Monmouth is well known as a historic town, but it also plays host to some long standing traditional annual events, one of which is the Monmouth Charity Raft Race.

It is believed that that traditional Raft Race was initially started by the Monmouthshire Young Farmers Club, and then at some point the Monmouthshire Conservative Association took over the responsibility of organising it. At the height of it's popularity it is thought that over 200 rafts took to the river to compete along the six mile course.

Only twice has the event failed to take place – once in 2001 due to the foot and mouth epidemic, and then again last year when the river flooded.

The Rotary club of Monmouth have been responsible for staging the race since 2003. In that year over 50 rafts, some from as far away as Yorkshire, were sent on their way by celebrity presenter Lisa Roger.