Reston’s Annual Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta Makes a Splash
- The Reston Letter Staff
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
by Patricia Kovacs, Staff. Writer
Last Saturday, Lake Anne Plaza buzzed with excitement on a beautiful, sunny afternoon as Reston Museum hosted its annual Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta. The event showcased teams of all ages racing people-powered, life-size cardboard boats across Lake Anne. From noon to 4pm, the plaza was filled with laughter, cheers, and the occasional splash as boats competed in a display of creativity and community spirit.
The Cardboard Boat Regatta has become a highlight of the summer calendar, growing in size each year since its inception in 2017. About 30 teams, including local businesses, community organizations, friend groups, and family groups, constructed and decorated boats up to 6’ wide and 12’ long using only cardboard, duct tape, paint, and imagination. Throngs of Restonians and visitors from all across the Greater Washington, DC metro area gathered to watch the boats race in timed heats, rowing from the dock to a buoy and back.
The event featured live music, local vendors, a performance by Reston Community Players, and a Super Soaker station where some of the spectators playfully sprayed the competitors as they raced around the buoy. In addition to the main event, this year’s crowd witnessed a special moment between a loving couple when a man got down on bended knee and publicly proposed to his girlfriend on the dock after arriving on a boat with a 4-piece jazz band (she said yes!). While the event was free to spectators, VIP seating provided front row shaded viewing for $50, which included a $25 gift card to Open Road Distillery.
Spectators eagerly anticipate the imaginative designs created by the teams each year. Prior to the races, the boats are displayed on the plaza, allowing the crowd to admire the creations. This year’s winner for the People’s Choice Award for best design went to Starkist’s boat Fin2Win. The prizes for the fastest boats went to Buoyancy Operated Aquatic Transport (BOAT) for 1st place, Reston Association’s SS Reston for 2nd place, and Restoration Church’s Unsinkable Hope for 3rd place. The Titanic Award was given to 123 Junk, as it was the boat that sank most dramatically, delighting the crowd with its spectacular demise. Finally, at the end of the races, all of the boats were invited back into the water for a group race for a second chance to win a prize, and Unsinkable Hope won yet again.
The Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta delivered a day of connection, creativity, and unforgettable moments. All proceeds from registration fees and sponsorships benefit Reston Museum’s mission of preserving the past, informing the present, and influencing the future of Reston through its educational programming, archives and exhibitions.
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