2018 Lake Race Brings High-Speed Action To The Lake Of The Ozarks

A week of speed-themed activities bookends one of the fastest-paced events at the Lake of the Ozarks, the 2018 Lake Race, Saturday, June 2.

The Lake Race is one of two powerboat races that take place at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation and features some of the fastest boats from all over the country as they compete for big prize money and bragging rights.   

Leading up to the main event, there are several Lake Race festivities, including the "Festival of Speed" on Thursday, May 31. The Festival of Speed takes place at Big Thunder Marine Showroom, 3401 Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark, and features both indoor and outdoor exhibits of many models, shapes and sizes of fast boats. The Festival of Speed runs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

On Friday, June 1, the lower area of the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, from west end of the "Strip" to the dam, will shut down to traffic and transform into the Lake Race headquarters. There will be a  Lake Race Street Party at 5 p.m., complete with a family-friendly race "village" where the public can meet the racers and check out all the impressive power boats.

The official Offshore Powerboat Association-sanctioned Lake Race gets underway on Saturday morning with the opening ceremonies beginning at 10:40 a.m.  at Beavers at the Dam restaurant, 1076 Bagnell Dam Boulevard. All the high-speed excitement kicks off at 11 a.m. as competitors thunder across the officially designated four-mile race course to see who can clock the fastest  time. The races last until 5 p.m., at which point all competitors will have completed their heats. There will be designated anchor spots along the course for attendees viewing the races from their boats. On land, spectators will be able to watch all the thrilling action from prime viewing spots along Bagnell Dam as well as at many of the sponsoring establishments as boats run from the zero-mile marker to the four-mile marker of the Lake of the Ozarks. 

The winners of the 2018 Lake Race will be announced that evening during the award ceremony held at Camden on the Lake Resort, 2359 Bittersweet Road in Lake Ozark. Afterward, back at the Bagnell Dam Strip, there will be an after-party with live music and entertainment.  

In the days following the boat race, other events include the Lake Race Poker Run from Camden on the Lake on Friday, June 8, the Lake Race 5K fun run/walk race along the Bagnell Dam Strip on Saturday, June 9 and the "Paddle Battle" kayak race at Super Dave's Paddlecraft Adventures located at Frankie and Louie's Beachfront Bar and Grill, 1028 Deer Valley Park in Sunrise Beach, on Tuesday, June 12.

For more details on all the 2018  Lake  Race events and a full list of viewing locations and participating sponsors, visit www.LakeRace.com.  

To get additional information about all the fun  events,  attractions  as well as  dining  and lodging options available  at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the nation, call the  Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau  (CVB) at  800-FUN-LAKE , or visit the CVB's award-winning website at  www.FunLake.com .