Ohio River Paddlefest weekend, August 2 to 3, begins with the family-friendly Outdoors For All Expo and ends with the Finish Line Festival.
On the first Saturday in August, colorful boats will amplify the Ohio River’s natural beauty as paddlers join the nation’s largest paddling event. Local nonprofit Adventure Crew will host Ohio River Paddlefest, now in its 23rd year, on Saturday, August 3. Adventure Crew’s increasingly popular Outdoors for Expo will kick off Paddlefest weekend on Friday, August 2.
Adventure Crew is thrilled to be planning this wonderful weekend for our community again this year…Between the paddle’s two distances and the free pre-party the night before, Paddlefest weekend offers something for everyone who enjoys being outside, from the casual parkgoer to the seasoned outdoor adventurer.
Miriam Wise, Director of Support and Engagement for Adventure Crew
Tickets
Registration for the paddle is now open.
- Early bird pricing is available through April 30. The 9-mile paddle is $50 per adult and $25 for youth; the 4.5-mile paddle is $45 for adults and $20 for youth.
- Full pricing details are available on the Paddlefest website.
Participants can use their boats or rent them with advance registration. Those who’d like to rent a boat should sign up early.
Schedule of Events
Outdoors for All Expo
Friday, August 2 (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Friday night’s Paddlefest pre-party, the Outdoors for All Expo, is free and open to the public.
The event has grown to feature more than 50 exhibitors, including local parks, outdoor outfitters, adventure experts, and environmentally minded organizations.
With hands-on demos, live music by Maria Carrelli, Ma Crow, and other local acts, raffles, MadTree beer, and food trucks, there will be activities to engage attendees of all ages. This year’s Expo runs from 4-9:30 p.m. at Schmidt Recreation Complex.
Organizations interested in exhibiting can apply on the event website.
Paddlefest
Saturday, August 3 (6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.)
Paddlers of all skill levels can choose between two distances to conquer the Ohio River, which will be closed to motorized traffic during the event.
The 9-mile paddle ends with a Finish Line Festival — featuring music, food trucks, and MadTree beer — at Gilday Recreation Complex in Riverside.
For a shorter adventure, the 4.5-mile Paddlefest MINI finishes at the Public Landing in Downtown Cincinnati. Both paddling routes start at Schmidt Recreation Complex, 2944 Humbert Ave., in the East End.
Finish Line Festival
Saturday, August 3 (9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Relax and celebrate completing Paddlefest at our Finish Line Festival. It takes place at Gilday Recreation Complex, the finish line for our 9-mile paddle.
Great music, local beer, food trucks await, and helpful hands to assist you in loading your boat.
Free shuttles back to your vehicle at Schmidt Recreation Complex run unti2:00 p.mpm.
Sponsorship
Paddlefest organizers are currently accepting sponsorships for the event.
About Ohio River Paddlefest
The Ohio River Paddlefest is recognized as the nation’s largest paddling celebration, with 2,000 participants traveling up to nine miles through downtown Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky in canoes, kayaks, and other human-powered craft. Established in 2001, the event, held on the first Saturday of August each year, is an Adventure Crew project.
About Adventure Crew
Adventure Crew is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting city teens in Greater Cincinnati with nature through engaging outdoor adventures. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit now serves all Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) high schools, seventh and eighth graders in select CPS elementary schools, and six schools in Northern Kentucky – a total of 27 schools and a yearly roster of nearly 1,000 students.
City teens develop social skills through challenging monthly adventures and discover new worlds – outside in nature and inside themselves. This deep connection to nature will help create the next generation of environmental stewards. For more information, visit www.adventurecrew.org.
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