Everything you need to know for Paddlefest 2021

Thousands of kayakers, canoers and other paddlers will head down the Ohio River on Saturday for the 20th annual Ohio River Paddlefest. 

The annual event benefits Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that takes city teens into nature and funds their adventures. In addition to Paddlefest, they also host the Great Ohio River Swim. 

This year, there are a few changes, including the addition of the Outdoors For All Expo on Friday. 

Here's everything you need to know for this weekend's upcoming festivities, even if you aren't taking to the water. 

What is Paddlefest?

The Ohio River Paddlefest is uniquely Cincinnati, with 2,000 participants traveling through downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in canoes, kayaks and other human-powered craft.

Paddlers have plenty of options. Paddles can rent or bring their own boats; travel 4.5 miles or 9 miles; test their speed with the race or take their time exploring. Paddlers can even take a detour and see Mill Creek. 

Miriam Wise, associate director of Adventure Crew, started coordinating Paddlefest in 2016. As a transplant to Cincinnati, she said she was surprised at the popularity of the event and is impressed by the “flourishing paddling community” in Greater Cincinnati.

"I was really surprised by how much pride people take in the river and enjoy the community of paddle sports in the area,” she said.

This year, there are about 250 volunteers involved in the event.

Over the course of 2 hours on Saturday morning, Wise said they'll put close to 2,000 people on the water this year. Of those, between 400 and 500 are rental boats. 

What is the Outdoors For All Expo?

In years past, Friday night has been the Paddler's Party – as a way to kick off the weekend and get paddlers to drop off their boats early.

In honor of Paddlefest's 20th anniversary, Wise said they wanted to do something special, hence the Expo, which doesn’t just focus on water activities.

Wise said the Expo is about getting people connected to all sorts of outdoor activities.

So they’ll have paddleboard and kayak demos, voyager canoes that hold a dozen people, as well as representatives from local parks, vendors promoting biking and hiking and almost everything else outdoorsy.

The expo is free and open to the public. Events at the river start at 2 p.m., including voyager canoe rides with River City Paddlesports and stand-up paddleboarding demonstrations. 

"If you like the outdoors … there's going to be all kinds of exhibitors for you to enjoy,” Wise said.

The event is "for the whole family" and will have live music, MadTree beer and food trucks, all alongside the Ohio River.

"Families can get that last little squeeze out of summer,” Wise said.

When are Paddlefest and the Outdoors For All Expo?

Paddlefest is Saturday and kicks off bright and early.

The races start at 7 a.m. Saturday and put-ins for paddlers continue through the morning until about 9:30 a.m.

The put-in is at Schmidt Recreation Complex. Pull-out for the 4.5-mile is at the Public Landing. Pull-out for the 9-mile is at Gilday Riverside Park.

The stretch of the Ohio River from early Saturday morning from Schmidt Recreation Complex to Gilday Riverside Park is closed to motorized traffic until 12:30 p.m. So if you're planning on boating, be sure to avoid the area. 

The Outdoors For All Expo is 4-9:30 p.m. on Friday at Schmidt Recreation Complex.

How do I get involved?

If you want to get involved but don’t feel up to paddling 4.5 miles or more, you can attend the Outdoors For All Expo and see what Adventure Crew and their partners are up to. 

“Friday is a great night to engage with us for the first time and see if you're up to it,” Wise said. 

If you are up to paddle, registration runs up until Saturday morning. Registration is encouraged before the day of the event.

Those who have their own vessel can register online. If you don't have a boat, the remaining rental boats must be rented in person at packet pick-ups.

Anyone can go down to the riverfront on Saturday and watch the paddlers go by. Wise suggests planning a brunch and listening to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performing at the Serpentine Wall Amphitheater. 

If you get there early enough, you can catch the racers as they speed to the finish line. 

For more information and registration, visit ohioriverpaddlefest.org.