Paddlefest 2009 Events
Celebrate, promote and protect the beauty of the Ohio River at the 8th Annual Ohio River Way Paddlefest on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009. Come to Cincinnati to enjoy two days of paddling, education, entertainment, competition and camaraderie.
With your help -- and the support of our many generous corporate, small business and non-profit sponsors -- the Ohio River Way will continue to sponsor events and raise funds to promote the Trail and help paddlers and power boaters alike experience the natural beauty and recreational benefits of the Ohio and its unique network of tributaries in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.
Friday, June 26
Kids Ex-Stream Expo
The "Kids Ex-Stream Expo" takes place on Friday, June 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is designed for children and teens to have fun and learn about paddlesports, boating safety, water pollution, ecology and the environment.
Click here for more information.
Friday, June 26
Ohio River Music, Arts & Outdoor Festival
Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45228
Click here for map
Come early and stay late - even overnight! Enjoy live music, food, refreshments, craft vendors, outfitter displays, environmental exhibits and paddling films under the stars. Learn more about the Ohio River and what you can do to improve and celebrate it. Buy or sell used boats and equipment at the Gear Swap. Bid on dozens of silent auctions items. Admire classic wooden boats. Test paddle a new canoe or kayak on Lake Como.
Camping
Overnight camping is available near the picnic grove. NO ALCOHOL MAY BE BROUGHT INTO THE CAMP GROUNDS. You may purchase beer at the festival. Dogs allowed in the camp site, but not the festival.
Schedule
10AM-2PM: Kids' Ex-Stream Expo
- Hands-on water safety activities
- Nature Education Activities & Exhibits
- ORSANCO's Ohio River Fish Tank
- Canoe, kayak & raft rides available
- Music, Food, Refreshments, Games
Ohio River Music & Outdoor Festival
- Canoe, kayak & bike vendors
- Outfitters and gear vendors
- Boat demos (ends at dusk)
- Gear Swap (ends at 9pm) (more info contact doug.king@fuse.net)
- Wooden boat show
- Silent auction (closes at 9pm)
- Film festival
- Food, beer & refreshments
- Live music begins at 5PM
Live music on the WNKU Music Stage
Camping
Overnight camping is available, click here for more information.
Saturday, June 27
Ohio River Paddlefest
Schedule:
Starting at Coney Island
6:30 a.m. Coney Island opens - use West Entrance
7:00 - 8:45 Registration & boat drop off - rental canoes & kayaks must be claimed by 8:30 a.m.
7:15 Mandatory Racer Meeting
7:45 14 Mile Pro Race Starts (start on land - run into the water)
7:55 9 Mile Amateur Races Start (start in water by class)
8:00 - 8:45 Float Trip Paddlers Put Boats in Ohio
8:45 8.2 Mile Float Trip Starts
9:00 Deadline for Paddlers to Enter the Ohio
10:00 - 11:00 Live Music on ORSANCO’s PA Denny
10:30 - 2:30 Finish Line Festival at Serpentine Wall (FREE to the public)
11:00 - 2:30 Shuttle Busses run back to Coney Island
11:00 - 12:00 Kayak Rolling Contest
11:30 Great Ohio River Swim (starts at Serpentine Wall)
12:25 Raffle Drawing (kayak as 1st prize)
12:30 Awards Ceremony
2:30 Last Shuttle Bus to Coney Island
3:00 Deadline for all boats to be picked up at Public Landing
What to bring to Paddlefest:
- Your Lifejacket (provided if your are renting a canoe or kayak)
- Sunscreen, hat, shoes, waterproof camera
- Cash - for food, refreshments, t-shirts, raffle and paddling stuff you can’t live without
- Water & snacks for your paddling trip - water to refill your free Paddlefest water bottle will be available at the put in and at the Public Landing.
- Your love of adventure, a little patience & your contagious smile!
Tips for enjoying Paddlefest:
- Complete your registration and drop off your boat on Friday at Coney Island (4-9 p.m.) so you are all set on Saturday morning to park and paddle!
- Arrive at Coney Island early on Saturday morning (7:00 - 8:00 a.m.) so you will have plenty of time to get your boat in the water and be ready to leave on our 8.2 mile float trip (2.2 miles longer than last year) by 8:45 a.m.
- Bring your water bottle - we will have water stations at Coney and at the Finish Line Festival to refill your Paddlefest water bottle (included with your registration).
