The Ferryman's Challenge Regatta
- ALL AGES
Watch 6-lane rowing races at The Ferryman’s Challenge! Enjoy the riverside, meet local nonprofits, and experience Virginia's rowing culture.
Date and time
Location
Sandy Run Regional Park
10450 Van Thompson Road Fairfax Station, VA 22039Refund Policy
Agenda
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Heats for All Boats
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Finals for Small Boats (1X, 2X)
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Finals for Big Boats (4+ 4X 8+)
About this event
- Event lasts 5 hours 30 minutes
- ALL AGES
- Free venue parking
The Ferryman’s Challenge 2025 – Olympic-Style Rowing Comes to DC!
📍 Sandy Run Regional Park, Occoquan River – July 27, 2025 from 0800-1330
🎟️ General Admission = Your Parking & Event Pass
Come experience the only 1500-meter Olympic-style rowing regatta in the U.S. — right here in Northern Virginia. The Ferryman’s Challenge is a championship level sprint race, and a celebration of athletic excellence, community, and the rich culture of competitive rowing.
Whether you're a sports lover, nature enthusiast, or curious local, TFC 2025 gives you front-row access to a unique spectacle of speed, strength, and the art that is rowing.
If you are a rower, please visit our RegattaCentral page to register or talk to your coach. This listing is for non-rowers or those who are interested in coming to learn about the sport or just watch some fun racing and enjoy the park.
🛶 What You'll See
- All-day rowing action: Over 30 races from 8am–2pm, with boats ranging from solo scullers to lightning fast 8-person crews.
- 6-lane sprint racing over 1500m with a fully buoyed course, start platform, and professional finish line tower — Olympic vibes guaranteed.
- Top-level athletes from across the region, including juniors, masters, and elite rowers.
- Unique hand-forged medals, prize podium, and even cash awards for top finishers.
- Scenic walking trail to our covered grandstands to watch the finish line. The Occoquan Reservoir is a great place to enjoy Northern VA's watershed with tons of wildlife such as Osprey, Bald Eagles, and Great Blue Herons.
🌿 Off the Water
- Meet local nonprofits focused on watershed health, rowing inclusion, and environmental stewardship.
- Explore the grandstands to watch the finishline, sit in the shade, and listen to race commentary & watch the podium awards.
- Visit sponsor booths, talk to coaches, check out rowing gear, and learn how you can get involved in the sport.
- ADA-accessible shuttle service available to the grandstands area for those with disabilities or elderly spectators.
👀 Good to Know
- Your General Admission ticket double as your parking pass — You do not need to pay per person, but for the vehicle/car. If you choose to pay at the park upon arrival, attendees pay $20 for vehicles with 1–2 passengers, $15 for 3+ people.
- Spectator areas are limited to designated walkways and viewing zones. For your safety, please stay alert and away from boat launch areas and active docks.
- Rowing regattas are active environments with heavy equipment and moving boats — please supervise children and stay within marked paths at all times.
- NOVA Parks rules on regatta days prohibits Alcohol, pets (even on leashes), open flames and grilling
- There are seats at the grandstands and benches along the trails, but if you want to sit anywhere else, people usually bring portable chairs.
Frequently asked questions
The Ferryman’s Challenge is a live rowing race (regatta) held on the Occoquan River. It’s fast-paced, Olympic-style racing featuring teams from all over the Mid-Atlantic. Think track & field, but on water — with boats, oars, and a lot of intensity.
No worries! We’ll have live commentary about which boats are racing and how each race is progressing, signage, and volunteers to help explain what’s happening. Just find a spot in the grandstands and enjoy the racing.
Your ticket is your parking pass for your vehicle. We will have your name on our list for our parking volunteers. Once inside, you’ll have full access to all race viewing areas, vendors, nonprofit booths, sponsor tents, and awards ceremonies. Bring a picnic, a chair, and enjoy the day by the water!
Sandy Run Regional Park prohibits: open flames/grilling, alcohol, pets even on leashes (except service animals). No littering of course. Our Regatta strives to be a plastic free event, so please remember your refillable water bottles to fill at our water stations and "cool-down-zone"
Anytime between 7AM and ~1PM. Our first race starts at 8 and our blue ribbon event is at 1:30, so if you want to watch any racing, we'd suggest showing up at least at 12 to be able to park and walk to the finish line.
Yes. Its outdoors in July. There are water refill stations so bring your refillable bottle. You're welcome to bring snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and picnic gear. We are working on booking a food truck but nothing is locked down yet — check our website for updates closer to race day.
The event runs rain or shine, unless there’s severe weather. Follow us on Instagram @ferrymanschallenge and check our website for updates www.theferrymanschallenge.com
The best views are at the grandstands at the finish line. There is a walking trails along the water. Stay alert when at the main boathouse area to not impede crews carrying large boats. Visit our maps page on our website for info www.theferrymanschallenge/parking