• News
• Attractions
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Tickets & Transportation
• Sponsorships
• Event Schedule
• Race Results
• Event Photos
• FAQ

• Schedule Announced
• Air Show gets F-15E
• New Sponsor!
• Air Show Acts Return
• GP Hydros in 2011

• Unlimited Hydroplanes
• Air Show
• Vintage Hydroplanes
• Golf Tournament

• Tickets
• Special Area Packages
• Overnight RV Packages
• Parking
• Take The Bus!

• About Sponsorship
• Sponsorship Amenities
• Sponsorship Types

• Friday July 29th
• Saturday July 30th
• Sunday July 31st
• Air Show

Schedule subject to change.  Check back for updates.

• 2011 Race Results
• 2010

• Where Is The Event?
• Where Should I Stay?
• Is There Camping?
• Special Needs Viewing
• What can I bring to the park?
• How Do I Enter The Park?
• Critters/Pets
• Map Of The Park

Weekender Two-Day 
Adult: $25    

Children 6 - 12: $10  

Children 5 and under: Free

Saturday General Admisson
(available at gate)

Adult: $15  

Children 6-12: $5  

Children 5 and under: Free

Sunday General Admission(Available at the gate)

Adult: $25 gate  

 Children 6-12: $5 

  Children 5 and under: Free

One Day Pit Access (Does not include Park admission) 

Friday: $10  

Saturday: $10  

Sunday: $10

Three Day Pit Pass (Includes park admission) $45

Hosting a small group or your family? Enjoy a comfortable weekend in an excellent location! Just East of race course center, this premier Columbia Park area includes tables, chairs, shade tents, great food and drink!

Hydro Hot Spot Membership includes:

Hydro Hot Spot Weekend Pass

>Hydroplane Pit access

>Lunch on Sunday

>Private Beer Garden access

>Soft drinks and water throughout the weekend

>Souvenir race program and Booster Button lapel pin

Individual Package price $99
Children’s Pass (6-12)  $45*

Parking pass to nearby area $25 (Purchase 4 Hydro Hot Spot packages and receive 1 vehicle parking free)
*Children's passes do not include race program, or Booster Button lapel pin.

RV Parking Hospitality 
Camp out where the action is! Just west of the pit area, a short walk from the river.

Sorry, there no hook-ups available – each unit must be completely self-contained in the RV area.

RV Parking Hospitality Package includes:

> One 22' x 38' RV Parking Pass; space for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

> One Vehicle Parking Pass

> 4 Event/Pit passes

Package price $350  
Extra passes $45
Limited availability.



Riverside RV Terrace -

Exclusive  RV area just west of the starting line provides extraordinary views of the action from luxury-sized RV spaces with individual patio areas.  You can literally watch the races from the comfort of your own RV!

Riverside RV Terrace Package includes:

> 25' x 40' RV Parking Pass; space for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

> One Vehicle Parking Pass in a nearby lot

> A 25' x 15' patio area directly in front of your space

> 6 Event/Pit passes

Package price $750.00
Extra passes $45
Limited availability.

Shipping Options:

Pick-up at TCWF Office – no charge

Pick up at Will-Call – no charge

Delivery confirmation mailing – $8.00

(Limited Pasco general admission parking is available. Look for official Water Follies parking signs off of Sylvester Street in Pasco. You will be charged for parking each time you re-enter the Franklin County parking area.)

Avoid traffic and parking fees. See www.bft.org/special.html for discount fares and weekend schedules to Pasco and Kennewick river shores. Ben Franklin Transit also provides service from the races back to its transit centers throughout the day. A free shuttle from the parking area at the Edison Street boat launch to the west Columbia Park entrance of the event is also available.

