Celebrating Creativity and Community on the Little Pigeon River
On July 4th, 2025, Gatlinburg’s Little Pigeon River transformed into a vibrant parade of creativity during the annual River Raft Regatta. This cherished Independence Day tradition brought together locals and visitors alike for a festive competition of unmanned floatables, all starting from the Edgewater Hotel & Conference Center.
The day kicked off with participants gathering at the Edgewater at 11:00 AM to register their entries—everything from whimsically decorated homemade rafts to classic rubber ducks. At 1:00 PM sharp, the race began, sending a colorful collection of floatables drifting downstream toward the finish line at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
Spectators lined River Road, many walking alongside the river to follow the action and cheer on their favorite creations. It was a hot, sunny day—perfect weather for this fun-filled 4th of July tradition.
One particularly entertaining moment came when a cluster of ducks and rafts floated past the finish line, prompting one determined volunteer to chase them down the river in a heroic attempt to wrangle them back. It made for a great photo op.
The event wrapped up with an awards ceremony near Ripley’s Aquarium, where trophies were handed out in multiple categories including “Treasure” (handmade rafts), “Duck” (rubber duck entries), and “Most Creative Float.”
We at the Edgewater Hotel are proud to be the starting point for this fun and uniquely Gatlinburg celebration. If you missed it this year, we hope to see you next 4th of July—for the regatta, the festivities, and maybe even a little friendly competition!
