2025 Tri-Cities Water Follies: Guide to tickets, parking, road closures & more

Hydroplanes will soon race on the waters of the Columbia River for the 60th time in pursuit of the APBA Gold Cup.

The 2025 Tri-Cities Water Follies, which kicks off Friday, features seven of the nation’s largest, unlimited hydroplanes, as well as races with about 26 other types of boats. Between races, the STCU Over-the-River Air Show will thrill fans over head.

The high-speed races draw tens of thousands of viewers to parks in Kennewick and Pasco along the Columbia River each year.

It’ll be a hot weekend on the river. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will be in the 90s all weekend.

From ticket prices to parking and road closures, here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Water Follies:

When is Tri-Cities Water Follies in 2025?

The 2025 Water Follies run from Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27, in Tri-Cities.

Attendees will gather to view the races at Columbia Park off Highway 240 in Kennewick and Wade Park off Road 54 in Pasco.

Vendors will be on hand at both locations, selling food, drinks and other merchandise.

How much do Water Follies tickets cost in 2025?

Tickets for the 2025 Water Follies are available as single-day or bundle passes and can be purchased online.

Parking passes must be purchased separately.

Single-day passes are $30 on Saturday and $35 on Sunday. Kids under 13 get in free in general admission areas.

Weekend passes, which include park admission on Saturday and Sunday, cost $60. Kids under 13 get in free.

Three-day passes grant admission to events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, They cost $75 each, and come with pit passes for up-close access to racing areas on the Kennewick side and tours.

Pit passes can also be purchased separately for $10.

Eventgoers with pit passes must wear the correct footwear. Due to insurance regulations, open-toed and moccasin-type shoes are not permitted in the hot pit area, organizers said.

Smoking is banned in the pit areas.

Which ticket packages are available?

For a better view of the action, you can buy ticket packages for special viewing areas including the Starting Line, Bulldog Beach Club and the Hydro Hot Spot.

Here’s what you get:

▪ Starting Line Club: For $500, you can get two wristbands for the Columbia Park viewing area on Saturday and Sunday, plus pit passes and one nearby parking spot. Each wristband holder also gets two drink tickets per day, a booster button, race program and commemorative mug. Doughnuts, juice, water and soda are provided.

▪ Bulldog Beach Club: A $400 ticket package includes four wristbands to the Pasco viewing area on Saturday and Sunday, plus one nearby parking spot. You also get a race program and lunch on Sunday. Admission costs $100 for children ages 6 to 12.

▪ Hydro Hot Spot: For $150, you get access to the Columbia Park viewing area and a private cash-only beer garden on Saturday and Sunday, plus pit access. Ticket holders get lunch on Sunday water, soda, a race program and a button. Admission for kids ages 6 to 12 costs $50.

In all cases, children 5 and under get in free.

Ticket packages for the Round Table Club viewing area were sold out as of Thursday, July 24.

Where can I park at 2025 Water Follies? What are prices?

According to organizers, parking is available at Columbia Park in Kennewick and off Sylvester Street in Pasco.

In Kennewick, parking costs $10 per spot all three days.

Columbia Park parking options open at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday and close after the last heat, around 5 p.m. on those days. On Sunday, parking will open around 7 a.m. and close around 4:30 p.m.

In Pasco, parking is free on Friday and costs $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Spots are available on a first come, first served basis.

Organizers warn that spots do not come with in-and-out privileges. You will have to pay for parking each time you re-enter the parking area.

You may also be able to snag a spot at a nearby property, with prices at the property owner’s discretion.

The Kiwanis Club of Horse Heaven Hills is offering shuttles from Columbia Park’s parking lots to the race viewing areas throughout the weekend.

On Friday, shuttles will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., based at the east end of the park. If you see a shuttle, you can hop on at any point.

On Saturday, shuttles will be operating at the park’s west end from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday, they’ll operate from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Can I take a shuttle to Kennewick and Pasco viewing areas?

Want to avoid parking fees and traffic?

Ben Franklin Transit is offering shuttles to both the Kennewick and Pasco viewing areas. Donations are accepted with proceeds benefiting the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, according to a news release.

Shuttles operate from 8 a.m. to noon all weekend long, with one return trip around 15 to 20 minutes after the last heat.

You can board a shuttle for Columbia Park in Kennewick at:

• Lampson/Kennewick High School, 505 South Dayton St. in Kennewick, on Saturday and Sunday

• 240 Westbound Dayton Transfer Point on Friday and Saturday

• Knight Street Transit Center, 1132 Knight St. in Richland, on Saturday and Sunday

Shuttles pick up passengers for Wade Park at the HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd. in Pasco.

