The Mississippi River looked a little different Saturday as a 10-mile section from Rock Island to Hampton was closed to boat traffic and filled instead with more than 1,000 kayaks & paddleboards for the annual Floatzilla event .

River Action, which has organized the event since 2010, said about 1,200 paddlers from 20 states participated this year. More than 100 local volunteers helped make the event possible.

“We call everybody. We say you know we’re giving you a chance to be generous here. You wanna give us your day on Floatzilla day. We couldn’t do it without ‘em,” River Action Executive Director Kathy Wine said.

The daylong gathering gives kayakers of all skill levels a rare opportunity to paddle on a quiet, closed-off stretch of the river and enjoy its wildlife and scenery.

“When

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