Edmond Park at Arcadia Lake was selected by US Rowing and the Beach Sprint Rowing League to host the Inaugural Route 66 Beach Sprint Rowing Festival because of its location along Route 66 and to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Cheer for the world’s top elite athletes as they compete in fast-paced "Run-Row-Run" (50 yard run – 250 meter row – 50 yard run) races while enjoying food trucks, beach games and live music. This high intensity sports experience features a sand sprint, slalom row and final sprint to a beach finish line. Single and double races last three to four minutes each. Beach Sprints are to rowing like pickleball is to tennis: easy to learn and more accessible. Beach Sprint Festivals have generated excitement abroad and this will be the first on in the United States.

Beach sprint rowing is a new sport in the 2028 Olympics and this festival will help expand the sport of rowing and awareness of Route 66 as a critical link in the Central Oklahoma Olympic and Paralympic corridor.