A starlight paddle goes out on a moonless river Friday night
The moon doesn't rise until 11:41 Friday night, so the two hours Ijams Park naturalists spend on the Tennessee River after sunset belong to the stars, clouds permitting.
- When
- Fri Oct 2 · 7–9 PM
- Where
- Ijams River Landing · 3507 Island Home Pike
- Cost
- $45 · kayak, life vest and headlamp included
- Ages
- 14 and up · under 18 with an adult
- The sky
- Sunset 7:18 PM · moonrise 11:41 PM
- Weather
- Mostly cloudy Friday night · 50% chance of showers · low 67
- Waiver
- One adventure release per calendar year
- More dates
- Oct 16 · Oct 17 · Oct 30 · all at 7 PM
Last week the park paddled under a full Harvest Moon. This week it does the opposite. Friday's Starlight Paddle leaves the River Landing on Island Home Pike at seven, eighteen minutes before sunset, and the moon does not come up until 11:41 that night, so once the light is gone the river is as dark as it gets this close to a city. Ijams Park naturalists lead the two hours and talk through what lives along the bank after dark and what is overhead.
What the forecast says
The sky is the open question. Friday night is forecast mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and a low of 67, which is warm for October and comfortable on the water. If the weather wins, check the event page; if it is only clouds, the river at night is still the river at night, and the same paddle runs again October 16, 17 and 30.
The practical part
Forty-five dollars covers the kayak, the life vest and a headlamp. It is built for ages fourteen and up, and anyone under eighteen comes with an adult. Bring water and clothes you can paddle in. Everyone signs the adventure release once a year if they haven't already. Register ahead rather than driving down.
