Tulsa Great Raft Race Sets Off After 5-Year Hiatus

Tulsa's Great Raft Race has kicked off Monday morning after a five-year-long hiatus, along with a full lineup of activities for spectators.

Monday, September 2nd 2024, 12:43 pm

By: Alyssa Miller

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. -

Beginning in 2015 but canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Raft Race has kicked off its return Monday morning.

Launches for the race began at 8 a.m., with racers travelling down the Arkansas River, through Zink Lake before reaching the finish line at West Festival Park.

Along the way though, guests can gather atop the newly-constructed pedestrian bridge over the water to watch the rafts float by.

Further south from West Festival Park, spectators, food vendors, art exhibitions and more have gathered at the Gathering Place, and Tulsa's Wave Park has also opened and can be enjoyed by guests starting at 3 p.m.

Spectators hoping to get on the water can either bring their own watercrafts, or rent paddle boards and kayaks through Zink Lake Rentals.

This area closes at 11 p.m.

For more information on the race and accompanying festivities, click here.

Alyssa Miller

Alyssa joined the News On 6 team as a multimedia journalist in January 2023. Before that, Alyssa anchored 13 NEWS This Morning and told Northeast Kansans stories as a reporter for WIBW-TV. In her four years there, she won several Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards for her anchor and reporter work.