Event Summary:

Release Schedule was announced, dates are confirmed for 2024! Friday, September 27th - Sunday, September 29th. American Whitewater is proud to bring back the storied traditions of the annual Feather River Festival! This festival and fundraiser mark the annual celebration of American Whitewater’s stewardship work on the North Fork Feather River. At its core, it’s a celebration of AW’s successful efforts to restore ecological and recreational flows to the North Fork Feather River watershed and reconnect the community to this special place. The festival is put on through efforts of American Whitewater, Chico Paddleheads and volunteers from the paddling community.

This 3-day festival in late September brings together boaters who run every type of whitewater craft down three distinct sections of river: the fun Class III rapids of Roger’s Flat Section, the exciting Class IV on the Lobin Section, and finally the challenging Class V Tobin Section. The roadside access makes the festival an exciting event for aspiring boaters to paddle alongside some truly world class athletes.

River: North Fork Feather River

Location: Tobin, CA

Social Media: Facebook

Website: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Events/view/?

Event Summary: The Gauley River.... just the mention of it causes a whitewater paddler to go into a dream like trance- This event is downriver race on this legendary section of river. Beginning near the base of Summersville Dam, the race ends nine miles downstream. Paddlers must negotiate the ‘Big Five’ on the Upper Gauley and the finish line is at a 12 foot drop called Sweet’s Falls. Over the years, this race has grown in notoriety and participation. The post-race awards party has become a popular event in itself. At the dinner, racers enjoy a buffet dinner, live music, prizes and a great party! SO- C’mon paddle the Gauley like you mean it!

Classes: Wildwater, Wavehopper/Speeder, Slalom, Play Boat, Open Boat, Shredder, River Boards, Stand ups, Duckie & 6 Person Raft Teams! Raft Teams please pre-register!

River: Gauley River

Location: Summersville, WV

Socials: Facebook

Website: animaluppergauleyrace.com

Event Summary: It's time for BaileyFest 2023! Since it's Labor Day weekend, we got the land for 3 NIGHTS. No DOGS. Thanks to Denver water, we are expecting to have a bump in flows. We should have roughly 375cfs on Friday and Monday and 415cfs on Saturday and Sunday. While this event servers paddlers looking to run Bailey, there will be groups running Foxton and Deckers. Colorado Whitewater will be running cruises this weekend too, so everyone is welcome, regardless of what class of whitewater you prefer!

River: North Fork South Platte

Location: Bailey, CO

Social Media: Facebook

Website: https://coloradowhitewater.org/event-5385895?fbclid=IwAR1UHGZaQr_y3wJl6x4XR2feyUb6IgJc5x1dF0uETO_CkRCJfW4Ut8JzrOQ

Event Summary: West Forks Riverfest is dedicated to offering a safe, enjoyable, and memorable event for the entire family. Discover local food vendors, crafts, informative speakers, live music, raffles, giveaways, and much more. In the spirit of giving back, a portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities, including the Dead River Outdoor Club/Guide Olympics. Join us in establishing a summer tradition that celebrates the Forks area for years to come.

River: Dead River

Location: West Forks, Maine

Social Media: Instagram

Website: https://www.westforksriverfest.com/

Event Summary: Join American Whitewater at Deerfield Festival Weekend on a weekend early in August at Berkshire East in Charlemont, MA to Celebrate Our Wild Rivers. Enjoy a weekend of paddling on the Deerfield River and then join us at Deerfield Fest for live music, paddlesports vendors, and a silent auction to benefit American Whitewater's river conservation and recreation access work throughout the northeast.

River: Deerfield River

Location: Charlemont, MA

Social Media: N/A

Website: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Events/view/?

Event Summary: Festival Fun in the Heart of Colorado. The 14th Annual Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival (RGWF) features whitewater competitions and land-based recreation events to celebrate the whitewater season on the Arkansas River. Enjoy summer flows in a fantastic whitewater setting in historic Cañon City, Colorado. Held in the refurbished and family-friendly Centennial Park, the Whitewater Festival pairs boats, bands, and beer for a weekend of fun-filled (and whitewater-fueled) events. It's the biggest party of the summer in Cañon City and one not to be missed! Proceeds of this event benefit the Cañon City community. All are welcome to register for events or to watch the fun unfold!

River: Arkansas River

Location: Canon City, CO

Social Media: Facebook

Website: https://www.royalgorgewhitewaterfestival.com/

Event Summary: The Gunnison River Festival is held annually by the Nonprofit Gunnison River Festival and governed by a community board. We will be celebrating our rivers throughout the summer of 2024 with local events. The scope of the festival is the celebration of the headwaters of the Gunnison Watershed that flow into the Gunnison River. Many partners have participated creating an evolving environment and influencing the Festival.

The main event is a downriver race on the Taylor River starting at 5:30pm on Friday the 21st. Boats can begin staging at 4:30pm. The race will kick off with men & women’s kayaks as a mass start at Todd’s Slot. Rafts (including any 2+ person duckies) will have two-minute intervals between starts. Race Finish is the take-out at South Bank.