Friday July 29
Free Fries Fry-day (All Day)

8:15 AM Grand Prix West Testing
9:10 AM Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
11:30 – 1:30 HAPO Air Show
1:50 PM H1 Unlimited Fast Lap Friday
4:00 PM Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
4:40 PM Grand Prix West Challenge Race
5:10 PM Western States Insurance Unlimited
                Hydroplane Dash for Cash

 

 

Saturday July 30

8:15 AM Grand Prix West Testing

9:10 AM Unlimited Hydroplane Testing

11:30 – 1:30 HAPO Community Credit Union Over the River Air Show

12:00 PM Hydro Drivers Autograph Session

1:50 PM Legends Casino Vintage Heat 1

2:20 PM Babcock Services Grand Prix West Heat 1A

2:30 PM Air Show Performer Autograph Session

2:50 PM Cascade Natural Gas Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1A

3:10 PM Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1B

3:30 PM Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1C

4:00 PM Grand Prix West Heat 2A

4:20 PM Legends Casino Vintage Heat 2

Sunday July 31

8:15 AM Grand Prix West Testing

9:00 AM H1 Unlimited Testing

10:15 AM Vintage Hydroplane Rides

11:00 AM Opening Ceremonies

11:30 AM Church Services

11:30 – 1:30 HAPO Community Credit Union Over the River Air Show

1:50 PM Connell Oil Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2A

2:10 PM American Family Insurance Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2B

 

2:30 PM Atomic Screen Printing Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2C

2:50 PM Legends Casino Vintage Heat 3

3:30 PM Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 598 Unlimited Heat 3A

3:50 PM Cascade Natural Gas Unlimited
Heat 3B

4:20 PM Atomic Screen Printing Grand Prix West Final

4:50 PM Lamb Weston Columbia Cup Unlimited Final

5:00 PM Awards Ceremony
 

Air Show Schedule (Fri-Sun 11:30-1:30)
11:35 AM Bad Yak!
11:47 AM CAF B-17/B-25
12:02 AM USCG Rescue Deno
12:22 PM Bill Stein Airshows
12:34 PM John Klatt
12:46 PM Huey/Cobra Helicopters
13:05 PM ACC F-15E Strike Eagle
13:30 PM End of Aishow 

• Current Points

 

Friday Qualification Standings

 

 

• 2011 Qualifying
• Final Heat
• Heat 3B
• Heat 3A
• Heat 2B
• Heat 2A
• Heat 1B
• Heat 1A
• Qualifying

Check back race weekend for updates!

1.) U-1 Oberto  400 pts
2.) U-7 Graham Trucking 300 pts
3.) U-5 Formulaboats 225 pts
4.) U-17 Red Dot 169 pts
5.) U-96 Spirit of Qatar -23 pts^*
6.) U-37 Peters & May      95 pts
     U-21 Albert Lee     DNF

---

U-17 &  U-37 Jumped the gun at the start. 

^*U-96 was penalized 1 lap and 150 pts for encroachment. 

1.) U-96 Spirit of Qatar 400 pts

1.) U-1 Oberto  400 pts

1.) U-96 Spirit of Qatar 400 pts

2.) U-7 Graham Trucking 300 pts

1.) U-21 Albert Lee 400 pts

1.) U-96 Spirit of Qatar 400 pts

2.) U-7 Graham Trucking 300 pts

---

U-96 Spirit of Qatar 161.928

The 2011 Lamb Weston Columbia Cup will mark the 46th time Unlimited Hydroplanes have raced on the Columbia River.  This year’s event, like the inaugural in 1966, will most likely have 12 Unlimiteds in attendance.  But the modern Unlimited Hydroplane has very little in common with those first boats that churned the waters of the Columbia River.  The hydroplanes of 2011 are almost more plane than hydro.  They are thirty foot long, 7,000 pound wings that glide over the water with only the bare minimum of the boat making contact with the river.  Powered by Turbine engines capable of nearly 3,000hp, the boats can reach straightaway speeds close to 200 miles per hour.  Qualifying lap averages in the mid 160mph range are common with the faster boats in the fleet. To put it in simpler terms, at speed, an Unlimited Hydroplane will travel more than the length of a football fields in the space of a second.

The other unique quality of the hydroplane is the wall of water it throws in its wake.  Called a roostertail, it trails hundreds of feet behind the boat and represents a unique obstacle to the racers on the course.  Getting too close to another boats roostertail  can result a boat’s engine getting clogged with water and stalling.  That represents the best case scenario.  Taking a full blast of another hydroplanes wake can results in thousands of dollars of boat damage.

