EAST COAST OPEN WATER FESTIVAL 2026

The race.

The East Coast Open Water Festival takes place September 26-27, 2026, at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston, VA. The event features five swimming distances: a 5K, two 1-mile events, a 3K, a half-mile race, and a half-mile option, with races starting at 10 am on Saturday and 11 am on Sunday. The course consists of a mile loop marked with buoys, with in-water starts and finishes on the beach behind the pavilion. Registration fees range from $85 for one event to $110 for three events and include a swim cap and event t-shirt. Awards include backpacks and plaques for top male and female finishers in the 5K, and first through third place plaques in other events across multiple age divisions. The festival is organized by the International Swim Coaches Association.