High River Waters Force ‘Head of the Rock Regatta’ Cancellation

Thanks to all the excessive rains we've been getting lately, the Rock River is too high to safely host the race this Sunday.

Unfortunately for the thousands who flock down on the river's banks each October to watch teams from all over the nation compete, this year's event has had the plug pulled thanks to the unsafe river conditions.

From the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB):

The 2018 Head of the Rock Regatta has been cancelled due to flood stage water levels on the Rock River.

Steeped in tradition, the YMCA's Rowing Crew plays host to the Head of the Rock Regatta every October. This decades-old race draws more than 2,000 rowers from across the country and more than 5,000 spectators to the banks of the Rock River.

The Head of the Rock Regatta is a rowing race of 5,000 meters (3.2 miles) on the Rock River, beginning at Martin Park and finishing at the YMCA. It is a sanctioned event of the United States Rowing Association, requiring the observance of USRowing race protocol.

There has been no announcement about plans to reschedule the event.