You don’t want to miss one of Reston’s most beloved town traditions. Competitors of all ages will frantically paddle across Lake Anne in handcrafted boats at the Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday, August 9.
The annual event, hosted by the Reston Museum, runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza. Viewers will gather around the plaza to watch as teams hop into their handmade cardboard boats and take off across the lake. They paddle out to a designated buoy and back — if their boat doesn’t tip over or sink.
Each of the boats is handmade almost entirely out of cardboard (some additional materials are permitted, like papier mâché for accents, but the bulk of the boats are all cardboard.) And participants get creative with it, crafting their boats into colorful masterpieces.
At the end, several prizes are awarded, including for speed and for creativity of design.
Spectators can cheer along for their favorite boats. Plus, there will be live music and vendors around Lake Anne Plaza during the event.
The event is free, and VIP tickets are available for $50. VIP tickets include front-row seats with a personal shade, a $25 gift card to Open Road Distilling, and the chance to vote for the fan-favorite boat.
Registration to race in the 2025 Cardboard Boat Regatta has ended, but preregistration for 2026 is open. Registration is $50 for student or family teams, $100 for adult teams, or $125 for nonprofit teams.
Feature image by Charlotte Geary
