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It Takes a Village to Build a Beach

A first-year festival, a brand-new Olympic sport, a beach in the middle of Oklahoma, athletes flying in from as far away as Peru, iconic musicians. Every piece of that took somebody saying yes. So before the sand gets busy, we want to introduce the people and organizations who made it real. Plus check out the surprise sponsor at the end…if you’re at the beach, you gotta be wearing Vans.

The Place

The City of Edmond is a city committed to being a great place to live. If you live there, you know. This festival wouldn’t be happening without them. Embracing this event as another great way to create community, the City of Edmond has backed the Route 66 Beach Festival across the board, from the police department to City Hall to promotions. A festival on public water takes real municipal support, and Edmond showed up.

Visit Edmond has been more than a partner to the Festival – they’ve been a champion. From helping with all things festival, getting the word out and connecting the event to the community, they’ve been a game-changing partner. We’d pick them to be on our team any day.

Arcadia Lake is home base, and their staff has made this work. They are making sure the beach is a sandy oasis, and that festival fans have a genuinely great venue to spend the weekend. Plus they’re super nice people. Take a minute to join us in thanking them if you get the chance.

The University of Central Oklahoma and the UCO Boathouse at Arcadia Lake have been integral to planning from the start. The UCO Boathouse is hosting the USRowing coaches clinic and offering their facilities for back-of-festival ops. UCO students and staff are volunteering, and the university is buzzing with excitement about the event.

The Edmond YMCA is providing lifeguards for racing because they are the best. You’ll also find YMCA members volunteering across the event and maybe a few competing.

OpenWater Sports is the key organizer behind the Festival, start to buzzer-stopping finish. Mike Knopp, founder of Openwater Sports, and his team have taken the lead in planning all things festival. Mike even drove (almost) nonstop to LA and back to bring a 35′ trailer loaded with coastal rowing shells to the event. From organizing Beach Sprints clinics to recruiting athletes, scheduling volunteers, planning food trucks, music and more, it’s been an OpenWater collective effort.

BSRL, Inc.

Along with Mike Knopp, Jeffrey Pollack and Bruce Smith are the co-founders and visionaries behind the Route 66 Beach Festival. Their company, BSRL Inc., is designing the world’s first professional rowing league and a new kind of beach entertainment experience. Stay tuned for the full reveal! 

The Sport

USRowing is the force behind the growth of Beach Sprints in the US. The national governing body for rowing in the US, they’ll be hosting the Beach Sprints coaches clinic and providing officials for racing all weekend. Their sanctioning takes the competition to the next level. We’re excited, as always, to partner with USRowing!

Zhik, our official apparel sponsor, is outfitting the first 100 registered racers with free unis. Real racing apparel from a brand serious water athletes actually compete in. They’re new around these parts. You can tell from their Australian accents. This Aussie company is coming to the US and we’re so excited to be one of their first stops. (And it’s Zike as in Yike. Not Zeek. In case you’re wondering)

RIVERSPORT Dragon Boating

While not an official sponsor, we’re sending a shoutout to the RIVERSPORT Dragon Boating crew. They’ve spread the word about this crazy dragon boat race we’ve come up with and will be there to paddle in force. Paddle on, beach dragons!

The Music

Okolahoma Soda Company is the Festival connection to Jan & Dean’s Beach Party and so much more. Who knew that company founder John Occhipinti is also a part of the California music scene, especially when it comes to The Beach Boys, Dean Torrence and Jan & Dean’s Beach Party. We couldn’t have done it without you, John.

DJ Giacomo. If you know him, you know he’s passionate about surfing, music and people. He’s done the heavy lift on bringing in the DJs and bands for the weekend. Come see it all at the Festival.

Taking Care of People

McCaleb Homes is all about creating a community where families can thrive, so it was a yes on the Festival. As a sponsor and a competitor, they are not just supporting the event, they are racing in it. Way to go above and beyond. Listen for the McCaleb name as racing is announced.

Ozarka is keeping everyone hydrated with free water at the event, which in Oklahoma in August is the name of the game. Tip a bottle and give them a thanks for keeping the water flowing.

Warren CAT is bringing the Cooling Zone to the Festival. Pick up a hand-fan at the welcome tent and if you feel the need to chill, visit the cooling zone with a cold outdoor shower and place to dip into the AC for a minute. We’d say they’re some cool CATs (sorry – it had to be said).

Hilton Garden Inn is offering special room rates for visiting athletes, including the team traveling in from Peru. Yes, Peru. In Edmond, Oklahoma.

Getting the Word Out

KFOR News Channel 4 is a longtime champion of rowing and paddlesport events in Oklahoma. Fitting, given they are part of the NBC Olympic family and this is an Olympic sport. Watch for KFOR’s Charley Newkirk on social and newscasts – we’re hear she’s going to be learning beach sprints!

KMGL, KRXO, and JAKE FM, the Tyler Media stations, are always great about partnering with metro area events, and they came through again. Listen for Festival spots and send them a shout out for their support.

Lamar put us outdoors – on billboards. If you’ve seen us out on the road, that’s them. Next time around we expect to see their team on the water. You see, we know they can row!

The Story Behind the Name

The Oklahoma Route 66 Commission is right there in our name. The festival sits just off the Mother Road, and 2026 is the Route 66 Centennial, so the timing could not be better.

Oklahoma America 250 ties in through the distance itself. Beach Sprints races 250 meters. America 250 marks 250 years. Some coincidences are too good to leave alone.

Vans has been a beach standard since 1966 when the company formed in Anaheim, CA. And they have ties to Edmond. Story for another day, but feel free to Google. We’re excited to welcome them to the Route 66 Beach Festival and we hear they may be doing some giveaways. That’s all we can say. But show up. Seriously.

Thank You

We told you it takes a village. Every one of these partners could have waited to see how a first-year event went before getting involved. None of them did. They looked at a new sport, a new festival, and a big idea, and they helped build it.

That is the part we will remember long after the last race.

Come see what they helped make. August 29 and 30 at Arcadia Lake in Edmond. Free festival, $10 per car lake pass.