Registration Open for Steel City Arkansas River Festival on July 26

PUEBLO-Pueblo Parks and Recreation is hosting the inaugural Steel City Arkansas River Festival (SCARF) on July 26, 2025. The free community festival provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the region's natural beauty and highlight the outdoor recreation opportunities located at the Nature Wildlife Discovery Center, the new WaterWorks Park and the kayak course near Pillars Park at the Arkansas River Levee.

There are two competitive events including Build Your Own Boat Race and the Freestyle River Surf Competition, and two community events including the Paddle and Bike Parade and a Rubber Duck Race. Currently registration is open for Build Your Own Boat Race, Freestyle River Surf Competition and the Paddle and Bike Parade at the Steel City Arkansas River Festival page . Participants can begin "adopting a duck" starting June 16.

The Build Your Own Boat Race takes place at 10:00 a.m. on July 26 at the Nature Wildlife Discovery Center and ends approximately 1.05 miles downriver at WaterWorks Park. Registered teams will race in the same division with five teams per heat, with two heats offered per division. Divisions include two-person crew, three-person crew and four-person crew teams for 18 and older participants. Heats launch every 20 minutes. Crew members must wear personal flotation devices (life jackets) and helmets, with all crew member remaining on the vessel throughout the entire race. Everything on the boat must be homemade, nothing off of a commercial raft or boat may be utilized. Registration is $100 per team plus a $50 refundable deposit and deadline is register is Friday, July 11.

The Freestyle River Surf Competition, presented by Badfish, is a fun, light-hearted river surfing competition to showcase WaterWorks Park. There are two divisions for both women and men with adult 16 years and older or the junior division for 10-15-year-olds. The competition takes place at the lower wave of WaterWorks Park beginning at 12:00pm. Registration is $35 per participant, all competitors must wear a personal flotation device and helmet. Registration deadline is Thursday, July 24.

The Paddle and Bike Parade at SCARF presented by The Edge Ski and Paddle Shop and Pueblo Youth Mountain Biking Team is a free event but does require registration. This community river float and bike ride is for participants eight-years-old and older, but children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a trusted adult. Personal flotation devices are required for participants on the river and helmets are strongly encouraged for individuals riding on the river trail. The event begins at 3:00 p.m. at WaterWorks Park's Burkhardt Crossing and finishes approximately 2.45 miles downriver or trail at Pillars Park near the Charles Lee Bridge area. Adopt a duck starts June 16 for the Rubber Duck Race SCARF event hosted on Saturday, July 26. Cost of a duck is $5 each. Funds will benefit scholarships for Pueblo Parks & Recreation's youth programming. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. at Wildhorse Creek Bridge and ends with the first duck to cross the finish line at Lee Charles Bridge.

For more information about SCARF or any of the registered events visit the Steel City Arkansas River Festival page , call Pueblo Parks and Recreation at 719-553-2790 or email Lindsay Martin at lmartin@pueblo.us .