HOT SPRINGS, AR — One of Arkansas’ most whimsical traditions returns to downtown Hot Springs on Saturday, June 7, as the 19th annual Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs barrels down Bathhouse Row. The free, family-friendly event draws crowds each year for a spectacle of costumed teams racing actual bathtubs full of water in a spirited showdown of splash and showmanship.
This year brings fresh excitement as nine new teams join the competition, adding to an already colorful field of returning contenders. Organized by Visit Hot Springs, the event highlights the city’s unique bathhouse history in the most entertaining way possible—by turning it into a race.
A Weekend of Bathtub Revelry
Festivities begin Friday, June 6, with the Judging of the Tubs at 6 p.m. in Hill Wheatley Plaza, where teams display their creatively decorated tubs. The bracket selection follows at 7 p.m.
The main event kicks off Saturday morning, June 7, with the Parade of the Tubs at 9:00 a.m., leading into the high-energy Running of the Tubs at 9:20 a.m. An awards ceremony wraps up the morning at 11:15 a.m.
Three Divisions, One Wet and Wild Goal
Teams compete in three divisions:
- Traditional – Cast-iron bathtubs
- Modified – Fiberglass or plastic tubs
- Stock – Nonprofit teams using standard tubs provided by organizers
Each team must push their mobile bathtub down the course while keeping as much water as possible inside, splashing through obstacles and enduring soaking from spectators wielding water guns because audience participation is encouraged!
New Teams Making Waves
This year’s new entrants include nonprofits, local businesses, and even state agencies:
Traditional Division
- National Park College – The NPC Do Gooders and Be Gooders
Modified Division
- Garland County Sheriff’s Office
- Bath Planet of Arkansas
- Reynolds Consumer Products
- Arkansas Passport Center – Rub-a-Dub Passport Tub
- PRIDE Hot Springs (hosted by Emergent Arts) – Suds & Sass
Stock Division
- The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt (State Auditor’s Office) – Find Your Booty
- Spring Lake Camp and Retreat – God Squad
- Spring Lake Camp and Retreat – Jesus Freaks
Returning Racers Ready to Defend Titles
Crowd favorites and past champions are also back, including:
- Spa Pacers (2024 Traditional champs)
- Austin Weirdos – If You Can Dodge A Wrench Tub (2024 Modified champs)
- Fishers-of-Men from Oaklawn Chapel and Princess Nora’s Warrior Foundation (2024 Stock champs)
- Teams from Hot Springs Police and Fire Departments for the annual Battle of the Badge
A Signature Hot Springs Experience
“Where else can you see a cast-iron bathtub racing down the street while someone dressed as a pirate gets soaked by a 5-year-old with a water blaster?” says Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “This event truly captures the spirit and humor of our community.”
The World Championship Running of the Tubs is a signature celebration of Hot Springs’ quirky charm and historic bathhouse culture, and it continues to grow each year.
Event Details
- What: World Championship Running of the Tubs
- When: Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon
- Where: Bathhouse Row, Downtown Hot Springs National Park
- Cost: Free and open to the public
For more information, visit hotsprings.org.
Information for this article was from a Hot Springs, AR Convention and Visitors Bureau news release.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
