Calico Rock Welcomes the 60th Annual White River Canoe and Kayak Race

On July 10, the White River carried more than canoes and kayaks through Calico Rock. It carried a tradition six decades in the making—and gave our community another opportunity to offer paddlers the generous welcome for which our town is known.

The 2026 White River Canoe and Kayak Race marked the event’s 60th annual race. First held in 1966, the race has grown into a challenging, multiday journey through some of the most scenic country in the Ozarks. This year’s event ran July 8–11, following the White River for approximately 120 miles from the Bull Shoals area to Batesville.

Calico Rock serves as an important changeover point during the second day of the race. Teams arrive after completing the leg from Norfork, come ashore beneath the Calico Rock White River Bridge, and prepare for the next stretch downstream toward Allison and Sylamore.

A Calico Rock Welcome

When the paddlers reached Calico Rock, they found more than a place to change crews and catch their breath. They were greeted with cold water, fresh watermelon, homemade cookies and the encouragement of a community that understands the value of hospitality.

The Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center hosted a refreshment tent near the river, creating a welcoming place for racers and their support teams during their stop. Volunteers, businesses and individuals from throughout the community contributed refreshments, time and energy to make the stop memorable.

The sheer volume of donated cookies and water was remarkable, and the fresh watermelon was a particularly welcome treat on a warm July day. Each contribution may have seemed small on its own, but together they created something meaningful: a visible expression of Calico Rock’s generosity.

A Tradition That Connects River Communities

The White River Canoe and Kayak Race is about competition, endurance and teamwork, but it is also about connection.

For 60 years, paddlers, families, volunteers and race organizers have traveled together through the river communities of North Central Arkansas. The course links towns large and small, inviting each one to become part of a shared White River tradition.

Calico Rock is proud to be one of those communities.

The race also reminds us how closely the identity of our town is tied to the White River. The river has shaped Calico Rock’s history, scenery and way of life. When the race passes beneath our bridge, it brings that relationship into focus: the river is not simply something we look at—it is a living route that continues to connect people and places.

Thank You, Calico Rock

Main Street Calico Rock extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped welcome the racers.

Thank you to the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center for hosting the refreshment tent. Thank you to the residents, volunteers and local businesses who donated cookies, watermelon, water and other refreshments. Thank you to those who helped organize, serve, carry supplies, welcome visitors and cheer for the teams.

Most of all, thank you to the racers and their support crews for making Calico Rock part of your journey.

We hope our town gave you a comfortable place to rest, refuel and prepare for the miles ahead. Your determination, teamwork and enthusiasm brought a special energy to the riverfront, and we were honored to welcome you.

Safe travels, strong paddles—and we look forward to seeing the White River Canoe and Kayak Race return to Calico Rock next year.