One thing the 2.5 Mile Columbia Cup course has always been renowned for is speed.  Boats tend to post their fastest qualifying times of the year at the Columbia Cup.   This course has been the fastest on the circuit for the last three years.  If you want to see the fastest race of the year, attend the Columbia Cup.  With the increased speed comes increased danger.  A nudge of water from a roostertail, an inopportune roller, or a gust of wind and suddenly a hydroplane might be making an unscheduled appearance in the yearly air show.  Fortunately, the safety advances in the sport have shielded the drivers from serious injury during these circumstances.

Action starts with with “Fast Lap Friday”.  A new addition to the circuit in 2011, this will be a two hour window Friday afternoon where teams can register a time trial speed.  Teams will score points based on the speed they post during this period.  Points garnered during qualifying will be scored as race points in 2011.  So, at the end of the day of racing, a team’s qualifying points could just make the difference between a team making the final heat on the front row, or running as a trailer boat.  Unlike 2010, qualifying speeds will not count for lane choice on race day.  In 2011, drivers will compete in a pre-race “score-up” period.  The “Fight for Lanes” will return to the hydroplane circuit in 2011.

Racing starts Saturday, with one set of heats and concludes on Sunday with two more heat sets and a Final Heat.  The winner not only takes home the Columbia Cup hardware, but they win the coveted parking spot under Bernie Little’s famous tree for the following year’s race.  Come watch the 2011 Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, as 11 other drivers try to take that tree away from three time Champion Steve David.

• F-15 Strike Eagle
• John Klatt Airshows
• Bill Stein Airshows
• Team Bad Yak!
• USCG Rescue Demo
• Vintage Helicopters
• CAF B-17 & B-25

The shores of the Columbia River will rock with the roar of the past as five vintage unlimited hydroplanes, powered by historic V-12 aircraft engines, perform a series of exhibition heats. 

The Tri-City Water Follies Association is proud to present the 2011 Hydro Golf Tournament, sponsored by FLUOR and includes fabulous hole prizes sponsored by HAPO Community Credit Union.

This best ball scramble is one of the kick-off activities for Eastern Washington's largest weekend event  featuring the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup for Unlimited Hydroplanes and the HAPO Community Credit Union Over-the-River Air Show.

Check in is at noon and tee off is at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Beautiful Canyon Lakes Golf Course.  It's a great opportunity to help your community while enjoying an afternoon of golf on one of the best courses in the Northwest!

For only $400, Hydro Golf Hole sponsors receive:

Recognition on signage and mentions at the clubhouse and hole

Additional banner rights at the hole  

Two golf and BBQ Meal reservations (additional golfers are $125 each)

Golf Package - $125/person
Includes greens fees, cart, signature golf shirt, BBQ meal and prizes

 

As a child growing up in Duluth, Minnesota, John Klatt dreamed of learning to fly. And thanks to the Air National Guard, he’s now living the dream as one of the top aerobatic pilots in the country, for the ANG’s “Guarding America, Defending Freedom” aerobatic team.

As the youngest of seven children, John did his early flying by chasing around the house trying to part of whatever his older brothers and sisters were up to. He quickly learned that; toy airplanes do not flush well, bee catching is risky business, and dogs pretty much eat anything. However, his favorite pastime was listening to his aircraft mechanic Father’s aviation stories and dreaming about the day when he would be able to fly.

John got his first “hands on” experience in aviation by washing airplanes to earn money for flying lessons. He spent his summers pumping gas to pay for flying lessons, earned his private pilot ratings and graduated from the University of Minnesota.

He has flown a wide variety of aircraft. His commission in the ANG gave him the opportunity to fly C-130 military transports delivering crucial supplies during Operation Desert Storm. John later transitioned from the C-130 into the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and has completed three combat tours flying F-16’s in Iraq. John has logged more than 2,000 hours at the controls of the F-16, and is assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, MN.

Along with his military career, John began actively training for the long and difficult journey toward becoming a professional aerobatic performer. He was drawn to the world of aerobatics because of the high-degree of concentration and mental toughness it requires. He is a top performer in unlimited class aerobatics, and is recognized as one of the top ten unlimited class aerobatic pilots in the United States.

