Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
Gadsden draws 2,000+ riders on its giant 1,000-foot waterslide
Reading time: 2 minutes
Over 2000 residents of Gadsden, Alabama and surrounding communities took part this weekend in the “Slide the City” event featuring a 1000-foot water slide.
Located downtown alongside the Riverview Regional Medical Center at S. 3rd St., the event fortunately avoided the sporadic stormy weather that struck most of North-Central Alabama on July 24-25, 2026.
Waterslide took two years to pull-off
Planning for the massive slip & slide began about two years ago, according to Janet Tarrance with the City of Gadsden Special Events Department.
“It (water slide and attendance) has absolutely been phenomenal. We’ve had lots of laughs and smiles – it’s been so fun just to watch it all come together and the weather has been absolutely great.”
Janet Tarrance with the City of Gadsden Special Events Department
The event was made possible by the following sponsors:
- Family Savings
- Gadsden Water
- Alabama Grading
- Spire
- Sam Boswell
- Mike Alfred – State Farm
- Chambless
- Mack Butler
- AlState
- Gadsden Tourism
- Emblem Credit Union
- BYOB
- Riverview Regional Medical Center
- Ira Phillips (Tang Mart)
- Frio Pops
- Struthers Recreation
- Etowah County Chamber
- Buffalo Wind Wings
- City of Gadsden
- The AMP
Breakaway Ministries also donated 2-hours of slide time and back to school vouchers for local students.
The City of Gadsden is on a roll
In addition to the successful water slide, Gadsden has a lot of positive news lately.
In March, the Taiwanese auto supplier Minth announced it is locating in the City of Champions (Gadsden’s nickname), bringing over 1300 jobs.
The community also made public the project to construct a new $82 million athletic complex.
