River Race Coming To Rockford This Summer

It's time to start collecting bottles, jugs, wood, Styrofoam, anything that floats and start cobbling it together to make something you can ride down the Rock River. By popular demand The Rock River Anything That Floats Race (RRATFR) returns to the Rock River Sunday, August 21 (rain date the following Sunday.) The one and a half mile race begins just north of the Auburn Street Bridge and ends with a party at the Prairie Street Brewing Company following the race. Teams can sign up to build their own raft or you can enter to race more conventional sea craft like canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.

Registration is now open to the public, the deadline is August 1st. Participants can register for the race here.  The entry fee for rafts is $100 per team (up to 10 crew members) and $15 per canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Awards will be given to first, second and third place winners for all races. In addition to timed awards, ribbons will also be given out to the most creative raft.

Spectators can watch the race at various areas along the river and local vendors will be set up at the start and finish of the race. For information on becoming a vendor for the event head here.