John flies the world famous Staudacher S-300D, which was handcrafted by John Staudacher in the Bay City, Michigan area. Weighing in at only 1,250 pounds and topping out at 250 MPH, the Staudacher is a world-class aerobatic aircraft, purpose built for high-performance, unlimited aerobatics.

It’s one wild ride, capable of pulling more than +/- 20 G’s, which is twice the load of the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” that John flies in his “day Job” as Lieutenant Colonel John Klatt with the 148^th fighter wing of the Duluth Air National Guard. During his 15 minute routine, John knifes the Staudacher through an amazing series of heart stopping, pulse pounding, high-energy maneuvers that seem to defy gravity.

For more information, visit John Klatt Airshows.

 

Bill Stein has logged over 5,000 hours of aerobatic and formation flight. Bill began flying aerobatics when he was still a student pilot and has been dedicated to perfecting his skills ever since. Since 1995 Bill has performed at air shows all across the United States and has entertained millions air show fans.

 

Bill flies the Edge 540 which is a highly aerobatic aircraft. Capable of a 420 degree per second roll rate and a 3,700 foot per minute climb rate, it has been flown to victory on the international Unlimited aerobatics circuit several times since the mid-1990s.

The Edge 540X is the most common aircraft used in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, in fact all champions of the World Series have flown this aircraft. www.billsteinairshows.com

Team Bad Yak brings to any event a fun and exhilarating air show, with its thundering sounds of a 400 horsepower radial engine, attention grabbing aerobatics, and blood pumping sound track. This air show appeals to the young as well as the young at heart.

 

Bad Yak is a one of a kind, highly modified Russian built Yak 52, producing over 400 H.P. from its supercharged nine cylinder radial engine. Everybody loves the sound of a radial engine flying overhead! Bad Yak has had more than 240 pounds removed which makes this large aircraft a nimble aerobatic performer.

Learn more at www.badyak.com

Returning to the Hapo “Over the River” Air Show after a 1 year hiatus is the popular United States Coast Guard Rescue Demonstration Flight.  This year’s aircraft is the an Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin supplied by Airstation North Bend, Oregon.

The Dolphin was manufactured by Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation in Grand Prairie, Texas.  The HH-65 Dolphin is used for homeland security patrols, cargo, drug interdiction, ice breaking, military readiness, pollution control, and search and rescue missions. The HH-65 is known for its Fenestron enclosed tail rotor and its autopilot capabilities, which can complete an unaided approach to the water and bring the aircraft into a stable 50 ft (15 m) hover, or automatically fly search patterns, an ability which allows the crew to engage in other tasks.

The Dolphin will demonstrate Coast Guard search and rescue operations along both the Kennewick and Pasco banks of the Columbia River by having a diver jump in the water and be retrieved by the copter at intervals down the shoreline.

More Information about the HH-65

Coast Guard North Bend Airstation

The Tri-City Water Follies is pleased to welcome the Olympic Flight Museum’s vintage helicopter demonstration to the 2011 Hapo “Over the River” Air Show. The demonstration will consist of two classic Vietnam era helicopters, the AH-1 Cobra and HH-1K Huey.

The Bell AH-1 Cobra was built in the 1960′s as an attack helicopter for the military. They have a top speed of 220mph and a maximum weight capacity of 10,000 lbs. Normally crewed by a pilot and gunner, this helicopter has seen action from the Vietnam war to Operation Desert Storm.

More Information on the AH-1 Cobra

The Bell UH-1 Huey was also built in the 1960′s.  It was created to be a troop transport helicopter.  The UH-1 had a top speed of 160mph and a maximum weight of 9,500lbs.  The Huey had a crew of 2 pilots and served extensivly during the Vietnam war.

More Information on the UH-1 Huey

Look for these two aircraft to perform solo and formation flybys during the airshow race weekend.  There is also an interesting hydroplane link to this act.  One of the pilots, Brian Reynolds, used to drive an Unlimited Hydroplane.

 

Commemorative AF

The 2011 Water Follies schedule is now available from inside the app.  Check the "Schedule" section for detasils.  Schedule subject to change so check back for updates.

