The Cuyahoga River will come alive This Saturday, Sept. 21, with one of the largest single-day rowing events in the nation.

The 28th Head of the Cuyahoga (HOTC) Regatta begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Rivergate Park in the Flats, when thousands of high school, collegiate, and adult athletes from across the United States will gather for a day of rowing competition and a celebration of the sport on the Cuyahoga River.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 athletes will compete in more than 65 races, says Sue Tyler, president of event host the Cleveland Rowing Foundation, following the twists and turns of 4,770 meters on the curving river—navigating five challenging turns and seven bridges on the course.

What began as a small group of rowers in the 1980s and emerged as Cleveland Rowing Foundation’s Head of the Cuyahoga in 1996 is now a can’t-miss event for rowers everywhere.

“I’m incredibly excited for this year’s Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta,” says Tyler. “It’s amazing to see how this event has grown from a local race into one of the largest single-day races in the country.”

Tyler says she expects about 2,000 people to come out to watch the races and enjoy the day. “It’s a very large event,” she says. “Parents, friends, neighbors, and local folks looking for something fun to do will all be here. People stop by for a little bit, or they bring a chair and stay all day.”

Rowers will launch from the Cleveland Rowing Foundation docks, row 5,000 meters upriver to the start line near the steel mills and turn around for the race back.

Rowers of all ages will compete at different skill levels. Last year, the HOTC hosted teams from 54 different rowing clubs and 14 states, as well as an international crew from Mexico. Competitors range in age from 13 to more than 80 years old.

Participants will compete in various boat classes, ranging from single scullers using two oars to large sweep eights, where crews of eight rowers with one oar each, led by a coxswain, navigate the course.

As a Head Race, competitors will race in a time-trial format, with crews setting off one at a time and racing against the clock. The 4,770-meter course will test the technical skills and endurance of the competitors.

“The combination of challenging turns and stunning views of Cleveland makes it a unique experience for competitors from all over the United States,” says Tyler. “It’s an awesome celebration of rowing and our city!”

Head of the CuyahogaTyler says two additional races have been added to the regatta this year. The first new competition is a 1,500-meter race for novice rowers in middle school and high school.

The other addition includes full 4,770-meter alumni races former team rowers from high schools, colleges, or clubs. Tyler says she is excited that the University of Notre Dame women’s team has registered.

“The ‘Notre Dames’ are female alumni from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend who are traveling from their homes across the country to reunite and compete as a team in Cleveland,” she remarks.

Local teams competing this year include Saint Joseph Academy, St. Ignatius High School, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and John Carroll University, as well as adult participants from Western Reserve Rowing Association and Freedom Rows Veterans programs. They will challenge teams from across the U.S.

With athletes, coaches, and families traveling from across the nation, the regatta is projected to generate $1.3 million in direct spending for the local economy. Over its 28-year history, the Head of the Cuyahoga has brought over $25 million in economic benefit to the region.

In addition to the races, food trucks and merchandise vendors will be set up in Rivergate Park.

The event is free, but parking in the Flats may be limited; attendees are encouraged to plan ahead.