Boatnik 2025
Boatnik is an annual festival held in Riverside Park in Grants Pass, Oregon over Memorial Day Weekend for more than 60 years. There is no admission to attend Boatnik and there are many activities and shows for all ages. There are additional activities available for purchase including the Davis Shows Carnival, concert, and Boatnik Brewfest. The best part...ALL of the proceeds from the event are donated throughout the year to children and youth-based organizations in Josephine County!
The activities start Thursday evening with the Davis Shows Carnival featuring food, rides, games and family fun. The excitement continues Friday with the concert, a spectacular fireworks display on the river, midway vendors, and the carnival. Saturday morning features the well-known Boatnik parade that travels through downtown Grants Pass and ends at Riverside Park. Throughout the weekend the festivities continue in the park where there are a whirlwind of activities that include: Sprint and Drag boat racing, carnival rides, arts and crafts, children's activities, Bingo, food vendors, Monday Sundaes, the Boatnik Brewfest, the Chevy Drive It Home Golf Shoot Out and a second night of patriotic fireworks. Monday is the highlight of Boatnik featuring the World Famous Tom Rice Memorial White Water Hydroplane Race, and the Memorial Day Service including a jet flyover.
Thousands of locals and visitors from around the world come to share the tradition and unique experience of Boatnik.
Schedule of Events
Schedule subject to change.
PARADE-BREWFEST-CARNIVAL-CONCERT-DRAG BOATS-FIREWORKS-GOLF SHOOT OUT-HYDROPLANE BOATS-MEMORIAL SERVICE-SPRINT BOATS
Thursday May 22nd
The activities start Thursday evening with the Davis Shows Carnival featuring food, rides, games and family fun. The excitement continues Friday with the concert, a spectacular fireworks display on the river, midway vendors, and the carnival. Saturday morning features the well-known Boatnik parade that travels through downtown Grants Pass and ends at Riverside Park. Throughout the weekend the festivities continue in the park where there are a whirlwind of activities that include: Sprint and Drag boat racing, carnival rides, arts and crafts, children's activities, Bingo, food vendors, Monday Sundaes, the Boatnik Brewfest, the Chevy Drive It Home Golf Shoot Out and a second night of patriotic fireworks. Monday is the highlight of Boatnik featuring the World Famous Tom Rice Memorial White Water Hydroplane Race, and the Memorial Day Service including a jet flyover.
Thousands of locals and visitors from around the world come to share the tradition and unique experience of Boatnik.
Schedule of Events
Schedule subject to change.
PARADE-BREWFEST-CARNIVAL-CONCERT-DRAG BOATS-FIREWORKS-GOLF SHOOT OUT-HYDROPLANE BOATS-MEMORIAL SERVICE-SPRINT BOATS
Thursday May 22nd
| 2:00 pm - 9:45 pm | Davis Shows Carnival "Family Day" $4 per ride |
Friday May 23rd
| 12:00 pm - 11:45 pm | Davis Shows Carnival & Midway Booths |
| 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Round 1 - Grants Pass Automotive Golf Shoot-out |
| 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Boatnik Sponsor Tent |
| 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm | Free Parking & Shuttle (GPHS & Jo Co Fairgrounds) |
| 5:00 pm - 11:45 pm | Boatnik Refreshment Garden |
| 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm | Queensryche with guest Emissary |
| 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Boat Exhibition |
| Dusk | Fireworks |
Saturday May 24th
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Boatnik Parade |
| 11:00 am - 5:30 pm | Boatnik Sponsor Tent |
| 11:00 am - 11:30 pm | Free Parking & Shuttle (GPHS & Jo Co Fairgrounds) |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 pm | Davis Shows Carnival & Midway Booths |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 pm | Boatnik Refreshment Garden |
| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Drag Boat Exhibition |
| 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Boatnik Brewfest |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Sprint Boat Exhibition |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Junior Jetboats Exhibition |
| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Drag Boat Exhibition |
| 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Round 2 - Grants Pass Automotive Golf Shoot-out |
| 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Boatnik Sponsor Party (invitation only) |
Sunday May 25th
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Sprint Boat Exhibition |
| 11:00 am - 10:00 pm | Boatnik Sponsor Tent |
| 11:00 am - 11:00 pm | Boatnik Refreshment Garden |
| 11:00 am - 11:30 pm | Free Parking & Shuttle (GPHS & Jo Co Fairgrounds) |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 pm | Davis Shows Carnival & Midway Booths |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Drag Boat Exhibition |
| 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Hydroplane Show & Shine on Midway |
| 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Boatnik Brewfest |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Junior Jetboats Exhibition |
| 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm | Historical Drift Boat Exhibition |
| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Drag Boat Exhibition |
| 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Finals - Grants Pass Automotive Golf Shoot-out |
| 6:00 - 9:30 pm | Trey Lewis concert |
| Dusk | Fireworks |
Monday May 26th
| 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Hydroplane warm-ups |
| 11:00 am - 4:00 pm | Boatnik sponsor tent |
| 11:00 am - 4:00 pm | Boatnik refreshment garden |
| 11:00 am - 7:00 pm | Davis Shows Carnival & Midway booths |
| 11:30 am - 12:00 pm | Memorial Day Ceremony (with flyover) |
| 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm | Tom Rice Memorial Race introductions |
| 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm | Tom Rice Memorial Race |
| 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Bingo @ Riverside Park pavilion |
| 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Monday Sundae (Sponsored by Dairy Queen & Umpqua Dairy) |
Date and Time
Thursday May 22, 2025 Monday May 26, 2025
Thursday, May 22nd - Monday, May 26th
SCHEDULE
Location
Riverside Park
Grants Pass
Fees/Admission
Admission is Free to Boatnik
Website
Printed courtesy of www.grantspasschamber.org/ – Contact the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce for more information.
PO Box 970, Grants Pass, OR 97528 – 541-476-7717 – gpcoc@grantspasschamber.org