Homemade cardboard boats race on Lake Anne each summer. 2026: Aug. 8 at Lake Anne Plaza. 2027 sign-up is open; the date is not out yet. Fees, rules, parking.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the organizer, the Reston Museum.

Every summer, teams build life-size boats out of cardboard and race them on Lake Anne. The 2026 Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta was Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza, rain or shine. The Reston Museum, which runs it, has opened preregistration for 2027 but had not posted the date when we checked. We will add it here when it does.

The museum says the regatta “has quickly become a community favorite growing in size each year,” drawing residents, businesses and visitors from across the Washington area, and that Lake Anne Plaza “swells with thousands of spectators” cheering on the boats. Watching is free; only paid, registered teams race.

Who to call

At a glance
Last held Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m.
Next 2027, date not yet announced; preregistration open
Where Lake Anne Plaza, 1639 Washington Plaza North, Reston
Weather Rain or shine
To watch Free
To race Team fees from $50; free for up to 20 public school teams

How the race works

Each team designs and builds a person-powered cardboard boat and decorates it. In timed heats, crews paddle out to a buoy and back to the docks at Lake Anne Plaza, the museum says. Its page links the full rules, building tips and the waiver.

  • Age: every crew member must be 10 or older.
  • Waiver: everyone on the dock or in a boat needs a signed waiver, returned to the museum before or at check-in. Riders under 18 need a parent or guardian’s signature.
  • Refunds: preregistration and registration fees are nonrefundable.
  • Deadline: in 2026, registration closed July 27.

Team fees (2026)

From the museum’s 2026 sign-up page:

Entry 2026 fee
Student and family team (ages 10 and up) $50
Adult team (not a business) $100
Nonprofit team, with name or logo on signage $125
Small business (“First Mate”), with one adult team entry $250
Public school team Free, up to 20 schools

The public school entries are paid for by the RoSigle Community Giving Foundation. Larger sponsorships, from $500 to $1,500, include a team entry, and the top tiers add a banner on the sea wall; write to info@restonmuseum.org. We will update the fees when the 2027 prices are confirmed.

Parking and getting there

The museum warns that the plaza’s commercial lot fills quickly and recommends:

  • along North Shore Drive
  • Baron Cameron Park
  • the upper commercial lot off Washington Plaza West
  • Brown’s Chapel Park, United Christian Parish, Lake Newport Park, Forest Edge Elementary School and the Lake Anne picnic pavilion

Or walk in: Reston Town Center’s garages are free on weekends, and the town center is about a mile from Lake Anne Plaza, the museum says. See our Reston Town Center guide and getting around guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta 2027?

The Reston Museum has opened preregistration for 2027 but had not posted the date when we checked on Oct. 19, 2026. The 2026 regatta was Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1 to 3 p.m.

How much does it cost to enter a boat in the Lake Anne regatta?

In 2026 a student and family team cost $50, an adult team $100 and a nonprofit team $125. Public school teams were free for up to 20 schools. Fees are nonrefundable.

How old do you have to be to race in the cardboard boat regatta?

Every crew member must be 10 or older, and everyone needs a signed waiver; riders under 18 need a parent or guardian’s signature.

Where do I park for the Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta?

The museum says the commercial lot fills quickly and suggests North Shore Drive, Baron Cameron Park, the upper lot off Washington Plaza West, or the free weekend garages at Reston Town Center, about a mile’s walk away.