- Bring your kids and grandkids to our Kids Ex-Stream EXPO from 10-2 on Friday at Coney. It's free and fun for kids of all ages.
- Bring your family and friends to our Ohio River Music & Outdoor Festival at Coney later that day from 4-midnight. Four great bands, lots of outfitters and exhibits, free canoeing on Lake Como, boat demo, silent auction, wooden boat show, paddling films, great beer, tasty food and wonderful company!
- Don't rush back to your car as soon as you finish your paddle. Stay to watch the Great Ohio River Swim and our Kayak Rolling Contest, enjoy the Firelytes Steel Drum Band and relax with a cold refreshment and tasty food. The shuttles run until 2:30 p.m.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, shoes, waterproof camera, lifejacket (provided with rentals), cash, your love of adventure, a little patience and a smile!
9 Mile Amateur Canoe & Kayak Race
Sponsored by US Bank
Sanctioned by the United States Canoe Association
• Race information & registration
The Amateur Canoe and Kayak Race will begin at 7:45 a.m. with each class starting separately, after a mandatory racer orientation meeting at 7:15 a.m. Medals will be given to the top finishers based on the number of finishers in each class. Canoe classes include Men's and Women's C-1; Men's, Women and Mixed C-2 Cruiser or Recreational. Kayak classes include Men's and Women's K-1 Recreational or Sea Kayak. This year's course will include a leg on the Little Miami River as well as the Ohio. Winning times in 2005 ranged from 1:30-1:50 depending on the class.
14 Mile Pro Race
Sponsored by Duke Energy
The only USCA Sanctioned Pro Race in the Tri-State Area
• Race information & registration
Sanctioned by the U.S. Canoe Association, this 14 Mile C-2 Pro Race is the only professional canoe race in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and the only one on the entire Ohio River. It will begin at 7:45 a.m. after a mandatory racer orientation meeting beginning at 7:15 a.m. (look for signs to racer's meeting). Prize money (totaling $3,500) will be awarded to the top finishing teams based on the number of finishers per class. Classes include Men, Women and Mixed C-2 and Unlimited K-1. Winning C-2 racers finished in just under 2 hours in 2005. This year's course will include a leg on the Little Miami River as well as upstream and down stream paddling on the Ohio.
Paddle the Ohio River
Sponsored by the Hamilton County Park District
8.2 Miles starting at Coney Island and ending at the Public Landing (Course Map)
This leisurely float trip down the Ohio is the signature event of The Ohio River Way Paddlefest. Last year over 1,400 people in over 900 canoes and kayaks participated. With the Ohio closed to barge traffic by the Coast Guard, paddlers can safely enjoy the beauty of the river and its historic and scenic shoreline. This trip typically takes about 2 hours to complete.
Keep an eye out for "Education and Water Stops" along the Ohio shore. Don't miss ORSANCO's "P.A. Denny" paddlewheel boat, their floating classroom which will be docked at the half-way point on the Ohio shore. You'll enjoy live music along the way.
Finish Line Festival
Cincinnati's Historic Public Landing
Free admission, open to the public from10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Invite your family and friends to cheer you on as you arrive at Cincinnati's Public Landing. They will enjoy the upbeat "Islands" sound of the Firelytes Steel Drum Band and may even be tempted to try their luck with the Limbo Bar! There will be lots of tasty food, beer, soft drinks and plenty of cold water. The raffle drawing and a brief awards ceremony will be held at 12:30 pm. Then stay around for more great music, visit our 20+ vendors and catch one of our shuttle busses to take you back to your vehicle at Coney Island.
"Rolling on the River"
"Rolling on the River!" Watch from the Serpentine Wall as daredevil kayakers "roll" their kayaks over and over, as many times in 15 seconds as possible! Prizes to the top two with the most rolls! Interested in trying it yourself? Email us at info@ohioriverway.org for more information. "Rolling on The River" starts at 11am Saturday morning at the Serpentine Wall!
Boat Pick-Up and Shuttle
When you finish paddling, you will put your canoe or kayak in a secured area on the Public Landing until you return with your vehicle to pick it up. Shuttle buses will depart every 15 minutes from the Public Landing (on Mehring Way) for the 15 minute ride back to Coney Island. Shuttles will run from 11:00 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. Volunteers will be available to help you take your boat out of the river and load it on your vehicle when you return. Boats must be picked up from the Public Landing by 3:00 p.m.
