Rock River Anything That Floats Race

04/23/2025

It’s been a helluva paddle. But It’s Time to Drop Anchor.

Since its revival in 2017, RRATFR has brought together thousands of racers, volunteers, businesses and fans. You turned recycled junk into river-ready ships of sea. You cheered from bridges, launched from ramps, danced to live music and helped raise spirits and revenue for local charities.

We’re proud to have carried forward one of Rockford’s quirkiest and most joyful traditions. But like so many events, we’ve faced post-pandemic headwinds - sponsorship, participatory,and logistical. It’s time for our group to step aside.

Our social pages will remain “In Memoriam,” for a time, as well as the website. Tag your memories. Help us preserve them. Thank you, Rockford. We made some magic together.

Read the full farewell at RRATFR.com

07/19/2024

The RRATFR Steering Committee is sorry to announce that, despite our last-ditch efforts to recruit more participants beginning in early July, only one additional raft has been registered, and unfortunately, a previously registered raft dropped out. We cannot hold a satisfactory event with only nine rafts and must cancel the 2024 race.

Our all-volunteer steering committee navigates this project year 'round, dedicating countless hours of in-kind services and quite a lot of money to promote a viable race. However, the lack of committed rafts, along with the exceedingly high water level of the Rock River this summer, has left us no choice but to anchor this year's event.

To those racers who were working diligently on your rafts, we understand how disappointing this news is and share your frustration. We remain hopeful for renewed and heightened interest in the 2025 race by both participants and sponsors. We also want to thank our committed race day volunteers. You all play a critical role in the event.

Looking even further ahead, 2026 will be the 50th anniversary of the inaugural year of the race in 1976!

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We appreciate all of you seafaring men and women. Our team will be in touch to discuss refunding entry fees to registered rafts.

Fair winds and following seas to you all! Until we float again.

07/11/2024

Urgent! Rafts Needed for the 2024 Rock River Raft Race!

It's time to get your ships together! Seriously!

Only six teams have signed up for the 2024 event planned for August 18. That level of commitment is significantly behind past years' numbers and we urgently need more teams to join or we will sadly have to cancel the race.

As announced last week, in the spirit of Independence Day, we’re currently offering a special registration fee of just $76, valid until July 18. If we don’t reach the minimum number of registrations by July 18, we’ll be forced to cancel the race and issue refunds to all registered teams and sponsors.

If your raft is in dry dock and you're waiting to sign up, NOW is the time to act. Your commitment NOW can make a difference and save the race.

A heartfelt thank you to the teams already registered and the sponsors and volunteers who have committed to support the event. Please carry this message to your friends. We on the all-volunteer Steering Committee are counting on our community's competitive spirit and support to keep the race afloat.

Visit RRATFR.com to register today.

It's not just a race, an engineering challenge or a team-building adventure! It's all of those things and more! Visit rratfr.com to sign up!

07/03/2024

Red, White & Boom Special: Register Your Raft for Just $76!

Our nation was founded in 1776. The Rock River Anything That Floats Race was founded in 1976. We can't help but feel all red, white and boom this time of year, so we're offering an explosive $76 special on 2024 RRATFR raft registration fees from July 4 to July 18.

Visit RRATFR.com and register using promocode RAFT76 July 4 - 18. Act fast to secure your spot today and save!

We can't wait to see you and your 'mates on the Rock River on Sunday, August 18 for a day filled with fun, laughter and cheers from the banks of the good ol' Rock River. Gather your crew and prepare to paddle like it's 1976!

It's not just a race, an engineering challenge or a team-building adventure! It's all of those things and more! Visit rratfr.com to sign up!

06/15/2024

Good job Woodward, Inc. and Team RCC Amos! You got your ship together for 17 bucks. Amazing! Great story, Kevin Haas. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Sustainability rocks.

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — Last year, a team of employees from Woodward Inc. completed the 1.65-mile Rock River Anything That Floats Race on a boat in which the most

06/10/2024

At the Rock River Anything That Floats Race, there are DIY (build from scratch) and Hulled (decorate a watercraft with a hull) Divisions and Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice winners in each. It’s fun for all as you work together to dream up your raft, then proudly float it in a parade of creativity to the cheers of riverside crowds on the East Bank of the Rock River down to the Finish Line at PrairieStreet Brewing Co. Register today and Paddle Like it’s 1999!

05/22/2024

The Rock River Anything That Floats Race needs you! Please consider joining us on August 18—not just for the cool t-shirt but for the fun and for knowing you'll be helping run an awesome community event. Please visit RRATFR.com/Volunteer for details!

05/07/2024

Ahoy Mateys! Stop thinking and start tinkering with your race raft vision! GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER! Sign up at www.rratfr.com to rally your crew and tame the Rock!

It's not just a race, an engineering challenge or a team-building adventure! It's all of those things and more! Visit rratfr.com to sign up!

04/17/2024

TO FLOAT OR NOT TO FLOAT. THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Come August 18, all the river will be a stage and all the racers will play their adventurous, colorful, heroic parts. Friends, be not afraid! Join us when good company, good beer (root beer for the kids) and a good race make the whole of the riverfront welcome on race day. Your team and your raft are the stuff dreams are made of, so visit RRATFR.com to register today. Tarry not! The morrow waits for no one, and as a wise man once said, “no legacy is as rich as floating!”

04/04/2024

Paddle Like it’s 1999!

Ingenuity and fun are the names of the game for the Rock River Anything That Floats Race. Grab your friends, your ideas and your team spirit and prepare to float Sunday, August 18, cheered on by thousands of fans. Whether you’re in it to win it or just want to float downstream in the sun, RRATFR will make you as happy as Ralphie and Randy on Christmas morning. Visit RRATFR.com and register your raft today! Who knows - you might win a major award! Special thanks to our sponsors: PalAmerican Security and AIM Distribution!

03/20/2024

The Rock River Anything That Floats Race isn't just for racers: RELEASE THE QUACKIN' is back in 2024!

Join us from 12:00 Noon - 3:00 p.m. on Race Day, August 18, on the Prairie Street Brewing Co dock near the Finish Line where kids of all ages will fire little rubber ducks at a floating target in the middle of the river with a giant slingshot.

Those who hit their target win valuable prizes! And everybody has more fun than a barrel full of ducks. Ducks cost $5 for one or $20 for five. Come on down to the dock on Race Day and get quackin'!

A special thank-you to our new Supporting Sponsor, PalAmerican Security! Interested in sponsoring? Check out the sponsor page on our website: RRATFR.com