About the Tri-City Water Follies
Welcome to the Official Page of the Tri-City Water Follies! We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to bringing hydroplane racing to the Tri-Cities community annually. Our long held tradition is 61 years in the making, and our 2027 event will mark 62 years of boats on the water in Eastern Washington!
Founded by Ken Maurer in 1966, the Tri-City Water Follies has grown from a small hydroplane racing event in what used to be a dusty and barren Columbia Park, to a booming event with major Airshow attractions, thousands of attendees, and nationwide impact, garnering attendees as far as Australia and the Netherlands.
What started as an event with only 12 hydroplanes competing, has grown to 42 hydroplanes as of the 2026 Columbia Cup. The Tri-City Water Follies has hosted the APBA Gold Cup, which is the oldest active motorsports trophy in the world, 6 times. We take deep pride in impacting our community in positive ways, and providing the community with thrilling races and an amazing Airshow each year. Our event would not be possible without our amazing sponsors, and volunteers who help us put on this event each year.
About the Tri-Cities
The cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland comprise the Tri-Cities located in southeastern Washington State. The cities meet at the confluence of three rivers: the Yakima, Snake, and mighty Columbia and when combined with 300 days of sunshine, provide an aquatic playground that is second to none. Paired with the abundance of educational and recreational opportunities available, the Tri-Cities is an ideal destination for your family-friendly vacation. Known for its stable economy and atmosphere, the Tri-Cities was recently rated by Kiplinger among the Top 10 best places to raise a family, and
CNN/Money ranked the Tri-Cities one of the top 10 best bets for gains in housing value.
The Sacagawea Heritage Trail is a 23-mile, paved, loop trail that runs along the Columbia River and through the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. Families can enjoy markers that line the trail and offer families the chance to learn more about the flora, the fauna, and the history of Lewis and Clark while biking or strolling along the trail.
Kennewick’s Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond was the first warm-water family fishing pond developed in Washington State. It is a great place to discover several species of warm-water fish. A walking trail loops around the pond, and interpretive signage help identify the fish.
Adjacent to the Family Fishing Pond stands the Playground of Dreams, a unique 12,000 square foot playground. The Playground of Dreams features local landmarks and attractions as well as components requested by local elementary school children, including a pirate ship, dragon slide, castle maze, rocket, rope wall, and many others.
The Aquatic Splash Park, located near the Playground of Dreams and Family Fishing Pond, has a series of jets that will spout water in an ever-changing array of streams, spurts, sprays and splashes.
Board of Directors
The Tri-City Water Follies is organized by a team of amazing longstanding hydroplane fans, who have faithfully put on this event every year to continue the joy and tradition of the Tri-City Water Follies that they grew up with. Their community involvement can be felt through the dozens of local organizations that they are partnered with, ensuring that this Tri-Cities tradition can stay local and family oriented for many years to come.
Executive Board
Barb Keltch, Board President 25-26
Aaron Stephens, Race Director, Vice President, President Elect
Kim Owen, Airshow Director, Vice President
Mike Hall, Secretary/Treasurer
Jeff Potter, Vice President
Lorren Johnson, Vice President
Nathan Craghill, Immediate Past President
Past Presidents
Colin Hastings
Craig Marcum
Hector Cruz
Kathy Balcom
Malin Bergstrom
Marv Kinney
Mike Denslow
Pat Roach
Ron Hue
Spence Jilek
Todd Blackman
Board of Directors
Dave Bruce
David Kelln
Dot Stewart
Eric Lane
Heath Lambert
Jeff Vosahlo
Jim Powers
Lori Lott
Michel Pelletier
Mike Melia
Steve Owen
Jack Guier
Ric Blum
Paul Kempf
Ex-Officio
Craig Johnson
Frank Mora
Mark Howell
Darren Bartels
Paulina Zavala
Teri Comstock
John Culver
Kyle Wilson
Rylee Meyer
Tyler Adams
Kris Welch
Attend a Board Meeting
Board Meetings are held the first Monday of every month. They are open to the public, and we are always looking for fresh faces to become a part of our team. Please contact the office if you are interested in knowing the time and location of the next meeting.
Office Operations
Event Director: Mark Williams
Hours
August–May: Seasonal Hours. Call ahead or email the office before stopping by! Thank you for your understanding. We are a seasonal event with seasonal staffing.
June & July: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. Closed on major holidays.
Email: info@waterfollies.com
Phone: 509-783-4675
Address: 621 N. Gum St. Suite A, Kennewick, WA 99336