Folsom water festival returns Sept. 11-13 with races, SUP yoga, family activities and programs supporting area youth
Paddleboarders, racers and recreational water enthusiasts will converge on Lake Natoma later this month as PaddleSplash 2026 returns to Folsom for three days of competition, recreation and community activities.
Registration is now open for the Sept. 11-13 festival at Black Miner’s Bar on Lake Natoma. Presented by Visit Folsom, PaddleSplash welcomes competitive racers alongside recreational paddlers, families and spectators for a weekend combining racing, wellness, education and activities on and around the water.
Organized by Nor Cal SUP, the annual event has grown into much more than a traditional paddleboard race. Organizers say feedback from the paddling community prompted an even greater emphasis this year on activities for participants who may not be interested in competing on the traditional racecourse.
Competitive events will include 2-, 5- and 8-mile races, along with a First Timer Race designed for newcomers and Kids Sprint Races for younger paddlers.
Beyond the racing, the weekend schedule includes a Dog Paddle, Poker Paddle, SUP Yoga, injury-prevention and wellness sessions, beginner paddling opportunities and other activities intended to make the festival accessible to a broad range of ages and experience levels.
“PaddleSplash has always offered exciting racing, but more importantly, it’s also about bringing people together through a shared love of the water,” said Shelly Alves of Nor Cal SUP. “This year, we’ve expanded the festival experience so paddlers of all abilities can find a way to participate—whether they’re racing, trying something new, paddling with their dog or simply enjoying the weekend with friends and family.”
One of the signature events planned for the weekend will take paddlers beneath one of Folsom’s most recognizable landmarks.
The Big Splash will bring as many as 100 participants together for a SUP Yoga experience beneath the historic Rainbow Bridge. Presented in partnership with Spotted Dog Yoga & SUP, the session will combine stand-up paddleboarding and yoga on Lake Natoma in a large-scale community gathering on the water.
The setting has helped make PaddleSplash a destination event for the paddling community. Lake Natoma’s generally calm and protected waters are regularly used by paddleboarders, kayakers, rowing teams and other recreational users, while nearby Folsom Lake adds to the variety of water recreation available in the area. Together, organizers and tourism officials have promoted Folsom as the “Paddling Capital of the West.”
Spectators do not have to get on a board to take part in the weekend. Visitors will be able to watch races from the sandy beach at Black Miner’s Bar, explore the festival’s vendor village and spend the day along Lake Natoma.
Some festival activities require separate registration and fees, while spectators are welcome to attend and watch the racing.
The weekend also carries a charitable purpose. PaddleSplash is Nor Cal SUP’s largest annual fundraiser, with proceeds supporting the organization’s Nor Cal SUP Groms programs and community outreach serving foster and at-risk youth.
Those programs provide water-safety education while introducing young people to paddling and outdoor recreation. Through scholarships and outreach efforts, Nor Cal SUP works to make safe access to the water available to young people who otherwise might not have the opportunity to participate.
Founded in 2013, Nor Cal SUP focuses on growing the regional paddling community through education, recreation, racing and youth programming. Its Groms programs are designed to help young paddlers develop skills, water-safety knowledge, confidence and a lasting connection with outdoor recreation.
PaddleSplash 2026 takes place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13, at Black Miner’s Bar on Lake Natoma in Folsom. Registration is now open at https://bit.ly/44OOK0q. Additional information about Folsom and area recreation is available at VisitFolsom.com.
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