Head of the Hooch: Watch rowing on the river this weekend

photo Rowing teams and their fans fill Ross's Landing and the surrounding parking lots during the Head of the Hooch regatta as teams carry their boats to the water. Thousands of people come from all over the world to watch and participate in the 5,000-meter event.

IF YOU GOWhat: Head of the Hooch rowing regatta.When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3; 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4.Where: Ross's Landing (finish line).Admission: Free to spectators.Website: www.headofthehooch.org.VIEWING SUGGESTIONSThe race course begins just north of River Terminal Road, off Amnicola Highway, and ends at Ross's Landing. In between are a few landmarks for taking in the view:• Tennessee Riverwalk• Veterans Bridge• Walnut Street Bridge• Market Street Bridge• Chattanooga Pier• Tennessee Aquarium plaza• Hunter Museum of American Art• Bluff View Art District• Tennessee Riverwalk

The visual splendor of boats on the water and a late-week warming trend should be ample motivation to hit the bridges this weekend to cheer on the rowers in the Head of the Hooch rowing regatta.

At press time, WRCB meteorologists were predicting partly cloudy skies and a high of 65 degrees Saturday, Nov. 3, and 66 degrees Sunday, Nov. 4.

Started more than 30 years ago by the Atlanta Rowing Club, the Head of the Hooch originally was rowed on the Chattahoochee River. As it gained rowers and outgrew its venue, the race was moved first to the Olympic venue in Gainesville, Ga., before relocating to the Tennessee River in Chattanooga in 2005. The move coincided with the Scenic City's $120 million downtown water revitalization project.

In 2011, more than 2,000 rowers hit the water for the race known as the Hooch. Several races for adaptive rowers were added in 2010. Originally slated for Sunday, they will be moved to Saturday this year.

This year's races are expected to attract 12,000 people to the waterfront and have an economic impact of $4.3 million, according to the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Atlanta Rowing Club and the Lookout Rowing Club co-sponsor the event.

Vendors from Chattanooga Market will set up booths on Riverfront Parkway from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Upcoming Events