Lake Arthur us not only the venue for the weekend’s activities, but also a highlight for the event’s organizers, who use the water to teach recreational activities and talk about the lake’s importance to the natural ecosystem.

Among the scheduled activities taking place on the lake are fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing, each of which are meant to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Amanda Becker, owner of Appleseed Events and event director for the Regatta, said the scheduled activities provide a good venue for people to get out on the lake in fun ways.

“We try to be intentional on the types of activities we plan,” Becker said. “It's a good way for people to try out activities they had never done before; we want to encourage them to enjoy the park in new ways.”

Becker said children were a focus in the planning for this year’s regatta, because organizers didn’t plan as many for them at the 2021 event.

The main hub of children activity will be at the Lake Arthur Lily Pad, where children can learn about native animals with games and displays from volunteers at Specialty Outdoors, learn about wildlife with Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy and build birdhouses with Home Depot.

Additionally, children who catch their first fish at the regatta will get a special certificate, according to Becker.

The children’s activities are meant to be fun and educational, which Becker said is extended to the adult activity as well, albeit in more subtle ways.

“Nonprofits are showing off new animals that you might see at the park,” Becker said. “We have a lot of conversations about what we are and what we want to do, and education is a large part of that.”