Ohio River Paddlefest is coming! The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2024, and promises to be nothing short of epic. The largest festival of its kind in the U.S. is a celebration of paddlesports and the mighty Ohio River. An estimated 2,000+ participants will paddle their way through downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards, a spectacle that you won't want to miss. So whether you're paddling or just observing, you're bound to enjoy this exciting summer celebration. Let's take a look at this bucket-list summer event in Ohio!

Scheduled for the first Saturday in August, the largest paddling festival in the country is one of the most exciting summer events in Ohio.

Bring your SUP, kayak, canoe, tandem, or prone to participate.

Join thousands of paddle enthusiasts as you make your way down a closed course through Downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Participants can choose two distances: a 4.5-mile course or the full 9-mile course one each for youth and adults.

You can learn all about registration by visiting the Ohio River Paddle Festival registration page.

And racers will be a part of the nation's largest paddling celebration, leading some 2,000 paddlers down a closed course on the Ohio River, passing through downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Learn more about Adventure Crew by exploring the website.

On Friday before, be sure to join the Paddler's Party, complete with gear sales, lots of delicious food, live music, drinks, and more.

In fact, you can even opt to camp out by the river the night before the big celebration.

So what are you waiting for? It's time to get out there and enjoy all that the iconic Ohio River has to offer by paddling in Ohio!

We think it's awesome that all proceeds from the Ohio River Paddlesfest support Adventure Crew and its work bringing outdoor recreation to thousands of teens.

You'll agree that the opportunity to spend a day out on the water surrounded by fellow paddlers is an experience you won't soon forget. Novice or pro, there's something for everyone to enjoy about this event.

At the end of the course, you're invited to join the Finish Line Festival to celebrate your day on the water. This event will include local food trucks and live music. Plus, there will be shuttles to take you back to your vehicle and the beginning of the course.

Ohio River Paddlefest offers more information on its website. Or you can follow the posts on the Ohio River Paddlefest Facebook page. What are your thoughts on this iconic river festival in Ohio? Have you ever attended before? If so, we'd love to hear all about your paddling adventures in the comments below!

For those traveling to the event, get some ideas from our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. If you need lodging, consider staying at the Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/cincinnati/best-state-park-hotel-cincinnati/