The River Rafting is an annual event organized by the Uppsala Union of Engineering and Science Students, UTN. The Rafting takes place on the Fyris River on the last day of April as it has done since the first organized version of the event in 1975. The main rafting event is preceded by the weeklong “River Festival”.
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The River Rafting
The River Rafting takes place on the Fyris River on 30 April every year, which is known as “Valborg” in Sweden or Walpurgis Night. More than 350 participants go rafting along the river, from the Haglund bridge to the Islandsfall, in their home-built polystyrene rafts. About one hundred rafts usually participate and more than 30,000 spectators come to watch. After all the rafts have run the course, a number of prizes are handed out by the principal of the university, the Rector Magnificus.
The period to apply is in March, and everyone over the age of 18 may participate. The application is done group-wise, and each raft may hold 2-4 people. A few of the rafts represent different organizations but the vast majority of the participants are students at University of Uppsala. Students from other universities also come to Uppsala to participate.
The River Festival
The festival, which takes place during the preceding week, is also organized by UTN. The aim of the festival, apart from allowing the participants to build their rafts together in the raft-construction area, is to entertain the rafters as well as other students who want to join in on the festivities. During the daytime there are a number of activities and in the evenings different themed pubs, parties and performances. The night before the rafting event is known as Kvalborg (qualifying night).
The Rafting Committee
The Rafting committee organizes both the River Rafting and the Rafting Festival. The committee is selected once a year and consists of 23 volunteers who are students at the Department of Engineering and Science. The members of the committee are recognisable by their red tops and black carpenter’s trousers with flames licking up their legs.