Forsränningen is a well-known and very popular event organized by Uppsala Union of Engineering and Science Students. The rafting event originates from a bet: If the students Anders Ahnesjö and Carl-Johan Hansson could race down the Fyrisån river in a dinghy during May Day 1975. The prize in this bet was a sandwich and hot chocolate. This was the start of one of Sweden's largest and coolest student events, which today is an attractive meeting place for business, students and the general public. Every year on Valborg, the last day of April, tens of thousands of people are attracted to Fyrisån to watch the spectacular and colorful cellular plastic rafts take on the river's rapids, from the start at Eddaspången all the way down to Islandsfallet. At 10.00 am, the starting shot goes off and then it is important to be ready!
When the starting shot for the race goes off at 10.00 on Valborg, the Forsränningen begins. The starting area is located at Eddaspången where 120 colorful rafts are lined up and ready for the run. After the shot, the first raft is launched into Fyrisån and begins its journey down towards Islandsfallet where the finish area is located. On the way there, the rafters in the raft need to get through Kvarnfallet, which is usually the challenge of rafting. Along the river, spectators can watch the rafts go by and are welcome to wave and say hello to the rafters. Please note that throwing anything at the rafters is not allowed. Due to the large crowds along the Fyrisån, it is important to cross the bridges without stopping to ensure accessibility for both visitors and security personnel.
The construction site at Forsfestivalen is the place where the carving begins. In the organized chaos of the construction site, you can witness rafters from all corners of Uppsala building their crazy creations. They will then carry the rafters down the relentless waters of the Fyrisån river.
The construction area can be found on the grounds of the Ångström Laboratory, between buildings 6 and 8, and the creativity that flows here is hard to compare with anything else. See how a piece of Styrofoam and some planks become a volcano, a house, a car, or maybe even a sauna! The equation also includes paint to fully realize the rafters' vision.
The area will be crowded with about 500 gutters divided into about 120 rafts, so prepare for a number of hours during the visit to see all the rafts that emerge! The last week of April offers (as you know) the best spring weather, so why not enjoy it with Forskå and all the rafters? It doesn't matter if you're not running yourself, whoever you are, you're more than welcome to come by and hang out.
The construction site will be open between April 19th and April 26th between 10:00-16:00 on weekdays and 11:00-16:00 on weekends except on Sunday, April 27th, which is duck day when the construction site will be completely closed. Then, on April 29, all rafts will be transported down to Eddaspången where the starting area for the rafting is located.
So come to the construction area, find your favorite raft and then see if it can handle the waters of Fyrisån on Valborg morning, this is an event you don't want to miss!
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