Schedule of Events (coming soon)

To download a copy of the Schedule of Events for Paddlefest 2015, go to www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/paddlefest/schedule-of-events/.

Thursday, June 18, 2015
Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo
9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Coney Island Park
6201 Kellogg Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45230

The Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo is a one-day event with FREE admission to the expo and a minimal charge for parking. The day is divided into four villages that include Let's Splash, Let's Be Green, Let's Explore and Let's Move. Each village teaches life skills through fun and includes everything from catching your first fish to how to paddle a raft, jump roping for heart health, how to recycle and compost and how barges work. With more than 50 interactive exhibits and activities to enjoy, kids from summer camps, home schools, organized groups, parents and individuals will have a fantastic day of fun and learning.


Friday, June 19, 2015
"Roots on the River" Music Festival & Gearfest
5:00 pm - midnight

Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45230

Enjoy early boat drop off and registration, boat demos, food, refreshments, vendors, great music, gear swap, paddling clinics and the Paddlefest annual raffle.

2015 "Roots on the River" Band Line-Up
Rumpke Mountain Boys - Headliner
The Hot Magnolias
Jake Speed and the Freddies
Michela Miller
East of Vine


Saturday, June 20, 2015
Paddle the Ohio - registration opens at 6:30 am & closes at 9:00 am. Last boat enters water by 9:15 am
Coney Island - Paddle & Races begin at Coney Island and end at the Cincinnati
Public Landing
6201 Kellogg Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45230

Join us for the 14th annual "Paddle the Ohio" event with over 1,800 fellow paddlers. Enjoy the morning paddling down the majestic Ohio River while sightseeing along the way. A "must" do event for your bucket list. After the paddle stop by the Gold Star Chili Finish Line Festival for food, music and exhibits from 9:30 am -1:30 pm.

All 11 mile & 5 SUP races will begin at 7:30 am. All 8.2-mile paddlers will begin entering the water after all racers are in the water, usually around 8:15 am. Paddlers are asked to wear their life jackets (PFD's) and respect safety rules. The Coast Guard, United States Sail and Power Squadron, Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, volunteer power boaters and Paddlefest Water Marshalls will be on the water for safety purposes.

The river is CLOSED from 7:30 am to Noon for Paddlefest. Please make sure to complete the paddle down river to the Public Landing by noon. The Ohio River reopens to barge and commercial traffic at NOON. Please make sure you wear your Paddlefest wristband at all times. Paddlers must have wristband to board shuttle buses.

Event Parking for Coney Island
Parking at Coney Island for one-day is $3.00.

Event Parking for Downtown
There is no vehicle parking on the Public Landing. Please park in the Sawyer Point lot or at one of the other lots located in the area. Parking meters may also be available.

Registration -Opens at 9 am on Saturday, August 1 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm only and reopens on Sunday, August 2 from 6:30 am -9:00 am
If you pre-registered online, please pick up your t-shirt and boat tags during these times.If you have not registered, paddlers may do so during this time.

Race Registration - Pick up & registration is SATURDAY ONLY
If you pre-registered online, you may pick up your packet on Saturday, August 1 from 9-1 pm only. If you still need to register, racers may do so at this time. There is NO RACE DAY registration.

All rental boats include life jackets and paddles and must be picked up no later than 8:15 am. All boats not picked up by the deadline time of 8:15 am will be rented to waiting list paddlers. Rental boats, paddles and life jackets must be returned to the Public Landing by 11:30 am. Please look for signage for boat takeout at the Public Landing.

A shuttle bus from the Sawyer Point Lot to Coney Island will be available from 6:00 am to 8:00 am for paddlers parking in the Sawyer Point Parking Lot. Yellow or blues buses will be located along Mehring Way in front of the Sawyer Point lot. Bus rides are approximately 20 minutes long, so please plan accordingly. All parking spaces at Sawyer Point and surrounding lots are available on a first come basis. Parking fees apply.

Shuttle buses will be lined up at the top of the Public Landing to shuttle paddlers back to their cars at Coney Island. Buses will run from 9:30 am to 1:45 pm. Paddlers must show Paddlefest wristband to ride shuttle bus.

Racers and rental boats will take out in front of the Showboat Majestic. All 8.2-mile paddlers will take out boats past the Showboat Majestic. High school volunteers will be available to help you take your boat off the water and into the "boat security" areas. Please make sure you have your boat tags on your boat and the other with you to match up when you pick up your boat. Students will also be available to help load boats onto vehicles, if needed. Please follow the event exit signs, parking lot attendants and police officers instructions when exiting the Public Landing.

All paddlers MUST wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket (PFD) at all times when on the Ohio River. Paddlers who do not comply violate the terms of the Ohio River Paddlefest insurance policy and can jeopardize the continuation of the event in the future. It is recommended that each paddler also carry a whistle on your life jacket or in your boat for use in case of an emergency.

Numerous safety boats and safety paddlers will be located along the route to downtown. Many of them will have on yellow or orange vests and signs on their boats, so you can easily locate them should you need help. Powerboats along the way are able to communicate with each other for medical personnel. Please make sure you have complete contact information along with emergency contact information with you in a small plastic bag.

Port-o-lets are located at the put-in areas at Coney Island, midway at Schmidt Field Pit Stop, the top of the Public Landing near buses and the Finish Line Festival. The Schmidt Field Pit Stop will be open from 9:30 am -10:45 am and is a welcome resting spot for all paddlers to fill water bottles, listen to live music and rest.

Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses with a strap, water, cash for food and refreshments, shoes, waterproof camera, and an extra shirt. Please make sure you use sunscreen before you get into your boat and bring plenty of water.

No alcohol and drugs, weapons, valuables you cannot afford to lose in the Ohio River.

9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Stick around, relax and join us for a variety of food, great beer, exhibits, racer awards and live music. Shuttle buses will be available all day from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm with the last bus at 1:45 pm.

Proceeds from the event are used to benefit the annual Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo program and projects of the Green Umbrella. Each year, the Kids Expo brings in approximately 5,000 children from all backgrounds to enjoy the largest outdoor environmental education in the Midwest. Two-thirds of the attendees to the expo are recipients of the reduced lunch programs in their school districts. At the expo children ages 4-14 years old, learn how to paddle in a raft or kayak, wear a life jacket, fish, exercise, eat properly and become future stewards of the environment.

Interested in volunteering? Please go to our Volunteer page on the www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org website and look at available positions, fill out sign up form and waiver. Our volunteer coordinator will then contact you about your position.

Kids Expo: www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/kids-outdoor-adventure-expo/
Website URL: www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org