The Festival will continue through the day on Saturday as well. Be sure to check out their website, linked below, for more information and registration. Updates will be posted on social media as well.

River: Taylor River

Location: Gunnison, CO

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: https://www.gunnisonriverfestival.com/

Event Summary: 2024 marks the 76th anniversary of FIBArk, the nation's oldest whitewater festival and Salida's signature event. Since 1949, every June during the Spring snow runoff, Salida has hosted FIBArk, "First in Boating on the Arkansas."

River: Arkansas River

Location: Salida, CO

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: https://www.fibark.com/

Event Summary: A river ride at 3,000+cfs! This winter was epic, and the Truckee is raging, so we’ve partnered with Fizzy Beez and IRIE Rafting Company to give you a ride.

River: Truckee River

Location: Reno, NV

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: https://renoriverfestival.com/

Event Summary: The GoPro Mountain Games are the country's most celebrated festival of adventure sports, art and music and they return to Vail, CO June 6-9, 2024

River: Eagle River

Location: Vail, CO

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: https://mountaingames.com/

Event Summary: Animas River Days includes these sporting events: stand-up paddling, river surfing, freestyle kayaking, boatercross, raft and kayak slalom, downriver races, and the local's favorite costumed river parade. Presented by 4 Corners River Sports.

River: Animas River

Location: Durango, CO

Social Media: N/A

Website: https://www.animasriverdays.com/

Event Summary: This is the annual gathering of each nation’s top raft racing teams hosted by the International Rafting Federation. Teams will compete in all four disciplines, including, Downriver, Sprint, Head-to-Head, and Slalom. The competition is scheduled for May 28th - June 2nd, 2024 near Banja Luka in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Europe. The events will be on the Vrbas River there with the downriver race covering 14km. After a brief haitus due to Covid and other issues, we’re psyched that the annual championship is back.

River: Vrbas River

Location: Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: International Rafting Federation

Event Summary: Many make the annual pilgrimage to Idaho in the spring. There lies some of the greatest whitewater in the western states. Lochsa Madness is a gathering of river runners held every Memorial Day Weekend. Come experience the Lochsa River and all it has to offer. The Idaho Whitewater Association will present another weekends worth of carnage at Wilderness Gateway.

River: Lochsa River

Location: Syringa, ID

Social Media: Facebook

Website: N/A

Event Summary: All types of river action every Memorial Day Weekend:

Pine Creek Race will consist of two individual runs through the rapid. Contestants will be required to navigate up to 5 slalom gates during their run; these gates will be placed to steer racers away from potential dangers in the rapid.  Winners will be determined by the fastest run down the course, best of two runs.

Great deals on river gear, you can buy new, or used at the gear swap, at CKS River Supply!

We love surfing in Colorado. Let's have some fun in these light hearted river surfing comps for women, men, and kids and showcase some of Colorado’s really fun waves.

Top it all off with some high energy kayak rodeo competitions at the Buena Vista River Park!

River: Arkansas River

Location: Buena Vista, CO

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Website: https://cksriversupply.com/paddlefestschedule

Event Summary: This year the festival will be hosting the USRA National Rafting Championship, which is the qualifier for the 2025 IRF World Rafting Championship!

The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival was started in 1984 by the Northwest Rafter’s Association. It’s a weekend of fun and exciting whitewater activities. 2024 will mark the 38th anniversary of this great tribal gathering.  This year’s festival will be held the weekend of May 18th-19th, 2024.

The festival became an independent Non-Profit organization in 2013. This organization is dedicated to continuing the festival into the future and strives to embrace the entire Whitewater community.

The Mission of the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival is to:

• Promote river education

• Safety

• Competition

• Camaraderie

• River stewardship

Beyond these noble missions the UCWWF looks to gather boaters together for a rip roaring good time doing what we all love to do. This is the goal of the annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival – to provide you with a place to learn, to challenge, to bond and simply spend a GREAT weekend with your fellow boaters. Please volunteer for the festival!

River: Clackamas River

Location: Estacada, OR

Social Media: Facebook

Website: https://upperclackamasfestival.org/

Event Summary: This year the Upper Clackamas River Festival will be hosting the USRA National Rafting Championship, which is the qualifier for the 2025 IRF World Rafting Championship!

2024 will be all R4 races (4-person raft team) in Sprint, Head-to-Head, Slalom, and Downriver in all age and gender categories as defined by International Rafting Federation competition rules.

The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival was started in 1984 by the Northwest Rafter’s Association. It’s a weekend of fun and exciting whitewater activities. 2024 will mark the 38th anniversary of this great tribal gathering.  This year’s festival will be held the weekend of May 18th-19th, 2024.

Welcome out to watch the action, or volunteer for the festival!

River: Clackamas River

Location: Estacada, OR

Social Media: Facebook

Website: http://www.usaraftassociation.com/events/2024-usra-nationals/, https://upperclackamasfestival.org/