F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team to Make Water Follies Debut in 2011

The Tri-City Water Follies is pleased to announce that, for the first time in event history, the HAPO "Over the River" air show will be hosting the Air Combat Command F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team.  Although the F-15 aircraft was previously seen at the Water Follies in 2008, that aircraft was the F-15C variant and the performance was limited to a number of flybys.  The 2011 show will be a full capabilities demonstration.  This will also be only the second time an F-15 has ever attended the event airshow since its inception and the first time for the F-15E Strike Eagle. "While our crowds have been thrilled by the presence of the F-16 for the last three years, what we are going to see this year is twice as fast, twice as loud and really unique," commented Water Follies Air Show Director Scott Meyer.

The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter with two crew members, a pilot and a weapons systems officer, performing air- to-air and air-to-ground missions.   An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather, as well as the capability to fight its way to a target over long ranges, destroy enemy ground positions and fight its way out. The F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team is based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

Additional Information on the F-15E Demo Team

 

Now We’re Racing With Gas

The Tri-City Water Follies is thrilled to welcome Cascade Natural Gas as an Unlimited Hydroplane heat for the 2011 Lamb Weston Columbia Cup.  This is the first year Cascade Natural Gas has been involved with the Water Follies.

About Cascade Natural Gas:

Until the early 1950s, Pacific Northwest communities outside the larger metropolitan areas were passed over for natural gas service. In 1953, Pacific Northwest businessmen Lester Pettit, Spencer Clark, and Stewart Matthews formed Cascade Natural Gas Corporation to serve these communities with clean, affordable natural gas.

In those early days, the founders faced many financial, engineering and operational challenges as they strived to expand service and enhance their operations. The company grew steadily to become one of the fastest growing natural gas utilities in the nation.

Today Cascade’s 385 employees serve about 250,000 customers in 96 cities and towns in Washington and Oregon. Customers are served from four operational regions: Western–including Grays Harbor, the Kitsap Peninsula, and Longview; Northwest–including Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, and Oak Harbor/Anacortes; Central–including Sunnyside, Kennewick, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Yakima areas; and Southern–including Bend, Ontario, Baker City, and Pendleton.

Throughout our service areas, our mission is to be an integral part of the community with a firm commitment to being there when you need us. Through our friendly and dedicated employees and the services we provide, we hope you’ll find we are In the Community to Serve.

Tri-City Water Follies is proud to announce that aerobatic performers John Klatt, Bill Stein and Noel Jones will return for the 2011 Hapo “Over the River” Airshow.  The trio’s air show acts debuted at the 2010 event and were a huge hit with their  awe inspiring, gravity defying maneuvers.

John Klatt has been flying for about 23 years and has over 13,000 hours of flying time. He flies the world famous Staudacher S-300D, which was handcrafted by John Staudacher in the Bay City, Michigan area. Weighing in at only 1,250 pounds and topping out at 250 MPH, the Staudacher is a world-class aerobatic aircraft, purpose built for high-performance, unlimited aerobatics.

It’s one wild ride, capable of pulling more than +/- 20 G’s, which is twice the load of the F-16 “Fighting Falcon” that John flies in his “day Job” as Lieutenant Colonel John Klatt with the 148th fighter wing of the Duluth Air National Guard. During his 15 minute routine, John knifes the Staudacher through an amazing series of heart stopping, pulse pounding, high-energy maneuvers that seem to defy gravity.

Klatt is sponsored by the Air National Guard and his appearance at the 2010 Columbia Cup helped introduce the Air Guard to the sport of Hydroplane Racing.  The Air Guard signed an agreement in 2011 to be a series title sponsor for H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing.

Bill Stein has logged over 5,000 hours of aerobatic and formation flight. Bill began flying aerobatics when he was still a student pilot and has been dedicated to perfecting his skills ever since. Since 1995 Bill has performed at air shows all across the United States and has entertained millions air show fans.

Bill’s passion for precision flying is evident in his dazzling air show routine.  He trains every day so that his skills stay razor sharp, and to maintain the all-out energy and excitement he puts into his air show sequence.  Bill’s experience includes competitive aerobatics and years of flying on the world famous Red Baron Stearman Squadron. Bill also gives back to the air show community by mentoring new air show pilots including coaching the “Stars of Tomorrow” team which have performed at many prestigious air shows including the EAA AirVenture Air Show.

