Attend the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival in Cañon City in

Celebrate whitewater sports on the Arkansas River at the 16th Annual Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival on July 18-19, 2025. The weekend has water and land activities for everyone, from exciting competitions to live music. Make sure to visit Cañon City's biggest event of the summer!

Events at the Whitewater Festival in Colorado

Whether you love the thrill of whitewater rafting near you or prefer to watch from the shore, Whitewater Fest has something for everyone. The weekend is packed with a variety of events. Some of the most popular include:

• Build Your Own Boat: Try your luck at building a boat, then race against the competition for one-quarter mile down the Arkansas River. The first, second and third places will receive prizes.
• Raft Rodeo: Raft Rodeo is a long-standing tradition at the Whitewater Festival. Teams will battle the waves, and the crowd and a judging panel will rank each team's performance and finesse.
• The Great Escape Trail Events: The trail events highlight the hiking and biking trails in the Cañon City area. Choose a trail and race to the end, or take your time and enjoy the scenery.
• Hot Diggity Weenie Dog Races: Your Dachshund can have fun at Whitewater Fest, too. This competition has a fashion show and races for senior dogs, adult dogs and puppies, with prizes for the fastest racers and best-dressed dogs.
• Live music: After the sun goes down, bands from across the country and the local area will play live music for dancing and entertainment.

Rules for Whitewater Fest

Plan for your attendance at the festival by keeping these rules in mind:

1. Outside food and beverages are not allowed. However, you can bring an empty water bottle to refill at the water refill station.
2. No dogs are allowed at the festival except those participating in the Weenie Dog Race.
3. Adults will need to show identification to purchase alcoholic beverages.
4. If your group has children under 16, they need to be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Whitewater Festival Cañon City 2025 Event Details

Whitewater Festival is hosted in Centennial Park at 221 Griffin Ave. in Cañon City. The event kicks off on Friday, July 18 and ends on Saturday, July 19. Each day has a full schedule of water recreation, land activities and entertainment for your family to enjoy. Check out the event schedule for the full itinerary of Whitewater Fest.

Stay at Royal Gorge / Canon City KOA Holiday During Whitewater Fest

If you are looking for a place to stay during the Whitewater Festival, choose The Royal Gorge KOA. The campground is outside Cañon City and a short drive from Centennial Park. Camp in an RV Site with a gravel pad, Tent Site with or without hookups or Deluxe or Camping Cabin for comfortable lodging. During your stay, you can enjoy the campground amenities like the pool, mini golf and Wi-Fi.

Check out the many ways to stay, and reserve a site today!