most ferocious of Nanty rapids, Big Wesser Falls.

Dagger Old School Rodeo - 12pm
Nantahala Falls, check-in below photographers' deck
Join Team Dagger paddlers Anna Levesque and Andrew Holcombe for an Old School Trick Show. Kayakers and open boaters get points for enders and pirouettes, with prizes for several different categories.

LiquidLogic Giant Slalom - 1:30pm
River Left, Boater take-out beach, beside Slow Joe's Cafe
Challenge your personal river running skills. Slalom course will be set up for registered paddlers to take as many runs as they want. There are no losers in this course, only winners! At the end of the slalom hour, participants ROCHAMBEAU Liquid Logic paddler Shane Benedict (that's Rock-Paper-Scissors). Last person standing wins a ReMix.

Dagger Nantahala River Run Clinic - 1:30pm
Meet on River Left at the boater take-out beach, beside Slow Joe's
Join Anna Levesque and Adam Motes in a Nanty river running clinic from Surfer's Rapid back to NOC. Go with the pros and pick up tips on boat scouting, ferrying, eddy catching and more.

Jackson Big Trick - 3pm
The NOC Wave, just downstream from the Outfitter's Store
Register with EJ and Clay Wright at the take-out beach, then head to the Wave and show us that trick you've been working on all summer. Big loop or an air guitar, it's all good in this event.

Kids' Costume Contest - 4pm
River Left, Rafting Center Meeting Area
We can't let GAF go by without seeing the paddling youth dressed up like vampires and superheroes. Lots of great prizes!

Pyranha Speeder Challenge - 4:30pm
River Left, NOC Rafting Take-Out
Pyranha Speeder kayaks will be used in this head-to-head knockout race. Up to six boats race in heats, with winners competing for prizes.
Stop by the Pyranha booth to test paddle a Speeder before the race.

Whitewater Book Presentation - 7pm
River Left, Rafting Center Meeting Area
Join author Will Leverette (grandson of Frank Bell) for a presentation and book signing. Already its second printing, Leverette's "A History of Whitewater Paddling in Western North Carolina" looks back at how our beloved sport got its start in the area.

Total Vertical Feet Awards Ceremony - 8pm
Followed by the
Lunch Video Magazine DVD 27 World Premier
River Left, Rafting Center Meeting Area

Parking/Shuttle Information

Satellite Parking is available:
1. on Silver Mine Road (within walking distance of the festival). Turn at NOC's Information Office/General Store, parking isless thana mile up Silver Mine road on the right.

2. on Wesser Creek Road (just past the Gem Mine). Turn at the Amoco gas station about a mile east of the Center, parking is about a half mile on the left.

3. at Pittsburgh's Grill and Kim's Coffee Shop. On Hwy 19/74, abouttwo miles east of the Center.

Overflow parking will be open at the US 28N/US 19/74 junction across from Smoky Mountain Jet Boats if necessary. All Satellite lots except Silver Mine Road will be serviced by shuttle vans. Shuttles are scheduled to arrive at each lot every ten minutes, but vans may be delayed by peak crowds and extraordinary purchases (which may need special securing to our trailers). As always, guest patience is appreciated.

NOC will also open extra parking near the put-in for guests running the Nantahala. Rental shuttles will be leaving NOC for the put-in on the hour from 10:00-6:00 on Saturday, and guests are invited to use those for shuttle.

Please note: Most satellite parking is East of NOC; guests coming from the West may have to drvie past NOC to find parking. Also, all satellite lots will close at 9:00 pm. Guests wishing to stay past 9:00 will be asked to drive their cars back to campus in the evening, as space on campus opens up. No camping is allowed at satellite parking locations. NOC does not own any of these lots, so please be respectful of the private owners whose generosity has made GAF possible.