Stein flies the Edge 540 which is a highly aerobatic aircraft. Capable of a 420 degree per second roll rate and a 3,700 foot per minute climb rate, it has been flown to victory on the international Unlimited aerobatics circuit several times since the mid-1990s. The Edge 540X was the most common aircraft used in the Red Bull Air Race World Series, in fact all champions of the World Series have flown this aircraft.

Noel Jones is a multi engine rated commercial pilot with over 3000 hours in over 60 different aircraft.  Noel is also a Gold Seal Flight Instructor who specializes in teaching Basic to Advance aerobatics, as well as upset recovery, and spin training.  Noel is also an experienced aerobatic pilot who flies competition aerobatics and flies the Yak 52 in the Intermediate category. Jone pilots the Bad Yak!, a highly modified Russian built Yak 52.  The Yak 52 was designed to be an advance military trainer. The power plant of Bad Yak has been replaced with a M14PF 640 cubic inch, supercharged 9 cylinder radial engine producing over 400 horse power!  The empty weight of Bad Yak has also been reduced by over 240 pounds making Bad Yak one of the lightest most powerful Yak 52′s in the world. There is nothing like the thundering sound of a Radial Engine flying overhead!

Water Follies Air Show Director Scott Meyer had this to say about the returning acts, “Man, these guys are good! At the Waterfollies we are absolutely excited to have Bill Stein, John Klatt and Noel Jones back to perform for us again in 2011.  These guys thrilled us last year, they’re excited to be back, they absolutely love this event and I’m sure they’re going to put on one heck of a show.”

TRI-CITIES, Wash. – The Tri City Water Follies Association announced today that they will be adding the Grand Prix West Hydroplane Racing series to the 2011 Columbia Cup event.

“Grand Prix West known for their loud roaring deck to deck action has quickly established itself as one of the premier boat racing attractions, and are thrilled to be joining other boat-racing classes scheduled to compete at the Tri-City Water Follies,” says Shawn Bridgeman, GPW Vice President.

“We are trying to keep the Columbia Cup event fresh and exciting” says Calvin Dudney, 2011 President of the Tri-City Water Follies. “These GP hydroplanes are loud and fast; just the way the crowd likes it.”

Grand Prix (GP) is an American Power Boat Association (APBA) class featuring supercharged big-block engines producing as much as 1500 horsepower.  The 24-26 foot craft routinely attain speeds in excess of 160 miles-per-hour in the straights.  Long a premier class on the east coast of North America, ‘Grand Prix West’ is the first club to organize GP racing on the west coast.

Plenty of competition awaits racing fans at the 2011Tri-Cities event. A total of twenty five teams will be competing on the Columbia River including 8 Grand Prix West teams, 5 Vintage Unlimited Hydroplane teams and 12 Unlimited Hydroplane teams.

“Our Competition Committee organized a thrilling program” said Michael Denslow, 2010 President of the Tri-City Water Follies, “this will be a year not to miss.”

Log on to www.waterfollies.com for more information about the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, HAPO Community Credit Union Over the River Air Show and the Grand Prix West Racing Series.

For more information about Grand Prix West, please visit http://gpwracing.com

The Lamb Weston Columbia Cup is held just west of the Highway 395 Bridge AKA, “The Blue Bridge.”

Click here for Tri-Cities Getaway Packages. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Tri-Cities. For more information on hotels, RV Parks, and other accommodations, please email the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau or 

To search for hotel and other lodging accommodations in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and our nearby communities, please click on "Lodging Map" for an extensive breakdown by location and amenities, a dynamic Map, or a downloadable version of both. 

We have camping available in Columbia Park.  Check out the RV Hospitality and RV Terrace Hospitality ticket packages for more information. 

If you're looking for something outside of the "Park" Click Here for nearby RV Park information.

