Shoal Creek Water Festival

Every August, when the days are long and the temperatures are sweltering, people gather along Shoal Creek at Joplin’s Wildcat Park, and they have a mission.

Do they jump into the water to seek relief from the heavy, unrelenting air outside?

Nope.

These individuals each place a cardboard box in the creek, climb inside, then begin to paddle furiously as they race towards a finish line before their vessels disintegrate.

The rest of us witness their feats of insanity from the comfort of the shaded creek bank, and it’s a blast.

These are the cardboard boat races, one of the highlights of the Shoal Creek Water Festival, which is held at Wildcat Park. This park is one of our favorite places to visit in Joplin, and we come here often to hike the trails, enjoying the diverse and beautiful natural landscapes of the chert glades, forest, and ragged bluffs overlooking the creek.

But not today. Today we get to see the playful side of Wildcat Park at this family-friendly celebration that focuses on water, a welcome gift on a steamy August day. Admission to the festival is free, too – another gift.

We park our car near the visitors center and take a shuttle to the festival area near the creek. Different environmental and conservation organizations have set up educational booths along the creekside trail, and people wander over to those in between the water races.

In addition to the cardboard boat races, there’s also a kids’ shoe box boat race, and kayak slalom races (both for youths and for adults). You don’t have to own a kayak to participate in the slalom race (they’ll provide one for you), but you do have to have your own cardboard invention in order to participate in the other races.

As you can see from the photos, people sure put a lot of hard work and creativity into the construction of their floating paper vessels.

Some boats carry their riders confidently toward the finish line, while others advance sluggishly, gurgling as they take on water.

My daughter and nieces sit on the bleachers and cheer on the boaters. Many people have brought their own lawn chairs and are watching in the shade. Every now and then, I’ll catch the smell of burgers on the grill, wafting over from the food tent.

Ah, this is summertime fun.

Between races, we purchase some entries in the rubber duck race which will be held near the end of the festival. The grand prize for the duck race is a kayak. I’ve never been kayaking before, but I want to learn.

Finally, it’s time for the rubber duck race. Watching those smiling, yellow duckies bob up and down in the creek in one happy, sunny cluster is just as entertaining as watching the wacky cardboard races.

I’m so captivated by the race that I forget to take photos, but you all know what floating rubber duckies look like, right?

Unfortunately, I do not win the kayak. However, I do end up winning four tickets to the Discovery Center in Springfield, which is one of my youngest daughter’s favorite places, so that’s a grand prize in her world.

On the drive home from the festival, my daughter talks excitedly about entering a shoe box boat at next year’s event. Her creative wheels are turning, inspired by the inventions that she saw today floating on – and sinking in – Shoal Creek.

Then my husband chimes in. “Maybe the whole family can build a cardboard boat next year, too!”

Uh, oh…

Wildcat Park is located at 55th and South Main Street in Joplin.

Photos by Travis Smith.

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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.