‘Running of the Tubs’ to again race through downtown Hot Springs

Downtown Hot Springs will host the 11th Annual Stueart Pennington Running of the Tubs on Saturday (June 4) starting at 9:30 a.m. The event is free to the public and consists of costumed teams loading up in authentic wheeled bathtubs for a race through the streets of Hot Springs.

Audiences are also encouraged to come out with “water guns, house slippers, shower cap, and robe,” according to the HotSprings.org website.

According to the official rules, a competing bathtub must be full of water at the start of the race and have at least 10 gallons of water left at the finish line. Any team with less than 10 gallons of water remaining will be disqualified.

Each team must consist of five members: a captain, who rides in the tub; a Bath Towel Attendant; a Bath Mat Attendant; a Soap Attendant; and a Loofah Mitt Attendant.

Prior to the Running of the Tubs, there will be a Paddock Party on Friday night (June 3) and a “Parade of Tubs” the following morning that leads into the race itself.

Admission is free to the public, but entry fees for the race will be $25 per team and are due by 8 a.m. on Wednesday (May 27) at Visit Hot Springs, located in the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The Running of the Tubs will be held in front of Bathhouse Row. The event is a celebration of Hot Springs’ historic past when the city proclaimed “We Bathe The World!” and is named in honor of Stueart Pennington, a well-known and respected downtown businessman.