Ohio River Paddlefest to attempt GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title
25th anniversary celebration to include official attempt at the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for ‘Largest Paddle Craft Party’
Ohio River Paddlefest has long been recognized as the nation’s largest paddling celebration and a Cincinnati tradition. But this year, the event is going even bigger: Organizers will attempt to set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for “Largest Paddle Craft Party” during this year’s event on Saturday, August 1.
The attempt is in honor of the event’s 25th anniversary this year. Local nonprofit Adventure Crew adopted the paddle as an annual community event and fundraiser in 2016.
“We’re so excited to celebrate Paddlefest’s 25th anniversary with a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title attempt,” said Shauna Steigerwald, communications and event manager for Adventure Crew. “Paddlefest is always a day of camaraderie, community and fun on the river, and this attempt will only add to the excitement. Whether it’s your first Paddlefest or your 25th, we’d love for you to come out and join the party – and help us earn a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title!”
To achieve the record, Paddlefest must surpass 1,105 human-powered watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), on the water simultaneously for at least 15 minutes. Organizers announced the attempt during an event to honor local changemaker and Paddlefest founder Brewster Rhoads on Thursday, May 7. Rhoads and a few friends came up with the idea to organize a paddle on the Ohio over beers back in 2001. More than 250 people showed up for what became the first Paddlefest.
“Nothing connects one to the beauty and majesty of one of the largest rivers in America than paddling it,” he said. “If you want folks to care about and take action to protect a river, they need to experience it up close. Then their advocacy becomes personal. Paddlefest has provided that opportunity for more than 35,000 people.”
The event brings up to 1,800 paddlers in kayaks, canoes and SUPs to the Ohio River each August. Participants can choose between two distances to paddle on the Ohio while it’s closed to motorized traffic, making the event accessible to paddlers of all skill levels. The 9-mile paddle ends with a Finish Line Festival -- featuring music, food trucks and beer -- at Gilday Recreation Complex in Riverside. For a shorter adventure, the 4.5-mile paddle finishes at the Public Landing in Downtown Cincinnati.
Both paddling routes start at Schmidt Recreation Complex, 2944 Humbert Ave. in the East End. Participants can use their own boats, or they can rent them with advance registration. Those who’d like to rent a boat should sign up early: Rental boats, especially two-person boats, are limited and will sell out. More details are available on the Paddlefest website.
Paddlefest weekend kicks off with the popular Outdoors for Expo. A free community event celebrating all things outdoors, the Expo takes place the night before Paddlefest on Friday, July 31 and is open to the public, not just Paddlefest registrants. It has grown to feature more than 70 exhibitors, including local parks, outdoor outfitters, adventure experts and environmentally minded organizations.
This year’s event promises a fantastic music lineup, with Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle, Jake Speed & the Freddies, and Ma Crow & Co. taking the stage. Hands-on demos, raffles, MadTree beer and food trucks round out the list of activities designed to engage attendees of all ages. The Expo runs from 4-9:30 p.m. at Schmidt Recreation Complex. Organizations interested in exhibiting can apply on the event website.
Paddlefest is organized by and benefits Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that connects city teens in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures.
“It’s such a wonderful connection: Just by joining us for a fun morning on the water, you can help fund a day of kayaking – not to mention skiing, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities – for city kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to get out to experience nature in those ways,” Steigerwald said. “Adventure Crew believes in breaking down barriers to make ‘outdoors for all,’ and your support of Paddlefest helps us do it.”
The official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title attempt is sponsored by Neyer Properties/Torque Suites. Paddlefest organizers are currently accepting additional sponsorships for the event.
About Adventure Crew
Adventure Crew is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting city teens in Greater Cincinnati with nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit now serves Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) high and junior high schools and six schools in Northern Kentucky – a total of 33 schools and a roster of nearly 1,000 students per year. Through challenging monthly adventures, city teens develop the courageous spirit to step out of their comfort zone and discover new worlds – outside in nature and inside themselves. This deep connection to nature will set a positive course for their lives – and help create the next generation of environmental stewards. For more information, visit www.adventurecrew.org.
About Ohio River Paddlefest
The Ohio River Paddlefest is recognized as the nation’s largest paddling celebration, with up to 1,800 participants traveling up to nine miles through downtown Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky in canoes, kayaks and other human-powered craft. Established in 2001, the event, held on the first Saturday in August each year, is a project of Adventure Crew. For more information, visit www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org.