Paddlefest 25th anniversary launch party!

This year marks a big milestone for Ohio River Paddlefest: We're celebrating our 25th anniversary! With that in mind, we want to make it the biggest (and best!) Paddlefest yet.

To kick off our celebrations leading up to the big day on August 1, we're hosting a Paddlefest Launch Party on Friday, February 20. Join us from 5-9 p.m. at Cincinnati Public Radio for an evening of free live music. Come mingle with your fellow paddlers while listening to the sounds of Ma Crow & Co. and other local favorites.

You can also be the first to sign up for this historic Paddlefest, and for this one night only, you'll get 25 percent off your registration – the best rate of 2026! We're hoping to have a record number of paddlers this year, so you won't want to miss it. Sign up for our traditional 9-mile paddle or our half-distance (4.5-mile) paddle and get your choice of rental boats before registration opens to the general public.

Beer and food from Red Sesame food truck will be available for purchase during the event.

You may also like the following events from Ohio River Paddlefest:

• This August, 1st August, 07:00 am, Paddlefest 2026 -- Competitive Races in Cincinnati

Also check out other Entertainment events in Cincinnati, Parties in Cincinnati, Music events in Cincinnati.