Paddlers complete the Willard Hanmer in Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

SARANAC LAKE — The annual Willard Hanmer Guideboat and Canoe race is set to return to this village on Sunday.

The race originally began in 1963 in honor of Saranac Lake guideboat builder Willard Hanmer. It ran for 50 years before essentially being put on a hiatus for 10 years. This year, however, marks the fourth time the “Comeback Hanmer” has returned.

In the past few years, the event has continued to grow, including jumping from 57 boats in 2023 to more than 70 last year.

The event, which starts at the Riverfront Park (next to the state boat launch), features multiple classes, including guideboat, canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboard races. All classes will be mass starts.

Flat water races on Lake Flower for the men’s and women’s two-person guideboat and the mixed family guideboat will start at 10:30 a.m. That will be followed by a junior guideboat, canoe and kayak, as well as the stand-up paddleboard race.

The down river races to the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club will start at noon. This race includes one-person guideboat, one and two canoe racing, one and two canoe pleasure, rub-a-dub pleasure, C-4 racing, one and two-person kayak and war canoe.

This river race also features a 0.2-mile carry. Paddlers carry their boats over their heads across Main Street, through a parking lot and down a hill to put back in after the dam. There will also be food vendors and live music following the conclusion of the race.

Registration is available online at $20 per person. However, all Junior class paddler entries this year are free, due to a donation from the Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club. For more information about the Willard Hanmer race, visit tinyurl.com/bp8hkxme.