Biggest day on the river coming Saturday

The biggest day on the Parker Strip calendar is coming this weekend. The 42nd Annual Parker Tube Float will attract thousands of floaters who will run from Buckskin Mountain State Park to La Paz County Park on the Colorado River. The 2019 theme is Float Town, USA.

Changes in recent years have established a new float, and this year’s event will continue to build upon last year’s (watch our video highlights HERE!)

Floaters will park at La Paz County Park (map) and take their inflatables with them on large shuttle buses (expanded capacity since last year). The shuttles will drop them at the launch point at Buckskin, where their inflatables can be inflated (compressors at the ready), and they’ll float downriver three miles back to the County Park.

Parking is $10 (cash only). The entry fee is $20 and gets you a wristband for access to the event. Floaters must be over 12 years old. Groups with boats or personal watercraft may enter too, with a vessel fee of $25 (must be pre-registered). Boats must stay with their group.

The river teems with people every year on Tube Float day, as the event has gotten as big as the summer holiday weekends on the water. The event is a fundraiser for the Parker Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. It ends with prizes and music at Pirate’s Den beach.

Chamber Director Mary Hamilton says the event is more involved than ever to run.

“I used to say there were a thousand moving parts,” she told Parker Live. “Now, there are two-thousand!”

She said law enforcement have been extremely helpful, and more agencies than ever will be on the water this year, including San Bernardino, Imperial County, Maricopa County and others.

“Online pre-registration is closed now, but you can register at the Chamber office on California Avenue in Parker until Friday at 5 p.m., and then on-site on Saturday morning,” Mary added. “Also, boats won’t be allowed in the event area of the river unless they’re registered with a float group or they’re an official assist vessel.”

She said that, in addition, Spanky’s RV & Marine and Lenny Graziano have donated 100 lifejackets for floaters who need them. They’ll be handed out until gone at the beach on Saturday morning.

For more information, go HERE.