Thousands gather for annual Head of the Rock Regatta in Rockford

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Thousands gathered along the Rock River in Rockford on Sunday to witness the annual Head of the Rock Regatta, a premier rowing event in the Midwest.

The regatta features a 3.2-mile rowing race that draws adult, college, and high school rowers from across the Midwest. The race begins at Martin Park and concludes at the YMCA, with US-Rowing licensed referees ensuring safety and fairness throughout the course.

Over the years, the Head of the Rock Regatta has grown into one of the Midwest’s most prestigious rowing events, attracting competitors and spectators alike. The presence of US-Rowing licensed referees highlights the event’s commitment to maintaining high standards of competition.

The YMCA in Rockford, which hosts the finish line of the race, also has its own rowing crew. Interested individuals can contact the YMCA for more information about joining their rowing activities.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.