Get your kayaks and canoes ready. It’s almost Floatzilla time.
Floatzilla 2024 – the largest paddle event on the Mississippi River – is returning to the Quad Cities this week with hopes of breaking the world record and becoming the largest raft of canoes and kayaks. (The world record for the largest raft of canoes and kayaks is 3,151, according to the Floatzilla website.)
Currently, a New York group holds the Guiness World Record from a lake event it held several years as breast cancer prevention fundraiser. Floatzilla already holds the distinction as the largest paddle event held on the Mississippi River.
River Action leaders announced in May that Floatzilla 2024 would feature more events on water and land in hopes of drawing more participants and breaking the Guinness World Record.
Floatzilla events are set for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17, and involve several sites around the Quad Cities. Go here for information to register for Floatzilla.
In addition to working to break that world record, Floatzilla 2024 will feature music, a fishing tournament, camping and many other events over its two-day run. Proceeds from the event support River Action, a nonprofit organization that strives to foster the environment, economic and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and the Quad Cities region.
While Floatzilla will feature many events, for many people the star of the show will be the attempt to break the canoe and kayak record on Saturday, Aug. 17. Packet pickup for Floatzilla will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Credit Island Lodge, 2200 W. River Drive, Davenport.
Participants can choose from seven launch sites across the QC on Saturday, Aug. 17, to be a part of the record attempt. Those sites and launch times are:
- Empire Park, East Moline; launch 7-8:30 a.m.
- Leach Park, Bettendorf; launch 7-11 a.m.
- Lindsay Park Yacht Club, Davenport; launch 8 a.m. to noon.
- Bass Street YMCA, Moline; launch 7-11 a.m.
- Marquette Street, Davenport; launch 9 a.m. to noon.
- Credit Island, Davenport; launch 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Lake Potter, Rock Island, lake only; no river paddling.
A group photo will be taken at Lake Potter at 1:30 p.m. Saturday from atop the Hampton Crane and by drone. Shuttle service back to the launch sites begins after the photo, and will run from 2-4:30 p.m.
Here are some of the other events happening as part of Floatzilla 2024:
- Kayak Fishing Tournament: This event will be on Credit Island from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Check-in is 5-6 p.m. All ages are welcome. Admission is free and there will be prizes.
- Outdoor Expo: The Outdoor Expo and Kayak/Canoe Swap will be held during packet pickup on Friday at Credit Island Lodge. There will be outdoor recreation, adventure gear, environmental conservation and more.
- Music and food: The Dani Lynn Howe Band will be at Lake Potter from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. There will also be food trucks.
- Camping: River Action and the City of Davenport are offering camping on Credit Island, which features a disc golf course, and at Lindsay Park near the Lindsay Park Yacht Club launch site. Tent camping only. No open fires allowed. Cost is $12 per tent.
For more information on Floatzilla and River Action, visit here.
