Firecracker Race

15 miles of RACING on the scenic Mississippi River

The Firecracker Race will again be held on the Mississippi River on Saturday August 9, 2025. Just as last year, paddlers will race on a 15 mile downriver course from Grafton access to the Alton riverfront (see map below). The race will end at the Alton marina. After the race come to the Old Bakery Beer Company, a short walk or drive directly across Hwy 67 for food and drinks. There we will have the award ceremony and raffle starting no later than 3:30. Pre-registration for a reserved dinner is required, or you can order from their menu and bar. Those that chose not to reserve a dinner from us are offered a Race T-Shirt. Free beer for everyone while it lasts. REGISTRATION COMING SOON.

See Results of Prior Races

Register to Compete

The cost to race is listed on the registration below (both racers of a tandem team must register separately). All racers must agree to abide by the race rules, sign a liability waiver and understand that this race is a fund raiser for The Mississippi River Water Trail Association. All funds raised will go to support that cause. Your registration is supporting a worthy initiative to increase recreational access and use of the Mighty Mississippi River. All racers receive a “goody bag” at START that includes a raffle ticket and dinner coupon. Registration is COMING SOON.

Buy Tickets

Event Date & Schedule

  • August 9, 2025
  • 7:00 to 9:00  – Racer check in booth – START (Grafton Access)
  • 8:00 – Shuttle Bus leaves Alton access for Grafton Access ($5 charge)
  • 9:00 – Racer Meeting – Orientation and Safety
  • 9:30 – RACE START  (Grafton Access)
  • 2:30 – RACE FINISH  (Alton Riverfront Park) Take out just pass the finish at Alton Access
  • 2:00 – Dinner and beer served at the Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton IL
  • 3:30 – or upon race completion – Award Ceremony and Raffle at The Old Bakery Beer Company

Race Classes

Kayak Classes

  • Mens Kayak Solo (K1 Men)
  • Womens Kayak Solo (K1 Women)
  • Mens Kayak Tandem (K2 Men)
  • Womens Kayak Tandem (K2 Women)
  • Coed Kayak Tandem (K2 Coed)

Canoe Classes

  • Mens Canoe Solo (C1 Men)
  • Womens Canoe Solo (C1 Women)
  • Mens Canoe Tandem (C2 Men)
  • Womens Canoe Tandem (C2 Women)
  • Coed Canoe Tandem (C2 Coed)
  • VOYAGER CANOE / TEAM

SUP Classes

  • Mens Stand Up Paddle Board (S1 Men)
  • Womens Stand Up Paddle Board (S1 Women)

Cost

  • Racer – non-ACA member: $50
  • Racer – ACA member: $40

Optional Shuttle

Racers are encouraged to drop off their boats at the Grafton access and drive down to the Alton access to take advantage of the 8am shuttle bus. We will be onsite at Grafton access by 7am. During registration, scroll down and select Bus Shuttle under “Add On” and pay an additional $5. As long as you are allowed to register for the use of the bus, there is still room available for you.

Safety Meeting and Race Start

All racers must fully check in by 9:00 am in order to sign a race participation waiver, receive race numbers, and instructions on staging boats.  A mandatory race safety meeting will occur at 9:00 am.  Note: those registering the day of the race should come even earlier.  The race will begin at 9:30 am and depending on the number of racers, the start may be staged by boat class or race experience at the discretion of the race director. Race organizers will have the check-in booths set up by 7:00 am.

Waivers

All paddlers will complete an online waiver. Please use this link to fill out the online ACA waiver.

Age of Racers

Anyone paddling solo in the main race event must be at least 18 years of age on July 6 2024 or at least 16 years of age if part of a tandem team accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. (Note that the parent or legal guardian must sign the liability waiver for the 16 or 17 year old.)

Rent Equipment

Have you paddled on the big river before but don’t own your own equipment? We can provide a kayak, PFD, and paddle to you at the START for an additional $25. We can only offer this to approximately 10 individuals given our limitation of gear, and there are some tandems available. We will shuttle all the gear for you to the START and haul it away from the FINISH. Email me at craig@MississippiRiverWaterTrail.org if this is something you are interested in.

Our goal was to design this short race for the race community but also for big river paddlers that haven’t raced before but have always wanted to. We are providing an entire on water safety team in addition to a USACE safety motor boat patrolling the entire race route to insure the safety of everyone.

Race Cancellation, Reschedule and Refunds

If an unknown factor or event should occur such as dangerous weather it will force a race cancellation (high winds, thunderstorms with risk of lightning strikes or floods). Then an attempt to offer a make-up race date will be organized. All racers are responsible for monitoring the race website for updates on the race. If the race is postponed, any racer is welcome to attend the make-up race date or alternatively can receive a voucher for a race entry for the next year. NO REFUNDS will be offered within seven days of the race. Keep in mind that the race is a fundraiser for the Mississippi River Water Trail Foundation, so if you find out that you can’t make the race at the last minute…your registration will go to a good river-worthy cause.

Race Rules

Each race craft must be propelled exclusively by paddle power (double or single blade) while on the water. No rowing configuration is permitted. No sail or kite is permitted.

All participants agree to appear in event related media coverage free of charge. Infractions of any rule during the event will be grounds for time penalties or disqualification to be reasonably and fairly determined by the race director.

Deliberate littering of the river is illegal. Racers must keep their trash in their canoes/kayaks and go ashore themselves to properly dispose waste.

All team members should understand there are serious risks involved in this endeavor. All racers should yield to larger vessels and be prepared for wakes from large commercial and recreational boats. Constant vigilance, clear thinking, and quick reaction will be essential at all times. All racers will enter this race at their own risk and will not hold this event’s organizers, judges, officials, and sponsors liable for accidents to personnel or damage to any property.

All participants in this Event must agree to the “American Canoe Association Waiver and Release of Liability”. This waiver is required by the American Canoe Association for participation in this event.

Each racer must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver with whistle at all times while on the water. A PFD must be worn at all times while on the water. This is per the United States Coast Guard as part of our race permit.

Craft Requirements, there are no restrictions on the design of the canoe/kayak. Paddlers using a ONE blade paddle are in a canoe, paddlers using a TWO blade paddle are in a kayak. The original craft must be paddled from start to finish. Repairs may be made to the craft during the race, but other alterations are not permitted. Any part of the craft (rudders, outriggers, etc.) which will be below the water line during any portion of the race must be “on board” from start to finish. Bib’s with pins will be handed out to racers prior to the race start and must be pinned to the front and back of each racer. Tandem and team members will have the racer in front with a front bib and racer in the rear with a bib on the back. Racers should ensure that our finish timers have identified bib numbers after finishing.

NEW FOR 2024: This is the Mississippi River, so we will require that all kayaks and canoes be a minimum length of 12 feet or longer to participate. This will give racers the speed and stability for big river paddling given the potential for waves and wind you may encounter on the race course.

In formulating the rules that govern this event, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that may arise, however, officials of the Firecracker Race retain the right to change or amend these rules at any time without liability or recourse from any party regardless of the circumstances. Should such changes or amendments be made, every effort will be made to notify all entrants.

Proceeds

The Firecracker Race serves as a fundraiser for the Mississippi River Water Trail Association and funds raised will be used to help increase recreational access to the Mississippi River.