World Championship Running of the Tubs
Location: Bathhouse Row
Event Date: June 2 & 3
Keep on Tubbin’ at The World Championship Running of the Tubs in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. Watch as costumed teams pushed customized bathtubs on wheels down Historic Bathhouse Row in hopes to win the coveted prize - The Stueart Pennington Cup! Click here to register now!
For over a century, visitors from all over the world have flocked to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas to bathe in our thermal waters. But what happens when you take a bathtub and put it on wheels? The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs, that’s what happens! This chaotic celebration of Hot Springs’ spa history is a town favorite!
To celebrate Hot Springs’ classic motto “We Bathe the World” teams from all over get their best bathtubs all dolled up to bring to Hot Springs. But whose tub has the stuff? Four team members (the bath attendants) must push their bathtubs through the heart of the city, the Historic Bathhouse Row, while the team captain sits in the bathtub and steers. Throughout the course, teams will face various obstacles along the way, while dressed in elaborate costumes in hopes to become The World Champion Tub Runners - a sought out title, obviously.
The bathtub must be full of water at the start of the race and have at least 10 gallons of water left in the tub at the finish line. If that isn’t hard enough, each bath attendant must carry one of 4 items (bar of soap, bath mat, loofah mitt, and bath towel) throughout the entire race and present all items at the end of the race. Here’s a fun twist, the judges (sporting bathrobes and clipboards) are encouraged to make up new rules on the spot! Keeping everybody on their toes!
But don’t worry, everybody gets to be a part of the fun. The crowd always comes prepared to spray competitors with water throughout the entire race, in hopes to slow down, distract, or just annoy racers.
Participants can choose to compete in three different divisions: traditional (cast-iron tubs), modified (fiberglass/plastic tubs), or stock (reserved for nonprofits tubs are provided). Each tub and team must meet the qualifications to compete.
If that’s not convincing enough, just wait until you see the annual Battle of the Badge: Hot Springs Police Department vs. Hot Springs Fire Department. Trust us, they take this very seriously. You won’t want to miss witnessing and participating in this wild summer event... so don’t!
For more information call 501-321-2277 or email ahampo@hotsprings.org