Dial-A-Ride will also offer Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible services for the 2025 Water Follies from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Advanced booking is required. You should reserve your rides for Friday and Saturday by 5 p.m. the day before, and for Sunday by noon on Friday.

Can I stay overnight in my RV?

Recreational vehicle parking passes are available for eventgoers staying overnight.

There are three RV parking areas, including East and Main. The Terrace lots were sold out as of Thursday.

Reservations to park RVs and vehicles in the East or Main RV parking areas cost $600 to $650 plus fees, and include four three-day admission wristbands with pit access. Additional wristbands can be added on at full price.

To park one day earlier, you can buy a $125 Thursday parking pass. You’ll need to purchase a $100 parking pass to park extra vehicles.

What can I bring into the 2025 Water Follies?

Headed to the 2025 Water Follies? You’re allowed to bring lawn chairs, blankets, tarps and umbrellas, and you should bring sunscreen and plenty of water, according to event organizers.

You can also pack a picnic in a personal cooler, as long as you don’t bring alcohol or glass of any kind.

All cars and coolers are subject to searches when entering the parks.

Which items are banned at Water Follies events?

Water Follies general admission attendees are not allowed to bring in their own alcohol, organizers said. Alcohol is only allowed in special viewing club areas and designated beer gardens.

These items are also prohibited at 2025 Water Follies events, according to security guidelines:

• Weapons

• Drones/UAVs

• Squirt bottles

• Squirt guns/super soakers

• Glass

• Skateboards

• Unauthorized vehicles including golf carts or scooters

• Pets (except service animals)

Which roads and trails are closed for the 2025 Water Follies?

The Washington State Patrol says the following areas will be closed from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, to ensure safe traffic flow:

• Columbia Park entrance off westbound Highway 240
• Edison Street off-ramp off westbound Highway 240

Drop-offs and pick-ups will not be permitted along Highway 240, even on the shoulder, said the WSP.

The state patrol will do increased patrols during the 2025 Water Follies, focusing on speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving and seat belt compliance.

The Columbia River will be closed to boat traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday.

Columbia Park walking and biking trails from the blue bridge to Edison Street will be closed to pedestrians and bicyclists from 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24, through 7 p.m. Monday, July 28.

Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be closed on Wade Park Road trails from the blue bridge to Road 60 on Sunday, July 27, and Monday, July 28.

What’s the event schedule for 2025?

Here’s when 2025 Water Follies events are scheduled:

▪ Friday

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Testing

• 11:15 a.m.: STCU Over-the-River Air Show

• 1:10 p.m.: 1.5 Stock Heat 1

• 1:30 p.m.: 2.5 Mod Heat 1

• 1:50 p.m.: H1 Qualifying

• 3:55 p.m.: Vintage

• 4:20 p.m.: 1.5 Stock Heat 2

• 4:40 p.m.: 2.5 Stock Heat 2

• 5 p.m.: Vintage Dash for Cash

• 6 p.m.: Speed and Feed

▪ Saturday

• 8 to 9 a.m.: Testing

• 9 a.m.: Vintage

• 9:25 a.m.: 1.5 Stock Heat 3

• 9:45 a.m.: 2.5 Mod Heat 3

• 10 a.m.: H1 Testing

• 11:15 a.m.: STCU Over-the-River Air Show

• 12 p.m.: All Driver Autograph Session

• 1:10 p.m.: 1.5 Stock Heat 4

• 1:30 p.m.: 2.5 Mod Heat 4

• 1:50 p.m.: GPA Heat 1

• 2:20 p.m.: H1 Heat 1A

• 2:50 p.m.: H1 Heat 1B

• 3:10 p.m.: GPA Heat 2

• 3:30 p.m.: Vintage

• 4:10 p.m.: H1 Heat 2A

• 4:40 p.m.: H1 Heat 2B

▪ Sunday

• 7:30 a.m.: Church service

• 8 to 9 a.m.: Testing

• 9 a.m.: Vintage

• 10 a.m.: Opening ceremonies

• 10:20 a.m.: H1 Heat 3A

• 10:45 a.m.: H1 Heat 32B

• 11:15 a.m.: STCU Over-the-River Air Show

• 1:10 p.m.: GPA Heat 3

• 1:30 p.m.: 1.5 Stock Heat 5

• 1:50 p.m.: 2.5 Mod Heat 5

• 2:15 p.m.: H1 Heat 4A

• 2:45 p.m.: H1 Heat 4B

• 3:10 p.m.: 1.5 Stock Final

• 3:30 p.m.: 2.5 Mod Final

• 4 p.m.: Vintage

• 4:45 p.m.: GPA Final

• 5:10 p.m.: H1 Gold Cup

This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM.