What is Float Fest?
Float Fest is Mississippi Park Connection’s river-based community celebration bringing people together on the Mississippi River to enjoy recreation, connection, and time outdoors. Building on a successful community pilot in 2025, Float Fest returns in 2026 with expanded programming designed for paddlers, floaters, families, and river lovers of all experience levels. The event celebrates the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area as a place for joy, exploration, and shared stewardship.
Float Fest 2026 is proudly presented by Bolton & Menk, an employee-owned engineering and planning firm that helps communities design and build the infrastructure, parks, and public spaces that connect people and improve everyday life.
We're grateful for their support in bringing Float Fest to life and creating a memorable experience for our community.
What is Paddle Share?
Paddle Share is the Mississippi River’s self-serve kayak sharing system in the Twin Cities metro area that lets you rent a kayak and paddle to a destination downriver—it’s easy, fun, and designed for access and convenience. Our mission is to connect people to the Mississippi River through recreation and to reduce barriers to experiencing urban waterways. With locker-equipped stations and online reservations, Paddle Share makes it easy to rent a kayak, paddle downstream, and drop off your equipment without the need to transport or store anything yourself.
Thank you to our Float Fest Sponsors!
Friends of the Boundary Waters
Lake State Mountaineering
Presenting Sponsor
Launch Sponsors
Flow Sponsors
Shoreline Sponsors
There are a variety of ways to participate in Float Fest 2026 based on your comfort and experience level on the water:
Bring Your Own Boat: Have a kayak, canoe, raft, or another human-powered boat of your own? Register online, put in at any start location along the route at the designated time, and paddle down to Graco Park. Transportation back is on your own; consider parking a bike or second vehicle down at Graco before starting your trip!
Rent a Paddle Share kayak: Start from Mississippi Gateway, River Park, or North Mississippi and paddle down to join the party! Paddle Share trips are self-guided; paddling experience is required and solo kayakers must be over 18. Transportation back is on your own; drop off your kayak and go back to your start point hassle-free.
Paddle with your organization: Are you part of a rowing club, canoe group, or just have access to boats? Put a group together and join us! Consider sponsoring or tabling at the Graco Park afterparty.
Join on land: Not ready to paddle a river route yet? Come to Graco Park for the on-land program and try a kayak or canoe demo in the calm waters around Boom Island.
How do I participate?
Interested in sponsoring Float Fest?
Contact Jeff Garcia, Program Specialist at Mississippi Park Connection, at jgarcia@parkconnection.org.
Community Partners
Float Fest is supported by a network of community organizations that help advance the Paddle Share mission year-round. Together, we're creating more opportunities for people to experience and enjoy our waterways and make access to the river more equitable for all.
Float Fest is made possible through the collaboration and vision of:
City of Brooklyn Park
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Mississippi Park Connection
National Park Service
Three Rivers Park District