A Memorial Day Weekend tradition is hitting the half-century mark this weekend, and organizers will celebrate that history with their first Hall of Fame induction.

The 50th annual General Clinton Canoe Regatta kicked off Friday with nine classes of Generation Gap canoe races. It will conclude with the world's longest single-day flat canoe race on Memorial Day.

This annual event attracts competitors from all over the world to test their endurance, stamina and canoeing skills against other paddlers in more than 50 one- or two-person races throughout the weekend.

Added to the list of activities this year is a free-float canoe parade Saturday that will be held on the Susquehanna River beginning in Sidney at 1 p.m. and finishing in Bainbridge. Participants in the parade will include former competitors, race champions and anyone else wanting to participate. Event Chairman John Harmon said Sunday that there were about 35 paddlers registered for the parade, but anyone who would like to float a kayak or canoe in the parade can register on Saturday before start time, on Main Street at the old Whitaker's parking lot in Sidney.

The parade will take place before the year's highlighted event, the Hall of Fame Induction. The induction ceremony, Harmon said, is this year's focal point, which will honor race founder Charlie Hinkley as one of its 12 inductees. Hinkley will be honored by his grandsons, who have never paddled before, by them participating in the 70-mile race Monday.

Among those being inducted into the Hall of Fame is Ted Lamonica of Oneonta, who holds the record for the most finishes. Harmon said that Lamonica has completed 40 races and, as a sign of appreciation, has purchased banquet tickets for each of his pit crew members, to thank them for their support.

Also being inducted are 28-time C-2 winner Serge Corbin of Canada, who will make his return to the race this year for the first time since 2005; Luc Robillard of Vermont; Peter Heed of New Hampshire; Bob Zaveral of Mount Upton; Jan Povlock of Unadilla; Cliff Wade, Lew Whitney and Wayne King of Bainbridge; and Ed Roselle of Sidney.

Also new this year is a Pro Aluminum Stock Class.

"These are the original boats that were first raced in" Harmon said Sunday. "We've got two boats in it. It should be fun."

The race was founded in an effort to attract tourism to the area and is now hosted by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce. The first race was held July 4, 1963, and took 11 hours and 45 minutes. Today the race record is 6 hours, 34 minutes and 34 seconds.

Walton resident Kenneth Landry is set to compete in this year's event for the 11th time.

He and paddling partner Harold Eustis of Delhi will compete in the 70-mile endurance race on Monday. The pair, both 62 years old, have been training for the event since late winter. Landry said that once the ice is off the water, the boat goes in.

There is a science to winning, he said, which he has done in the Mixed Team Aluminum Classes in 2006 and 2007. He uses a metronome to count strokes. The optimum number of strokes per minute for his team this year is 63. Landry said that if all goes as planned the pair should have 47,000 strokes to complete the race.

"This, fortunately, is not a young man's sport. Anyone can compete," he said.

Landry, who is the bow paddler in this year's race, has the bragging rights of being in the 700-mile club. He has completed the 70-mile endurance race 10 times. Landry's quickest time in the 70 mile race was 9:51:51.

Paddling is physically demanding, and the circumstances can be unpredictable. Landry said he buys used boats now after wrecking in the first leg of one person canoe (C-1) race.

"I fell out of the boat going around a turn. The boat got away from me," he said. "By the time I caught it, it was in two pieces."

The disaster did not deter Landry, who said, "I bought a used boat the following week and was back in the water."

Landry said of the Regatta: "It's just something that you do. People come from all over the world to compete in the Clinton. If you are a canoe racer, this is on your bucket list."

World-class athletes including Corbin and Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton will also compete in this year's event.

It is expected that more than 3,000 amateur and professionals will compete to be eligible to collect more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

Saturday will feature Scout and Youth races. Featured on Sunday are the Men's and Women's Amateur Sprints, Mixed Stock Relays, Open Stock Relays as well as Open Kayak Sprints.

The weekend will also be filled with events sponsored by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce including carnival rides. There will be a flea market and craft show at General Clinton Park in Bainbridge. On Saturday, the fifth annual Dan Elwood Memorial 5k run and 1-mile walk for Hospice will start at the park at 9 a.m. The Ross Park ZooMobile and Magic Chest Magician will provide children's entertainment.

On Sunday, the Regatta Music Festival will be held, featuring Farley, Giant Steps, HoneyStruck and Woodshed Prophets beginning at 1 p.m. There will be a fireworks display Saturday and Sunday at 10 p.m.

There is a parking fee of $7 on Saturday and Sunday. Parking is free on Friday and Monday.

There is no admission charge for the events.

For more information, visit www.canoeregatta.org.