ready to regatta

Texas' largest canoe-kayak race and regatta paddles back to Buffalo Bayou with all-new route

The 51st regatta is back with an new start and finish line.

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership

For years, the cherished Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta has been the perfect answer to Newstonians' and naysayers complaints that our fair city doesn't offer enough local water activities. Indeed, the regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas — how's that for Lone Star State scoreboard?

Now, the beloved race is back — with a bit of a twist — for the event on Saturday, March 11. New for this year, the 51st Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta will start start and end at Allen’s Landing (1001 Commerce St.).

After casting off at Allen’s Landing, all participants will paddle east and then navigate the turnaround point at Wayside Drive. Then, participants will paddle west to the Allen’s Landing finish line.

This new race route pivot is due to unforeseen lack of access to the usual starting point, according to a Buffalo Bayou Partnership press announcement.

As always, the regatta is open to participants aged 12 and older, who'll compete in the solo, tandem, or unlimited boating categories. Those just looking for an easy day on the water can paddle for fun along the 8.5 mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou.

Here's a quick rundown of the four race start times (all of which are in-water):

9 am: Non-competitive and day-of registrants
9:10 am: Tandem kayaks and solo kayaks
9:20 am: Team sponsors and tandem canoes
9:30 am: Performance Unlimited and Solo Unlimited

The annual event is also a favorite for spectators who line the bayou to cheer paddlers along the race route. The finish line festivities always promise food, drink, and plenty of activities — courtesy of myriad local businesses and sponsors — along with the popular awards ceremony.

Registration for the race is still open. Online registration closes on Thursday, March 9 for $55 per paddler. Day-of registration (March 11) jumps to $60. Discounts are available for BBP members, military, and students (with valid ID).

Importantly, registration does not include kayak or canoe rental. Safety equipment is recommended. Sponsorships are also still available, per BBP. Entry includes a T-shirt and lunch (while supplies last).

A free shuttle service (please, no boats) will be available from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm to take paddlers from the finish line at Allen’s Landing back to the start area, per BBP.

Those ready to paddle for a prize — or a for weekend watery fun should suit up, grab that GoPro, and plan to arrive early for this truly Bayou City bash that celebrates Houston's most significant natural waterway.

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The 51st Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta runs from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday, March 11. Event starts and ends at Allen’s Landing (1001 Commerce St.). For registration, sponsorships, and more information, visit the official race site. $55-$60.

SAFE SPACE

2 Houston neighbors ranked among the top 10 safest cities in Texas

Steve Francis home estate Memorial Villages

Photo by Kevin Ward

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Judging by the headlines, locals might think they're going to be accosted every time they leave home, but a new report says the Houston area is home to two of the safest cities in Texas. Home security review site SafeWise has ranked the communities of the Memorial Villages (No. 3) and Fulshear (No. 8) on its recent list of towns unburdened by crime worries.

For its 2026 report, SafeWise factored in FBI-reported property and violent crime data for 343 cities, then adjusted it for population in order to fairly compare metros to rural and suburban towns. Although the rankings do provide a snapshot, the site says “a number of factors, including local agency reporting practices, community resources, prevention efforts, and lived experience all influence how safe a place is (or is perceived to be).”

The rankings were released with SafeWise’s State of Safety survey, which found that perception didn’t always gel with reality. Although the statewide property crime rate of 23.4 incidents per 1,000 people is slightly higher than the national rate, Texas’ violent crime rate of 4.44 incidents per 1,000 people is consistent with the national average.

Still, Texans feel less safe than the average American. Only 49 percent of the survey’s respondents say they feel safe in the state compared to the national norm of 52 percent. 55 percent said they worry about their safety on a daily basis, a year-over-year increase from 52 percent. The data contrasts with first-hand reporting. For the second year in a row, Lone Star State participants said they have had few personal experiences with property crime and package theft.

Elsewhere in Texas, Fair Oaks Ranch was the only San Antonio area city to make it to the list, which favored towns of 30,000 residents or fewer. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area had the most ranked cities. The full top 10 includes:

No. 1 — Trophy Club (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington)
No. 2 — Parker (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington)
No. 3 — Memorial Villages (Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land)
No. 4 — Melissa (Dallas-Fort Worth)
No. 5 — Fair Oaks Ranch (San Antonio-New Braunfels)
No. 6 — Whitehouse (Tyler)
No. 7 — Murphy (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington)
No. 8 — Fulshear (Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land)
No. 9 — Colleyville (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington)
No. 10 — Lumberton (Beaumont-Port Arthur)