What to know about the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta

The 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta is just around the corner, and whether you’re a crew fan to your core or simply looking for a way to enjoy some autumn camaraderie along the river, you won’t want to miss this iconic Boston sporting event.

More than 11,000 athletic competitors from around the world — from high schoolers  to rowers over 80 years old — will take to the Charles River from Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 22. There’ll be opportunities to drink, eat and cheer on crews alongside hundreds of thousands of spectators, including one newly free riverside venue.

Here are some must-know tips on how to get there, where to watch the regatta and how to partake in the fun as a fan.

The Head of the Charles takes place on the stretch of the Charles River between Boston University’s DeWolfe Boathouse in Cambridge and Herter Park in Allston-Brighton. If you’re new to the race (or new to Boston), that’s the part of the river bordered by two major roadways: Memorial Drive in Cambridge and Soldiers Field Road/Storrow Drive in Boston.

Memorial Drive will be closed between the Cambridge Boat Club near the Eliot Bridge and Western Avenue to the east. Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road will be open to vehicles. Regatta officials strongly recommend taking public transit or an Uber or Lyft, since parking is incredibly limited along both sides of the river. (The only exception to the rule being if you’re using a car to bring a racing boat.)

If you’re taking the T, the Charles River is less than a half-mile walk from the Red Line's Harvard station in Cambridge. To get a bit closer to the starting line, you can also take the Red Line to Central, which just under a mile away. On the Boston side, your best bet is the Green Line's B branch to the BU Central stop, which drops you around the corner from the starting line.

There won’t be a shuttle bus this year, but there are several MBTA bus routes that run on both sides of the river. To get closest to the river, we suggest hopping on the 1, 66, 71, 73, 74, 75, or 77 buses into Harvard Station or the 47 bus to Central Square. You can read more about the transportation options here.

There are a total of 75 races you can watch during Head of the Charles, with the earliest starting at 7:45 a.m. each day of the regatta. On Saturday and Sunday, boats launch for the last race of the day around 4 p.m.

Crew aficionados will tell you some of the highest-profile races happen in the final hours of the three-day event: The championship fours and the championship eights. Competitors in those races will take to the water Sunday afternoon, launching at 1:21 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. for the men's and women's championship fours (respectively) and at 1:57 p.m. and 2:32 p.m. for the men's and women's championship eights. (Keep an eye out for last year's winners: US Rowing and The Leander Club.)

But those aren’t the only ones worth watching. A handful of hometown and alumni clubs will be competing throughout the regatta, with multiple crews from Harvard, Boston College and Boston University, as well as high schools from across the Northeast. You can search for a team and see when they race to watch here.

There are different spots to visit along the Charles River depending on the type of race day experience you’d prefer. Read on for recommendations to fit every regatta agenda.

I’m here to watch the regatta action!

If you’re looking for excellent views of the competitors, your best bet is to watch from one of the bridges between Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive. For high-energy crowds, consider watching the race from the BU Bridge, Weeks Footbridge (the riskiest part of the race), Eliot Bridge or the Finish Line at Herter Park.

If you’re looking for a quieter race watching experience, Head of the Charles officials recommend viewing the launch area at Magazine Beach on the Cambridge side of the river, nearby Riverside Boat Club.

I’m here to shop!

Attager Row, located in Herter Park, is the main athlete staging area — and home to the Rowing & Fitness Expo, where vendors and sponsors alike will be showing and selling their wares. Visit to pick up some regatta merchandise, fashion and other crew gear.

I’m here for the delicious food!

There are lots of tasty eats at the regatta, with the most popular options at the Weld Exhibition at Riverbend Park. Situated close to Harvard Square, the Weld Exhibition is a great place to grab food (and snag some free race sponsor swag.)

Nearby on the Cambridge side, there’s also the Reunion Village, where you’ll find a dining tent with food drinks (there is a $15 admission fee) Or you can take in the finish line from the FALS Bar, a hot spot set up in Herter Park that serves up beer, wine and canned cocktails. This year, there’s no cover charge at the FALS Bar, so everyone — whether they’re geared up for regatta fun or simply walking by — can join in the sporting celebration.