OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES & REGULATIONS

1. RULES: The rules of this tournament will remain unchanged.  Interpretation of these rules shall be left to the tournament chairman.  The decision of the tournament officials shall be final in any and all matters.
2. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be obeyed by all tournament competitors at all times.  Each competitor is requested to wear a Coast Guard approved vest at all times or at least when traversing white water.
3. SPORTMANSHIP: Competitors are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, safety and conservation.
4. COURTESY: Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be using tournament waters.  No alcoholic beverages, stimulants or depressants shall be allowed in the boat.  ANY ACT of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon this tournament and its participants, clean water and courtesy, efforts to promote fisheries conservation, will be reason for disqualification.  Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Fort Umpqua Days Bass Tournaments.
5. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used.  No live bait will be permitted.  No chumming allowed.  Only one (1) rod per person at any time.
6. BOAT & MOTOR: All boats must be equipped with required Coast Guard safety equipment.  In addition, all boats must have a functional live well, properly aerated or an adequate portable battery-powered “fish saver” to maintain a limit catch of smallmouth bass.  Each drift boat shall have three (3) fishermen.  Electric motors & gas are permissible.  Aerators are available for those who do not have one.
7. WEIGH-IN: There shall be only one official weigh-in point, and this weigh-in point shall be designated at the tournament briefing.  Starting numbers will be determined by a drawing the morning of the start of the tournament.
8. SCORING: Scoring will be determined solely by the total weight of smallmouth bass.  The limit shall be five (5) smallmouth bass per team.  Five largest bass shall be presented at weigh-in.
9. DON’T KILL YOUR FISH: Each competitor must make every effort to keep his fish alive.  Eight ounces will be deducted for each dead fish presented at weigh-in.
10. TIES: In the case of a tie, the largest smallmouth bass will win the place in question. A toss of the coin will resolve any yet unbroken ties.  The next place will go to the team or individual so eliminated.
11. PROTEST: Any contestant wishing to protest the score or conduct of a fellow contestant must do so within 15 minutes of the official weigh-in awards.
12. LATE PENALTY: Teams that have not turned in their team number by weigh-in deadline will be disqualified.
13. All boats shall be drift boat type or at least white water approved for safety concerns.

“If there is no honor in smallmouth fishing, there is no honor in fishing.” Tom Rodgers OUTDOOR LIFE, 1989

Check out what happened in 2025!

Join the fun and celebrate

historic Fort Umpqua

Labor Day Weekend 2025!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT THE FORT

Visit ECEC’s replica of historic Fort Umpqua  9 AM – 4 PM Saturday and Sunday and see historical re-enactors portray life in the mid-1800s. Kids can participate in a voyageur expedition, obstacle course, live animal exhibits, and history-themed crafts.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT!

Start your morning with pancakes served by the local Lion’s Club from 7 – 11 AM (both days). Then head downtown Elkton at 10 AM on Saturday for the annual Fort Umpqua Days parade that travels along River Road to ECEC.

Eat and dance your way through the rest of the weekend!  The Elkton Baptist Church is grillin’ up burgers & dogs for lunch both days to raise funds for ECEC’s educational programs. Stop by the student-run Outpost Café anytime between 9 AM and 4 PM for a smoothie, coffee drink & the house special butterfly cookie. Elkton’s wineries will be pouring their best in the wine garden on Saturday from 11 AM – 4 PM. And you won’t want to miss the popular Pie Auction Saturday at 1 PM!

Enjoy live music Saturday

Our Second Annual Mullet Contest on Sunday at 1:30 PM! Rock your ‘do for a chance to win a $100 prize in one of three age categories; there will be a prize for the best mullet wig too!

The Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant happens Saturday AND Sunday from 5 PM -6 PM, featuring local actors and musicians, and lots of small-town charm.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & MORE!

Shop until you drop with local artisans 10 AM – 4 PM. Enjoy our extensive gardens as you stroll along the paths to Fort Umpqua where you will step back in time with trappers and traders ~ oh my! Cool off in the Library to admire the current art exhibit and be sure to check out the gift shop 9 AM – 4 PM before and during the big event.

Last but not least–don’t miss a chance to learn about our native butterflies in our butterfly pavilion and to Adopt-a-Butterfly before the Monarchs start their fall migration.

Fort Umpqua Days 2025

Tentative Schedule of Events

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH

7-11    Lion’s Club Breakfast

9-4     Butterfly Tours, Fort Umpqua Encampment, Gift shop & Café Open

10-11  Parade on River Road

10-4   Artisans, Butterfly Adoptions, Historic Demos & Native American Cultural Presentations at the Fort

11-2    Burgers & Dogs from the Grill

10:30-12:30    Live Music

11-4    Wine & Beer Garden

1-2      Pie Auction

5-6     Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant Performance

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31ST

7-11    Lions Club Breakfast

9-4     Butterfly Tours, Fort Umpqua Encampment & Tours, Gift shop & Café Open

10-4   Artisans, Butterfly Adoptions & Fort Activities

11-1    Live Music

11-2    Burgers & Dogs from the Grill

1 :30        Mullet Contest!

5-6     Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant Performance

Many Thanks to our Past Event Sponsors!

Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation

Big K Guest Ranch & Outfitters
Brandborg Winery
Elkton Baptist Church
Elkton RV Park
Generous Local Donor
Lexeme Winery
River’s Edge Winery

City of Elkton

Our Mullet Contest Sponsors:

Jody Smith Guide Service

Beckley Family

Trout Ranch

Madison M3 Ranch

Quinby Ranch

Bend of the River Ranch Air BnB

Lazy Rafter G Ranch

Ray Family Ranch

Thank you to our event sponsors and volunteers for making the Festival & Butterfly Run event fun for the whole family!

2025 Event Schedule

8:00 am – 10:30 am  Check-In/Registration  

9:00 am – Butterfly Flight Room & Fort Umpqua Tours begin

9:00 am – “Mountain Men” Historic Encampment at the Fort

9:00 am – 10:30 am – Butterfly 5K Run/Walk

9:15 am – 10:30 am – Dragonfly ¼ Mile Loop Starts @ 15 minute intervals

9:00 am – 11:00 am – Yoga Cool Down Drop-in Lead by Jen Champion of Vista Wellness

10:00 am – Vendor booths open

10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Thundering Water Recreation “WOWtruck”

11:00 am – Award Ceremony & Costume Contest

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – BBQ Lunch presented by Thomas Batterman Mental Health Project

11:30 am – 1:30 pm – Live Music by “1 to 5”

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Origami Butterfly Craft in the Library

1:15 pm – 1:30 pm – “Butterfly Talk” with ECEC’s Butterfly Steward

4:00 pm – Event Closes

Enjoy the Native Plant Nursery, Gift Shop, Outpost Cafe, and Art Gallery while you’re on site!

THE COURSE

The course starts at ECEC’s Native Plant Park, follows River Road through town, crosses Elk Creek, and ends back at ECEC. Run or walk along the banks of the Umpqua River then enjoy yoga, live music, craft vendors and more the rest of the day with friends and family at the Blooms & Butterflies festival.

Click here to check out the Route Map

Registration

Online registration (once open) will be here, you can also register on the day of the race in the ECEC Gift Shop. 

1. Register online (Register day of go-to steps 2 & 3)
2. Go to the check-in table and confirm your name and age and pick up a race number
3. Wear your butterfly wings and RUN
4. Enjoy a drop in yoga class to cool down when you get back to ECEC
5. Runner awards and costume contest 11:15 at (must be present to win)