FIBArk 2026 Whitewater Festival in Salida, CO — June 18–21

When

Jun 18–21, 2026

FIBArk 2026 Whitewater Festival in Salida, CO

When the Arkansas River swells with early-summer snowmelt, Salida throws the party it has thrown longer than any river town in the country. FIBArk—short for First in Boating on the Arkansas—returns June 18–21, 2026, with four days of paddling competitions, riverside concerts, and small-town celebration just down the road from Buena Vista. If you’re spending the summer in the Arkansas River Valley, this is the weekend to point your tubes, kayaks, and camp chairs toward Salida.

A Festival With Deep River Roots

FIBArk has been running since the 1930s, when a group of Salida locals dreamed up a boat race to put their town—and its whitewater—on the map. Today it holds the title of America’s longest-standing whitewater festival, and in recent years it has drawn as many as 30,000 people to a town that normally counts its residents in the low thousands. It’s equal parts serious paddlesport competition and full-blown community block party, and it remains the heartbeat of summer in this stretch of the Rockies.

Whitewater, Front and Center

The Arkansas River is the star of the show. FIBArk’s lineup spans the spectrum of river sport: the classic downriver races that started it all, head-to-head boater slalom, slalom races, a SUP surf competition and SUP sprints, raft rodeo and raft sprint, the crowd-favorite Crazy River Dog contest, a Women’s Showcase, and the gloriously chaotic Hooligan Race. On dry land, there’s a running event, a bike event, and the hometown parade through downtown Salida. Whether you come to compete or just to watch from the banks of Riverside Park, the energy on the water is contagious.

FIBArk 2026 Schedule

Here’s the full four-day lineup. Times and locations can shift as the festival nears, so double-check the official schedule before heading out.

Thursday, June 18
- 3:45 PM — First Pour with Commodores Terry & Chuck Deveney (Riverside Park)
- 4:00 PM — Riverside Park, Rides & Kids Zone Open (Riverside Park)
- 4:30 PM — Tenderfoot Hill Climb Registration & Packet Pickup (Sackett & F St.)
- 5:30 PM — Music: Sweet Jessup and the Dirty Buckets (Riverside Park Stage)
- 6:00 PM — Tenderfoot Hill Climb Race (F Street & Sackett)
- 6:30 PM — Raft Rodeo — New Location! (Scout Wave)
- 8:00 PM — Raft Rodeo Results (Scout Wave)
- 8:15 PM — Music: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Riverside Park Stage)
- 10:00 PM — Riverside Park & Rides Close
Friday, June 19
- 10:00 AM — Surf Contest (Scout Wave)
- 11:00 AM — Riverside Park & Carnival Open (Riverside Park)
- 2:00 PM — Head-to-Head Raft & SUP Sprint (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 2:30 PM — Surf Awards (Steamplant)
- 3:15 PM — Music: Horizon Line (Riverside Park Stage)
- 4:00 PM — Head-to-Head Raft & SUP Sprint Awards (FIBArk Boathouse Deck)
- 4:00 PM — Ducky Cross, Awards to Follow (Steamplant Plaza)
- 5:30 PM — Music: Earl Nelson and the Company (Riverside Park Stage)
- 6:00 PM — SUP Boxing (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 8:00 PM — Music: The Other Brothers (Riverside Park Stage)
- 10:00 PM — Riverside Park & Rides Close
Saturday, June 20
- 7:00 AM — 5K & 10K Road Races, Packet Pickup Opens (Thonhoff Park)
- 8:00 AM — 10K Road Race Start (Thonhoff Park)
- 8:05 AM — 5K Road Race Start (Thonhoff Park)
- 8:30 AM — Kids Fun Race (Thonhoff Park)
- 8:45 AM — Road Race Awards (Thonhoff Park)
- 9:00 AM — Slalom Race Preliminaries (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 10:00 AM — F Street Parade (F Street to Riverside Park)
- 11:00 AM — Riverside Park & Rides Open; Slalom Finals (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 11:45 AM — Slalom Awards (Steamplant Pavilion)
- 12:15 PM — Head-to-Head Slalom Boater Cross (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 2:15 PM — Women of Whitewater Showcase (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 3:00 PM — Head-to-Head Slalom Boater Cross Awards (Steamplant Pavilion)
- 3:15 PM — Music: Sun Jr. (Riverside Park Stage)
- 3:30 PM — Boogie Board Surf Contest (Office Wave)
- 5:30 PM — Hooligan Race (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 5:30 PM — Music: Gora Gora Orkestra (Riverside Park Stage)
- 8:00 PM — Music: Polish Ambassador (Riverside Park Stage)
- 10:00 PM — Riverside Park & Rides Close
Sunday, June 21
- 7:00 AM — Trail Run Packet Pickup Opens (Caboose Parking Lot)
- 8:00 AM — Trail Run Starts, S Mtn (Caboose Parking Lot)
- 8:30 AM — Down River Race (Full) OC & Kayak starts (Hecla Junction to Salida)
- 9:00 AM — Down River Race (Full) Raft & SUP starts (Stonebridge to Salida)
- 9:15 AM — Riverside Park Opens
- 9:30 AM — Rocky Mountain Rhythms Ecstatic Dance (Riverside Park)
- 10:00 AM — Carnival & Kid Zone Open (Riverside Park); Down River Intermediate Race starts (Big Bend to Salida); Trail Running Race Awards (Steamplant)
- 11:00 AM — Yoga in the Park (Riverside Park)
- 12:30 PM — Music: Float Like a Buffalo (Riverside Park Stage)
- 1:00 PM — Down River Novice Race, 1 mile (Marvin Park to Salida)
- 1:30 PM — Crazy River Dog (Salida Whitewater Park)
- 2:45 PM — Music: Amelia Day (Riverside Park Stage)
- 3:00 PM — Down River Awards (Steamplant Pavilion)
- 4:00 PM — Riverside Park, Kid Zone & Rides Close

Want to confirm exact times or see any updates? View the full official schedule here.

Music, Family Fun, and the Salida Scene

FIBArk is as much about the riverbank as the river. The festival’s live music lineup is already live for 2026, with sets at the Riverside Park stage, food vendors, and the kind of laid-back mountain-town crowd that makes Salida feel like everyone’s hometown for a weekend. Families have plenty to do too: the Kids’ Zone keeps younger festivalgoers busy, and the FIBArk Youth Paddling Program introduces local and visiting kids to whitewater skills and river stewardship. It’s friendly, walkable, and easy to fold into a longer stay in the valley.

Make a Weekend of It

Salida sits about 25 minutes south of Buena Vista, making FIBArk an easy day trip—or a perfect anchor for a longer Arkansas River Valley getaway. Pair festival days with rafting, hot springs, and trail time, and you’ve got one of the best summer weekends Colorado has to offer. Tickets and sponsorship info are live now, and the festival site is updated continually as June approaches.

Learn more at fibark.com and start planning your 2026 river weekend.