Fill up your super soakers for Stueart Pennington's World Championship Running of the Tubs on June 7 at 9 AM! The teams have assembled, the judges have met, and the bathtubs are ready to race - which means it's time for the most hilarious and competitive sporting event in all of Hot Springs, World Championship Running of the Tubs on Historic Bathhouse Row! Before we race, check out the Guide to the World Championship Running of the Tubs.
First, we must judge the tubs! The Friday before Running of the Tubs is when all the fun really gets started. Get a sneak peek at the incredible tub builds before they fly down Bathhouse Row. You'll even get to see a team try to bribe our e-steamed judges! Come on down and check out the competition in Hill Wheatley Plaza, 629 Central Ave.
The Running of the Tubs is made up of three divisions! Modified, Traditional, and the Stock Tub Division. Traditional Tubs are cast iron bathtubs, modified plastic or fiberglass, and the Stock Tub division for nonprofits, governmental, and church organizations where their team is provided with a bathtub.
The most heated race at the Running of the Tubs is the Battle of the Badge! Every year the Hot Springs Fire Department and the Hot Springs Police Department go head to head in the most intense tub race in the world. This year, things heat up even MORE with the addition of the Garland County Sherrif's Department. Come out and cheer for your favorite first responder!
STOP! There are FOUR obstacles along the Running of the Tubs race course where teams must bring their tub to a halt and follow the judges orders. What will they have the teams do? The chicken dance? Push ups? Take a selfie? You won't know unless you go!
Bring your Super Soakers, Water Blasters, Hydro Splashers - the more water the better! Take aim, and soak a bathtub team as they race by. Help us protect our water and Hot Springs National Park by leaving the water balloons at home.
All this entertainment is completely FREE! Bring a lawn chair and set up along Bathhouse Row to watch those tubs race by! The starting line is located in front of the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. Tubs will race from the start down Bathhouse Row (stopping at obstacles along the way) to cross the finish line located in front of the Buckstaff Bathhouse.
You must follow the rules! New rules are put in place each year, and can even change mid-event! Team bribes to judges can get teams extra points, and head starts can be given according to the judges mood at any given time. Sure to keep everyone on their toes!
Along with the division winners, there are also awards for: Most Spirited Tub, Most Original Tub, and Best Overall Tub! Being a spectator can pay off, too. Come dressed in your best tubs attire (bath robes, shower caps) and you could win the Tubtastic Fan Award!
Tubs teams aren't just in it for the bragging rights, the stakes are high for the prestigious Pennington Cup! Join us after the races end back in Hill Wheatley Plaza for the Tubs Awards Ceremony to see who will take home the big win.
We couldn't have all this sudzy fun without our Presenting Sponsor, Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium. Be sure to pop in to check out all their amazing handmade products after the races at 366 Central Avenue!
Running of the Tubs Schedule of Events
Judging of the Tubs | Friday, June 6
6PM - Tubs Judging in Hill Wheatley Plaza (629 Central Avenue)
Running of the Tubs | Saturday, June 7
9AM - Parade of Tubs down Historic Bathhouse Row
9:20AM - World Championship Running of the Tubs Begins
11:15AM - Awards in Hill Wheatley Plaza
NOTICE: Central Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from Fountain Street To Reserve Street from 8:45AM to 11:00AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025 for the Running of the Tubs. Vehicles should use West Mountain Drive or Gulpha Gorge to bypass the wet and wild fun.