The Yampa River Festival, Steamboat Springs’ traditional kick-off to summer, celebrates its 45th annual rendition this week.

The festival, held Thursday to Sunday, is hosted by Friends of the Yampa and honors the Yampa River and its many offerings to river recreators in Northwest Colorado. 

The festival begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with the State of the Yampa Address at Bud Werner Memorial Library. Friday night is the Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Race beginning at 6 p.m. 

The Yampa River Festival Main Event runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at Charlie’s Hole, behind Bud Werner Memorial Library. The event concludes Sunday with the kayak slalom at 10 a.m. at Dr. Rich Weiss Park. 

Thursday
State of the Yampa Address
The State of the Yampa Address will feature a Yampa River update from Friends of the Yampa beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday in Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library. The address will also screen a short film, “A Guide to Fighting For Wild Rivers” by OARS. A panel will answer questions about the 15 years of the Yampa River Awareness Project following the screening. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be found at Tinyurl.com/4hh696d9. 

Friday
Backdoor Sports Gear Swap
Backdoor Sports will host a gear swap from noon-6 p.m. Friday at the shop on 841 Yampa St. 

Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Kayak Race
In memory of previous Friends of the Yampa board member Adam Mayo, the Fish Creek Kayak Race begins by Mount Werner Water, taking racers down a technical, boulder-filled area of Fish Creek. 

The race begins at 6 p.m. and is open to spectating, though parking is extremely limited. Carpooling is recommended. 

Saturday
Main Event
The Yampa River Festival’s Main Event is held each year at Charlie’s Hole, behind Bud Werner Memorial Library. The event runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and features river races, raft rodeos, the Freshwater Family Zone at West Lincoln Park, and more. 

There will be food and drink vendors in the library’s parking lot and at West Lincoln Park. Participant registration will be done in-person at the Friends of the Yampa booth. 

The order of events is as follows:
Pack Raft Race — A timed event that begins and ends at C-Hole. Athletes begin by inflating their crafts, sprinting up the Yampa River Core Trail to A-Hole, entering the river and paddling back down to C-Hole. The event begins at 10:30 a.m.

Downriver Fly Fishing Competition — Anglers attempt to cast and hit targets near the spectator area by C-Hole. The event is limited to 10 teams and begins at 11 a.m. Participants should arrive by 10:30 a.m. Sign up at Forms.office.com/r/afcWmJJgzW.

Open Class Downriver Kayak Race — Race begins at 10 a.m. by Fetcher Park, taking competitors to the finish line at C-Hole.

SUP Downriver Race — Race begins at noon by Fetcher Park, taking competitors to the finish line at C-Hole.

Drew Hyde Raft Race — In memory of Drew Hyde, the annual race is a timed sprint from Fetcher Park to C-Hole. Rafts of any size can enter with no limit on people per raft. Competitors can register at Fetcher and should arrive by 12:15 p.m.

Raft and Kayak Rodeo — Following the raft race, teams have the opportunity to dazzle the crowd at C-Hole by surfing the man-made wave in their raft. Kayak rodeo is at 5:30 p.m. 

SUP Cross — Stand-up paddleboarders take on a course set up at and around C-Hole. 

Kayak Cross — A course is set up at Dr. Rich Weiss Park for kayakers to complete. 

Crazy River Dog — Dogs leap into the water and swim back to their human at D-Hole. The best time wins and each dog is allowed only one try. The event begins at 4 p.m. and owners must register at the Friends of the Yampa booth 30 minutes prior to the event. 

Tube Rodeo — The coveted Golden Tube is up for grabs in the C-Hole wave for whoever gets the best ride. Anyone can enter, but all participants must wear a PFD and helmet.

Awards will end the day around 6:30 p.m. at C-Hole. 

Sunday
Kayak Slalom
The Yampa River Festival closes with the Kayak Slalom event at Dr. Rich Weiss Park from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. 

Downtown parking will be limited as the festival is a popular and sought-after event each year. Friends of the Yampa recommends utilizing the city’s free bus system, though parking can be found along Yampa Street, or at Little Toots Park and the Depot Art Center. Biking is also encouraged.