About the festival
How it started and what we do
How it started and what we do
My name is Elena. I have always been drawn to water sports and activities. I love seeing cities and nature from the water, feeling the space and calm around me. In 2019, I tried SUP for the first time and immediately realized that this type of recreation suits me perfectly. It turned out to be a simple, beautiful, and very lively way to be in nature. I enjoy bright, warm events where enthusiastic and positive people come together.
I took part in large international SUP festivals and saw how water events create an atmosphere of celebration, creativity, and unity. People arrived in incredible costumes, shared their energy and inspiration — and this feeling really stayed with me.
When I moved to Savonlinna, I immediately felt that this city is an ideal place for such an event. I wanted to create a festival here — warm, heartfelt, and visual — that could eventually attract participants from different countries and become a small calling card of our city. I shared the idea with my friends, and they supported me. This is how our festival was born — still small, but already traditional. It grows every year, bringing together people who love water, nature, and the atmosphere of Lake Saimaa.
We get together on the water to enjoy Saimaa and simply have a good time. We don't have strict rules — the main thing is that everything feels easy, beautiful, and friendly.
Themed costume paddles — we love coming up with fun ideas, dressing up, and making our routes bright and cheerful. SUP breakfasts — calm early-morning paddles followed by breakfast on the water or on the shore. SUP picnics — short relaxed trips with stops in beautiful spots where we can sit, snack, and enjoy nature. Sunset paddles — our most atmospheric moments: soft light, quiet water, and the feeling that the whole city slows down. Small seasonal meet-ups — opening and closing the season, mini-routes, friendly outings. The festival is our main celebration, but life on the water continues throughout the whole season.
