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Head of the Hooch Regatta Draws Thousands to Chattanooga

The two-day rowing event returns to Ross's Landing with more than 2,200 boats and 91 events.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Cultural

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a rowing crew in white-and-green shells cutting across a wide river at morning, with silhouetted spectators on the bank and a wooded ridge beyond.
Thousands of rowers and spectators gathered at Ross's Landing in Chattanooga on November 7–8 for the 45th Head of the Hooch regatta, which featured more than 2,200 boats across 91 events. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Head of the Hooch regatta took place November 7-8 at Ross's Landing in Chattanooga, featuring more than 2,200 boats competing across 91 events. The event drew over 6,500 competitors and more than 20,000 spectators, with free admission for attendees.

Why it matters

The regatta marks its 45th year and reinforces Chattanooga's role as host of one of North America's largest rowing gatherings. Organizers have also chosen the North Shore as the 2027 site as the Riverfront Parks NEXT redevelopment closes Ross's Landing for construction.

Organizers report more than 6,500 competitors and over 20,000 spectators across 91 events, figures provided by the event itself rather than independently audited. The source does not detail the event's year-over-year attendance trend.

The players

Friends of the Hooch

The organization that runs the Head of the Hooch regatta and oversees its annual competition in Chattanooga.

Kerry Brown

President of Friends of the Hooch, who described the regatta as the second-largest rowing regatta in North America.

The details

Youth, high school, collegiate, adult and adaptive rowing competitors all took part, and teams spent months preparing and traveling together. Friends of the Hooch president Kerry Brown described the regatta as the second-largest rowing regatta in North America.

Timeline

  1. Approximately 45 years ago: the Head of the Hooch began.

  2. Approximately 23 years ago: Chattanooga became the regatta's home.

  3. November 7-8, 2026: the two-day regatta was held at Ross's Landing.

  4. Throughout 2027: Ross's Landing is expected to close for redevelopment.

  5. 2027: the regatta is slated to move to the North Shore.

Season Trajectory

The Head of the Hooch has run for 45 years, with Chattanooga serving as its home for the past 23, making the 2026 edition a continuation of a long-running fixture on the rowing calendar. The planned 2027 move to the North Shore represents the next chapter in the regatta's Chattanooga history.

Admission is free for spectators, so attending the Head of the Hooch requires no ticket purchase. Riverfront Parks NEXT construction will close Ross's Landing throughout 2027, changing where visitors can watch the event.

The takeaway

Free, large-scale community events like the Head of the Hooch depend on shifting venues during redevelopment, so checking the host's announcements before the next race season helps spectators plan. The regatta's continued growth shows how a sustained local tradition can draw visitors from well beyond the city.

What happens next

Organizers are finalizing plans to host the 2027 regatta on the North Shore with the city and county mayors' offices and development groups.

Further reading

Explore more Cultural coverage to see how local traditions like this regatta fit into the city's broader arts and community life.

Source note: This article includes information reported by News 12 Now.

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