Join Us at the Heart of Texas Regatta
The Heart of Texas
The Heart of Texas Regatta, a USRowing Nationally Recognized Regatta, is held annually in February, making it one of the first sprint regattas of the spring. Since 1983, Austin Rowing Club has had the pleasure of hosting this fast-paced regatta on Lady Bird Lake. In the beginning, the regatta was primarily for visiting crews and today the event has grown to include Masters, Open and Junior events across two days of racing. Held on a seven lane, fully-buoyed 1,000 meter course with a state-of-the-art starting platform, this regatta sees over 500 entries with 1,000+ competitors annually.
Dates
Saturday, February 28th & Sunday, March 1st, 2026
Standard Registration:
- Date to be announced
For more information please contact our Regatta Director at megan.getman@austinrowing.org
Late Registration:
- Date to be announced
Location
The Heart of Texas Regatta is located at Festival Beach Park on Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas. Venue map showing team tent locations and boat lay down locations.
By Bike – Bike racks are provided in the park and storage is available at the venue tent; bring your lock. Austin Bike Map
By Trail – Everyone is encouraged to walk or bike the trails to reach the event. Lady Bird Lake Trail Map
By Public Transport – Capital Metro routes 21 and 22 serve the venue. Capital Metro System Map – Capital Metro Trip Planner
Trailer Parking – Please see the overview and detail maps of trailer parking. Trailers shall be parked in an eastbound orientation on Chicon Street.
Venue Parking – Limited parking is available within one block of 1600 Nash Hernandez Senior Road, along the south side of Nash Hernandez Sr. and where available on Chicon and Comal. All visitors must honor traffic cones, barriers and No Parking signs or risk ticketing or towing.
Accommodation
Austin Rowing Club recommends competitors and fans stay at the Holiday Inn Lady Bird Lake. This Holiday Inn is a short walk to the race course. Please contact hotel staff at 1-512-634-1274 for team sales.
Volunteer Information
This is an Austin Rowing Club event that is primarily volunteer run. Information will be posted a few weeks prior to the race.
For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at regattavolunteer@austinrowing.org.
Contact Information
US Rowing
Stay tuned! Link to US Rowing regatta information here.
Volunteer Opportunities
Race Day Support
Join our team to assist with timing, registration, and athlete coordination during the Head of the Colorado Regatta.
Refs/Safety Launches
Help ensure the safety of rowers by monitoring the course and providing assistance as needed.
Start and Finish Line
Help keep track of the start and finish times for the regatta.
Logistics Support
Assist with the setup and teardown of event infrastructure, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Media and Photography
Capture the excitement of the regatta and help share our story through photos and social media updates.
Environmental Stewardship
Participate in lake cleanups and promote sustainability initiatives during the event.
Contact Us
Reach out to regattavolunteer@austinrowing.org for information on how to get involved.