The Special Needs Area is located next to the bleachers in Columbia Park. The area is available for a special needs guest and one caregiver with general admission passes. Benton and Franklin PUD host the area providing volunteers to assist our guests. The area includes shade and misters for comfort; chairs, tables and water. For handicap parking, use the main Highway 240 entrance into the main lot. Golf cart shuttles from the parking lot to the viewing area are available, and Ben Franklin Transit offers service for pre-qualified Dial A Ride patrons. The area is sponsored by Paul Parish Limited. 

Picnic baskets and coolers are welcome. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed through general admission gates. Lawn chairs and umbrellas are allowed; please be considerate to those around you.

Banned items include but are not limited to; weapons, squirt bottles, glass, skate boards, unauthorized motor vehicles. 

Friday - Park opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m.

Saturday - Park opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m.

Sunday - Park opens at 7:00 a.m.  Final race is approximately 4:30 p.m.

The Highway 240 Entrance is the primary entrance to Columbia Park Main.

Hartford and Fruitland Street Entrances are available for staff, vendors and Boat Teams ONLY.

At 10:00 p.m., all entrances are secured. No vehicles are allowed in to the park. Exit only.

 

Please Leave The Critters At Home

When attending the Tri-City Water Follies, please make plans to leave your pets/critters at home or with a local pet sitting service or kennel.  There is no critter sitter service in Columbia Park.  Guests who bring pets to the park will be stopped at the security gates.

This prohibition Does Not apply to service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities act.

Click to open map

A variety of sponsorship packages are available to choose from – each offers various promotional and hospitality opportunities for businesses at the same time provide support to the Tri-City Water Follies. We are also happy to work with you to tailor an individual package to meet your business goals.  Support this community tradition while receiving advertising exposure, tickets and recognition.  

·         Identification in media advertising and promotion,

·         Recognition on marketing materials used both locally and regionally,

·         On-site exposure including banner rights and P.A. announcements at the event,

·         On-site exhibit space for product sales, sampling or displays,

·         Private hospitality area or VIP tickets for guests in prime viewing locations,

·         Pit access, souvenir programs and invitations to sponsor events,

·         Close identification of your business or product with this event.

• Presenter
• Unlimited Heat
• GP/UL Heat
• Dash for Cash
• Vintage Hydroplanes
• Additional Opportunities

Business receives title name of specific event. Exclusive sponsor opportunity includes the other boat class races, golf tournament.  Presenter – starting at $25,000 

The Unlimited Hydroplane race heat named after your business or product. Sponsorship includes exposure, hospitality and advertising.  Choose the hospitality package that best suits your need.  Heat – starting at $3,000. 

The GP or Unlimited Light Hydroplane race heat named after your business or product. Sponsorship includes exposure, hospitality and advertising.  Choose the hospitality package that best suits your need. Heat – starting at $1,500. 

Support this highly competitive three-lap race featuring the five fastest boats on the circuit, determined by national circuit points heading into the Tri-Cities and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality. – starting at $7,500.

Sponsor one of five very popular Vintage Unlimited Hydroplanes racing around the course on the Columbia River and receive a ride in your hydro plus advertising exposure and VIP hospitality. – starting at $7,500.

· Exclusive product sponsorship
Provide products exclusive brand recognition prior and at the event; an excellent opportunity to showcase your brand to 60,000 race fans.     Exclusive product  -  $5,000 - $30,000 depending on amenities needed by sponsor.
· Pilots and Crew Hospitality sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality.   – starting at $5,000
· Safety and Rescue sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality.   – starting at $5,000
· Kid’s Area Sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality.   – starting at $2,500
· Patrol Boat Sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality.   – starting at $2,500
· Corporate sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive advertising exposure and VIP hospitality.   – starting at $5,000
· Platinum 1000 sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive recognition and VIP hospitality.   $1,000
· Golf Tournament Hole sponsorship
Includes signage, additional banner rights at the hole, recognition at the Club House and a Golf Package for two. $400
· Golf Tournament Prize Donations
We’ll tailor an amenities package; includes advertising exposure and /or event passes.
· Hotel / Motel Sponsorship
Sponsorship provides a way to support the event and receive recognition and reduced price Tickets to be combined with your rooms for a Get Away Weekend Package. $1,000
· Official Souvenir Program Advertising
Advertise in the Official Souvenir Program.

Check back race weekend for updated results