At the 2026 Willamette River Festival, we will have a broad variety of activities, ranging from laid back floats on the river to spirited paddling competitions! Please visit the links below to learn more information about each of these events and to reserve your spot.
Paddle Parade Registration
Rafting Trip Registration
Competition Registration
Competition Descriptions
Upstream Attainment Race: The centerpiece competition of the 2026 Willamette River Festival will be an upstream attainment race launching from the River House Beach. Competitors will race upstream, paddle around a buoy anchored in the rapids, and return to the starting line. We will run this race using a mass start, making for a thrilling race for both participants and spectators.
Stand-Up Paddleboard Slalom Race: In WRF’s first ever stand-up paddleboard slalom race, competitors will race around a series of buoys in the flatwater area near the River House Beach before returning to the finish line at shore. This race will be run using a mass start, making for thrills, spills, and enjoyable competition. Competitors can bring their own paddleboards or borrow one from the River House fleet.
Flatwater Rodeo: At the Willamette River Festival’s flatwater rodeo, competitors will have a two-minute window to throw down all of their best skills in the eddy directly adjacent to the River House Beach. Participants can bring their own boats or borrow a playboat from the River House Outdoor Center. A panel of judges will score each competitor on the basis of style, skill, and stoke.
Swiftwater Rescue Relay: The Swiftwater Rescue Relay Race is intended to put your river safety skills to the test. We will set up a course in the water directly next to the River House Beach, allowing for spectators to cheer teams on. Each team of four will have to race through a variety of challenges, including throwbagging, rescue swimming, towing, and raft flipping. The team that completes the course in the fastest time will be crowned as the champions of Willamette River Rescue!
Raft Flip Speed Challenge: For the final competition of the Willamette River Festival, we’ll be running a low-stakes event to see who can flip over a 14′ raft the fastest. Teams of two will swim out to a raft in the River House eddy, climb in, flip it over, flip it right side up again, and climb back on top. Our judges will time each attempt to see who earns the (somewhat dubious) title of Best Raft Flipper.