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:

May 22, 2025

2:00 pm - 9:45 pm - Davis Shows Carnival "Family Day" $4 per ride

May 23, 2025

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

May 24, 2025

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)

May 25, 2025

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

May 26, 2025

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: May 22 - 26, 2025

Location: Riverside Park, 304 East Park Street Grants Pass, OR 97527

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