Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga: dates, parking, where to watch

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, times, parking and rules come from the regatta’s own site, headofthehooch.org.

The Head of the Hooch is Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, at Ross’s Landing Park. It is free to watch. More than 2,200 boats raced in 2025, and the organizers count more than 20,000 spectators on the riverfront, which makes it the biggest weekend of the year on downtown’s stretch of the Tennessee River. The full schedule is on the official schedule page.

At a glance

• When: Sat. Nov. 7 and Sun. Nov. 8; first race 7:52 a.m. Saturday, 7:50 a.m. Sunday
• Where: Ross’s Landing Park, downtown Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River
• Cost: free for spectators
• Organizer: Friends of the Hooch, a volunteer-run nonprofit; contact page
• Rain or shine: yes, under the weather policy

What it is

The Head of the Hooch is a head race: crews start about 15 seconds apart and race the clock over a 4,500-meter course, about 2.8 miles, that ends at Ross’s Landing, according to the spectator guide. The Atlanta Rowing Club started it on the Chattahoochee River in Roswell, Georgia, in 1982; it moved to Lake Lanier in 1997 and to Chattanooga in 2005, the history page says.

The organizers’ 2025 figures:

The 2026 schedule

Racing runs both days. The organizers’ schedule lists the first and last race calls:

Sunday morning is singles, from championship and youth scullers to masters rowers 65 and older, and the para and para-inclusive events. A downloadable schedule with every call time is posted before race weekend, and the regatta posts race calls on its social accounts. Can’t be there? The regatta streams the racing live.

Where to watch

From the regatta’s spectator guide:

• Ross’s Landing Park: the finish line, the grandstands and the team tents. The Chattanooga Market sets up here for the weekend, and the organizers say food trucks and vendors are on site.
• Walnut Street Bridge: crews pass beneath you about 1,150 feet from the finish. Best for photos.
• Coolidge Park, North Shore: quieter, with a view of crews heading upstream to the start. Bring a chair.
• Tennessee Riverwalk: follow the course on foot or by bike. Bike share docks at Ross’s Landing close for the event.

Road closures and parking

Road access to Ross’s Landing is controlled from Wednesday at 10 a.m. through late Sunday afternoon, and water barriers close all four entrances from about 9 a.m. Friday to about 4 p.m. Sunday, as the Chattanooga Police Department requires, according to the parking and access page. Only team trailers and event vehicles with passes get in.

For spectators, the organizers say:

• Garages: the River Pier Landing Garage, 201 W. Aquarium Way, is closest and fills quickly. The CARTA North Garage, 211 Broad St., the 401 Garage behind 401 Chestnut St., the Market Court Garage, 537 Market St., and Citi Park, 807 Chestnut St., are farther out.
• Free electric shuttle: runs along Broad and Market streets between Shuttle Park North (Broad and Third streets, near the venue) and Shuttle Park South at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Park anywhere along the route and ride to within a block of the venue.
• North Shore: the Renaissance Park and Coolidge Park lots, then walk across the Walnut Street Bridge or the Market Street Bridge.
• Accessible parking: with a displayed permit at the River Pier Landing and CARTA North garages.
• Street parking: not recommended; most spaces have a two-hour limit and fill early.

The Tennessee Valley Authority closes the river to commercial and personal boats for race weekend, the racecourse page says.

What to know

• Dogs: welcome on a leash, but not on the launch and recovery docks, under the public safety rules.
• Watch your step: more than 2,100 boats, some longer than 60 feet, move between the river and the tents all weekend. Follow the volunteers’ directions and keep off your phone while walking through the venue.
• First aid: EMTs staff a first aid tent at Riverfront Parkway and Power Alley, next to the registration tent. Chattanooga police and fire run a command center on site.
• Weather: racing goes ahead in rain. Fog or heavy rain delays racing in one-hour steps, and lightning clears the course until 30 minutes after the last strike.
• Volunteer: the regatta is run by volunteers, and no rowing experience is needed. Shifts are mostly two to four hours; sign up here.

Related guides: fall festivals and pumpkin patches, the riverfront, things to do this month and road construction and closures.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Head of the Hooch 2026?

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, 2026, at Ross’s Landing Park on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. The first race is called for 7:52 a.m. Saturday.

Does it cost anything to watch the Head of the Hooch?

No. The organizers say attending as a spectator is free. Entry fees apply only to crews that race.

Where is the best place to watch the Head of the Hooch?

The organizers name the grandstands at Ross’s Landing Park for the finish, the Walnut Street Bridge for photos, Coolidge Park on the North Shore for a quieter view and the Tennessee Riverwalk for following crews along the course.

Where do I park for the Head of the Hooch?

Use a downtown garage or lot along Market, Broad or Chestnut streets and ride the free electric shuttle; the River Pier Landing Garage at 201 W. Aquarium Way is closest but fills quickly. Street parking is not recommended.

Can I bring my dog to the Head of the Hooch?

Yes. Dogs are welcome but must stay on a leash on the venue and are not allowed on the launch and recovery docks.