Register for Paddling Race Series
August 21-23 2026
Celebrate the Outdoors. Celebrate Community.
Bluffs2Backwaters is Winona’s signature recreation festival, a multi-day celebration of everything we love about getting outside. Set between our iconic bluffs and the winding backwaters of the Mississippi, the festival brings people together through adventure, music, art, and community.
From competitive events and camping to creative workshops and live performances, Bluffs2Backwaters is where outdoor stoke meets small-town soul. Whether you’re here to race, paddle, climb, dance, or simply connect, you’ll find something that reminds you why Winona is one of the Midwest’s best places to play.
At its heart, Bluffs2Backwaters is about connection. Between people and nature, recreation and art, locals and visitors. It’s about celebrating the places that inspire us and the community that keeps them alive.
Join us for a weekend of exploration, creativity, and celebration — from the bluffs to the backwaters.
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5:00 PM: Backwaters, Boat houses, and Brews - Registration Opens Soon!
8:00 PM: Adventure Film Festival - FREE - at Prairie Island Campground thanks to our Friends at Lacrosse Adventure Film Festival
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9:00 AM: Kids Fishing - FREE
Where: Prairie Island Campground Beach
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Swamp Oak Wanderer Adventure Stations - FREE
Where: Prairie Island Campground, Terrace
10:00 AM: Ripple Run - 5 mile Recreational Race
Where: Prairie Island Campground Beach
Register here
12:00 PM: Ripple Run - 10 mile Competitive Race
Where: Prairie Island Campground Beach
Register here
3:00 - 5:00 PM: Free Kayak/Canoe Rentals!
Where: Prairie Island Campground Beach
5:00 PM: Food Trucks Arrive!
5:00 - 7:00 PM: Swamp Oak Wanderer Adventure Stations - FREE
Where: Prairie Island Campground, Terrace
6:00 PM: Music by Mike Munson - FREE
6:00 - 8:00 PM: Vendor Fair
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9:00 AM: Dam2Dam
Where: Prairie Island Campground
Launch at McNally Boat Landing
Register here
10:00 AM: Paddle Your Buns Off
Join us for a community paddle supporting the Recreation Alliance of Winona! Ticket comes with a hot dog lunch. Thematic boats and costumes encouraged!
Where: Prairie Island Campground
Launch at beach
Register here ($10/person)