The Charles River and its surrounding banks and bridges will be overflowing this weekend with hundreds of thousands of athletes, coaches, fans and spectators watching the 2012 Head of the Charles Regatta. 

The annual regatta, the largest of its kind in the country, is put on each year by the Cambridge Boat Club.  The event draws as many as 300,000 to the banks of the Charles River each year, from the starting line near the Boston University Bridge to the finish line near Harvard Square. 

Where to Watch
The race course runs three miles upstream from the Boston University Boathouse to Christian Herter Park. 

Most spectators find a place to watch between the Anderson and Weeks bridges, along the halfway point of the race. 

There are more than 50 races taking place throughout the weekend, with events happening from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. You can see the full schedule here. 

If you're looking for food and drink, you can check out the regatta's Reunion Village for $5/person. Inside you'll find beer, wine and food from Boston Burger Company.

Closed Roads
Memorial Drive in Cambridge will be closed from the Cambridge Boat Club to Western Avenue from from 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. all weekend. 

Traffic on Nonantum Road, which turns into Soldiers Field Road and then Storrow Drive in Brighton, will also be impacted during the race.

Parking is very limited in the area near the event. One of the main lots is at Artesani Park, in Brighton, across the river from Watertown. You can see a map here. 

Shuttles
Buses come roughly every 15 minutes Saturday & Sunday, October 20 & 21 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Course Shuttle - Stop 1 Finish Area Launch Site – Lot 4, Artesani Park Stop 2 Riverside Boat Club – Singles and Doubles Launch/Magazine Beach Stop 3 Reunion Village – Between Weeks and Lars Anderson bridges – Boston Side . Last bus departs this stop at 4:30 p.m. Stop 4 Cambridge Boat Club

Birmingham Parkway Shuttle -  Stop A Finish Area Launch Site – Everett Street, across from Artesani Park Stop B Birmingham Parkway – East, near WBZ Stop C Birmingham Parkway – West, near McDonald’s

Full Schedule

Will you be attending the Head of the Charles this weekend? Which race are you most excited to watch? Tell us in the comments.