A little rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of participants in the 25th anniversary Ohio River Paddlefest on Saturday, August 1. The event achieved the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for “Largest Paddle Craft Party,” recording 1,440 paddlers. What’s more, the event raised $140,000 for organizer and beneficiary Adventure Crew, making it the event’s most successful year to date.
The weekend kicked off with the Outdoors for All Expo, a celebration of all things outdoors, on Friday, July 31. The evening featured music by Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, Jake Speed & The Freddies, and Ma Crow & Co., along with more than 60 exhibitors related to the outdoors, including parks, outdoor outfitters, environmental nonprofits and “green” businesses.
On Saturday morning, paddlers took to the Ohio River in kayaks, canoes and SUPs while the river was closed to motorized boats.
All proceeds benefit Adventure Crew, whose mission is to connect city teens with nature and each other through outdoor adventures. The nonprofit serves more than 30 schools in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with 900+ teens participating each year.
Organizers are grateful for the event’s sponsors, including record attempt sponsor Neyer Properties and Torque Suites, as well as the volunteers, partner organizations and participants who helped make the silver anniversary the most successful Paddlefest yet.
