Rowers from across the Midwest and Canada will descend on the Twin Cities’ stretch of the Mississippi River for the 45th annual Head of the Mississippi (HOTM) regatta on Saturday, Oct 4, 2025.

Hosted by the Minneapolis Rowing Club (MRC) and sanctioned by USRowing, the race is a Fall classic that is a ‘head’ race where individual rowers or crews race against the clock, starting at the Lake Street Bridge and rowing upstream against the current to cross the finish line just beyond the Washington Ave. Bridge. The race is about three miles or 4,820 meters long with competitors rowing at top speed – a true endurance sport. Rowers or crews with the fastest time for each event are declared the winner. There will be 44 events for rowers and crew at the high school (Junior) level, collegiate level, post-collegiate (Open) level, and Master level (for crews and rowers 27 and older).

Beginning at 8:45 a.m., spectators are encouraged to watch the competition from the shoreline or any of the bridges with pedestrian overlooks (Lake Street, Franklin, or Washington) that the rowers will pass beneath, or from East River Flats Park at 351 E. River Pkwy., where boats will be staged and rowers gather. Racing will end by 5:00 p.m.

MRC is proud to welcome first-year sponsors Vespoli USA, Concept 2, and The Crew Stop. Easy Going Rowing is a charitable partner with this year's race. and the regatta also hopes to raise visibility for Meters for Melanoma, a nonprofit focused on preventing skin cancer.