FRANKLIN — While most people ring in the New Year, an intrepid bunch of kayakers from all over New England choose to paddle it in this weekend.

About 75 kayakers and several hundred spectators came out during an unusually warm winter Saturday — temperatures were in the upper 40s locally — for the 30th annual New Year's Day Icicle Run on the Winnipesaukee River, an event sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Choose Franklin.

"It was a pretty good turnout," said Nancy Gero, a member of the Merrimack Valley Paddlers.

She helped organize the annual luncheon the organization holds for all participants at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Franklin.

Gero, of Raymond, said she's been a member of the Merrimack Valley Paddlers for 15 years.

She said she got interested in kayaking through an ex-husband and has been in love with the sport ever since.

"I enjoy it so much," Gero said. "I've gotten to know so many people through the sport. Everyone on the river is fantastic because we're all out there for the same reason."

Paddlers got in the water starting at 11 a.m., with novice and intermediate kayakers paddling the "Upper" Winnipesaukee River from Route 140 to the train station in Northfield, and advanced kayakers paddling the "Lower" Winnipesaukee River from Cross Mill Road in Northfield to downtown Franklin at Trestle View Park.

Bruce Mixon of Lawrence, Mass., has participated in the run every year since its inception.

Originally started to protest the proposed building of a dam that would have dried a portion of the river, Mixon said the event has morphed into a fun get-together for kayakers.

"It's a great social event and just a fun white water run," Mixon said.

He said he's been a kayaker since the early 1980s, a sport he said he loves because of the "combination of strategy and coordination" required to do it well.

Richard Chaney and Julie Smith of Nashua, along with Chaney's son, Sam Chaney, make the noncompetitive run a family affair.

"This run (on the Winnipesaukee River) is amazing, it's the best within 100 miles from here," Chaney said.

Although he's been running the rapids of the Winnipesaukee River every New Year's Day for more than 20 years, he said the experience is new every time.

"It's always different. You can kayak the same river again and again, but small changes, such as water levels, current and weather make it new each time," Chaney said.

Sam Chaney said he's been kayaking since age 2 or 3, so love of the sport has been ingrained.

Pitting himself against nature is what he likes most about kayaking, he said.

"It harbors respect for the natural world," Chaney said. "If you don't respect it, you could die."

Bill Smith, who lives in Exeter but previously lived in Franklin, said he likes to kayak because "it's a thrill and an adrenaline rush."

"I think everyone also does it for camaraderie. Kayaking is one those sports where you can be alone one minute and with all your friends the next," Smith said, adding that when a kayaker runs into trouble, other kayakers will rush to his or her aid.

Smith is a former president of the Merrimack Valley Paddlers.

Sarah Stanley, co-chairwoman of Choose Franklin, a nonprofit citizens group formed to revitalize the city, said the organization has been providing a welcome tent with refreshments for kayakers at Trestle View Park for the past six years.

Stanley said Choose Franklin loves to help promote the event and welcome the kayakers, who come from all over New England.

She said this year, kayakers came from as far away as Rhode Island.

"I'm glad they know they are welcome in our community," Stanley said.

Delaney Carrier of Franklin Storage Company, organizer of the welcome tent for Choose Franklin, said he estimates several hundred spectators came out between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to watch kayakers come down the Winnipesaukee River from Northfield into Franklin to the take-out point at Trestle View Park.

She added that Choose Franklin had help in sponsoring in the event from Franklin Savings Bank, volunteers from the Webster Place Recovery Center, Scott Stanley Electric, the Franklin Rotary Club, the Franklin Fire Department, the Franklin Recreation Center, Wilderness Trailer Sales, the Lakes Region Snowmobile Club, the Franklin Democratic Committee and BJ's Wholesale Club.

Victoria Guay/Staff photo Kayakers make their way down the Winnipesaukee River during the annual New Year's Day Icicle Run, which is organized by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Choose Franklin. The event was started 30 years ago to protest a dam project that would have dried up this section of the river. Click here to view Foster's prints for sale

Victoria Guay/Staff photo Though temperatures were in the upper 40s, the churning water of the Winnipesaukee River was much colder on Saturday as about 75 kayakers, including this one, took on the Class IV rapids during the annual New Year's Day Icicle Run, which is organized by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Choose Franklin. Click here to view Foster's prints for sale

Victoria Guay/Staff photo Richard Chaney, right, and Julie Smith, both from Nashua, pass the Central Street Bridge in Franklin shortly before taking their two-person "Shredder" kayak out of the water at Trestle View Park during the 30th annual New Year's Day Icicle Run on the Winnipesaukee River. Click here to view Foster's prints for sale

Victoria Guay/Staff photo Sam Chaney of Nashua paddles to the take-out point at Trestle View Park in Franklin after navigating the class IV rapids of the Winnipesaukee River during the 30th annual New Year's Day Icicle Run, which draws kayakers from all over New England and is sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Choose Franklin. Click here to view Foster's prints for sale