The Zumbro River Community Festival/Canoe Race is a family event.  All event proceeds are used to support Camp scholarships for disadvantaged youth.   Recipients get to learn new skills, develop positive relationships, and experience summer camp at Camp Victory.    For more information about Camp Victory, visit the website at www.campvictory.com, or contact the Camp at 507.843.2329. 

The Canoe Race begins at 4:00 PM on June 27th, the Saturday before the 4th of July, 2009.

Registration is held at Camp Victory.  You may want to leave your vehicles at the Camp, instead of parking at the starting area.  Buses and canoe trailers are available to transport you and your canoe from the Camp to the starting point.  Please come early if you want to use this service.  The first bus will leave Camp at 1:00 PM and the last bus at 3:30 PM.

There will be two start times.  Racing canoes and kayaks will start at 4:00 PM., and the casual paddlers at 4:30 PM.  The course is 5 miles long.  The lake is calm, except for waves that may be caused by motorized boats.  The portage around the dam is on the East side.  All “racers” are responsible for their own canoe carries.  Portage “assistance” will be provided for casual paddlers, if requested. 

The distance from the dam to the finish line on the river is one mile.  Legal flotation devices for each paddler are required; you must have them when you start the race.  And you must have flotation devices and paddles in your possession when you cross the finish line.  Minnesota law requires current registration on all boats.

Canoe Rentals
To rent a canoe, registration must be paid and your badge shown to the concessionaire.  Canoes are  rented on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the race.  There are a limited number of canoes to rent.  You can pay in advance to reserve your canoe(s).  Contact the camp to make your reservation.

You can contact Rochester Public Utilities, 507.280.1540, or www.rpu.org for Zumbro River water level information, or any other questions about the river.  All questions about the race will be answered through the Camp office at 507.843.2329, or via email:

If you have questions about your canoe or kayak, or the class you should enter, contact Camp Victory office for more information.

Last updated: 4/18/09