GREAT LAKES WATERCROSS AT
RED ARROW PARK
MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN

Championship Weekend: Manitowoc Event Highlights

The 2026 Great Lakes Watercross series concludes with a spectacular Championship Weekend in the maritime city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin! We are bringing the season’s final high-stakes racing to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, where the ultimate champions will be crowned.

Beyond the racing, the highlight of the weekend for many is the local legend: Cedar Crest Ice Cream. Their factory and parlor are located right in Manitowoc, and a visit to see Bernice the Big Cow on their front lawn is a mandatory tradition. With over 30 rotating flavors of factory-fresh ice cream, it’s the perfect way to celebrate a podium finish (or just a great weekend of racing).

Explore the "Coolest Coast"

Manitowoc is packed with unique attractions that make it a perfect destination for the whole family during our finale:

• Wisconsin Maritime Museum: Step back in time and tour the USS Cobia, a world-class WWII submarine docked in the river. It’s the most fully restored submarine of its kind in the country.

• S.S. Badger Carferry: Watch the massive, historic coal-fired steamship come in and out of the harbor—a truly iconic sight on the Great Lakes.

• Lincoln Park Zoo: A fantastic (and free!) community zoo featuring cougars, black bears, and snow leopards, located just minutes from the race site.

• Sputnik Crash Site: For a bit of "weird history," visit the brass ring in the street outside the Rahr-West Art Museum that marks the exact spot where a piece of the Soviet Sputnik IV satellite crashed in 1962.

• Mariners Trail: Bring your bikes or running shoes to enjoy 7 miles of paved trails connecting Manitowoc and Two Rivers, offering stunning, uninterrupted views of Lake Michigan.