The Shortsville-Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce announced its decision to officially relocate all land-based events of Wild Water Derby starting in 2026.
The Wild Water Derby, a beloved event that has drawn in people from across New York, has been held at Budd Park in Shortsville for 50 years.
Community members and visitors alike would gather at the park to watch people race through the Canandaigua Outlet in makeshift rafts, canoes and kayaks to raise money for the Shortsville and Manchester Fire Departments.
The Shortsville-Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce stated that all in-water events will continue as usual in the Canandaigua Outlet. However, all land-based events, including the usual vendors, food trucks and gatherings, will be moved off of the Village of Shortsville property, the Chamber of Commerce announced on its Facebook.
Why is the Wild Water Derby Relocating?
The Chamber of Commerce initially announced the possibility of relocation in November, citing increased insurance requirements newly mandated by the Village of Shortsville.
The Village of Shortsville adopted a new policy that requires proof of liability insurance when an organization is using Village property for a public event, Village Clerk Amy Alexander said in an email statement to the Democrat & Chronicle in November. A standard practice in municipalities, Alexander said, describing the new policy.
Shortsville-Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce president, Martha Doody, told the Democrat & Chronicle that the American Canoe Association provides insurance for all the event’s activities within the water.
The land-based activities have always been hosted and overseen by the Chamber of Commerce, including the set-up, clean-up and crowd control with assistance from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, Doody said.
There was never a separate insurance in place for the out-of-water activities, as it had never been required, she said.
The Chamber of Commerce’s most recent announcement on Facebook on Dec. 18 stated that the relocation of the land-based events is “due to irreconcilable differences” regarding insurance with the Village.
“The Wild Water Derby is more than a race — it is a celebration of community pride, regional history, and economic vitality,” the statement reads. “The relocation ensures the event can continue.”
Doody told the Democrat & Chronicle in December that they were hopeful all land-based events would be moved to the lawn of the Manchester Shortsville School if relocation was necessary. However, the statement didn’t specify where the relocation would be.
The Chamber of Commerce stated that all civic organizations requesting a presence at Budd Park, “where the main crowd will always be,” should now be directed and coordinated with the Village of Shortsville.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Wild Water Derby to relocate land-based events starting in 2026. Here’s why
Reporting by Madison Scott, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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