The 14th annual Ohio River Paddlefest Weekend will take place on June 18-20 in Cincinnati, OH. Recognized as the largest paddling event in the country, Paddlefest draws over 2,000 people from 20+ states to paddle 8.2 miles on the Ohio to celebrate the river’s beauty and value as Greater Cincinnati’s most important natural asset.
Paddlefest weekend kicks off with the 10th Annual Kids Outdoor Adventure Expoat historic Coney Island Park on Thursday, June 18from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Kids Expo is free and open to the public. Families as well as organized summer school programs, day camps, scouting and youth groups are invited to participate. Participants can enjoy scheduled presentations as well as over 50 interactive activities including fishing and raft paddling on Lake Como, tow boat tours, bird shows, and yoga. Special presenters include: CrossFit Kids, Toy Lab, Cool Science, the Cincinnati Observatory, the Cincinnati Zoo, Ride Forward Riding Track, Jump Rope for Heart and many others.
In 2014, over 5,000 children participated in Kids Expo, making it the largest water safety and environmental education event for kids in the Midwest. The Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo is presented by Green Umbrella, The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr/US Bank Foundation, Interact for Health, Great Parks of Hamilton County, RiverWorks Discovery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Divisions of Watercraft & Fish and Wildlife) and Northern Kentucky Flyfishers. For more details go to: http://www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/kids-outdoor-adventure-expo/
The Ohio River Music & Outdoor Festival takes place at Coney Island on Friday, June 19 from 4:00 – midnight. This year’s event features stand up paddle board (SUP) clinics, a kayak fishing tournament, a used canoe and kayak sale, a silent auction & basket raffle and overnight camping. Admission is free and open to the public. There is a fee to park. Bands include The Rumpke Mountain Boys, The Hot Magnolias, Jake Speed and the Freddies, Michela Miller and East of Vine.
On Saturday, June 20, the U.S. Coast Guard will close the Ohio River to commercial and powerboat traffic as more than 1,400 canoes and kayaks Paddle the Ohio8.2-miles from Coney Island to Yeatman’s Cove in Downtown Cincinnati. Paddlers can also participate in the 5-mile stand up paddleboard race or the 11-mile canoe and kayak race. To wrap up the event, the Gold Star Chili Finish Line Festival at Yeatman’s Cove will feature live music from The Part Time Gentlemen, food, refreshments, racer awards and exhibits from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
On line registration to Paddle the Ohio on June 20 is available at www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org until midnight on Monday, June 15. On-site registration at Coney Island will be available on Friday, June 19 from 12:00 noon till 9:00 pm and on Saturday, June 20 from 6:30-9:00 am.
Paddlefest is presented by Subaru of Kings Automall and sponsored by Green Umbrella, Greater Cincinnati’s sustainability alliance. Proceeds pay for the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo and Green Umbrella’s outdoor recreation program including www.MeetMeOutdoors.com.
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