Another wonderful Paddlefest is in the books. Thank you so much to all our Paddlers, volunteers and sponsors.

We'll be posting more news and photos in the upcoming weeks, so make sure to visit our website often. You can follow us on Twitter for the latest updates as well.

The first wave of photos from Paddlefest 2009 have been posted on Flickr, with many, many more on the way. If you post any photos of your own on Flickr, please tag with "ORWpaddlefest" for everyone to see!

The forecast is looking great, and the Ohio River levels are looking really good - around 27ft. It's going to be a near perfect day for Paddlefest 2009! We hope you had fun at the Ohio River Arts, Music & Outdoor Festival. We had another great crown this year and a great line up of acts. Now, let's get paddlin'!

Photo: Backyard Tire Fire performing at the Ohio River Arts, Music & Outdoor Festival

Celebrate, promote and protect the beauty of the Ohio River at the 8th Annual Ohio River Way Paddlefest on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009. Come to Cincinnati to enjoy two days of paddling, education, entertainment, competition and camaraderie at America's largest on water paddling event.

Download the Paddlefest Program

The Paddlefest Program gives you all the information you need to know about Paddlefest weekend.
Download Now (.pdf)

Friday, June 26 at Coney Island

Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Ohio River Music & Outdoor Festival
3:00 pm - midnight

Saturday, June 27

Paddle the Ohio
Leave Coney Island at 8:30 am
(FREE Coffee from Lookout Joe!)

Finish Line Festival
10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Yeatman's Cove at Sawyer Point

Registration

Online registration is now closed. You may register at at the Ohio River Music and Outdoor Festival on Friday evening or Saturday morning before Paddlefest.

Camping

All reservations for Steamboat Bend/Paddlefest campers must be made at Paddlefest registration and not through Hamilton County Park District. For more information call the Paddlefest hotline at (513) 588-6936.

For additional camping go to Morgan's Ft. Ancient Livery, 5701 St. Rt. 350, Oregonia, OH 45054 or call 513-932-7658

While you're at the Ohio River Arts & Music Festival on Friday evening, why not take a chance on winning this fantastic kayak from D & D Outfitters to break in the next morning at Paddlefest! Raffle tickets will be available at the Paddlefest Merchandise Sales Tent - $2.00 each or 6 for $10.00.

Drawing for the kayak will be at 10 p.m. Friday, June 26. The winner must be present to claim the kayak.

Good Luck!

The second Ohio River Way Mini Paddle of 2009 will be held on the Great Miami River with Great Miami Riversports. Mark your calendar for Friday, July 17, 2009 for the 20 mile trip. For more information, click here.

The Benchmark and Patagonia are offering our website visitors special savings on their next purchase of Patagonia merchandise at The Benchmark. Save $10 off $100, $20 off of $200, or $50 off of $500 an in-store or online purchase by downloading this coupon (.pdf). This special offer is good until June 30, 2009.

Patagonia_Coupon_ORW.pdf

While you're at Paddlefest 2009, make sure to catch this fantastic event! Team Lemon Cardboard Boat Racing will attempt to set a world record for the longest river trip in a 4-man cardboard boat. The river run will start Coney Island during the Paddlefest 2009 weekend and finish at Cincinnati's Serpentine Wall. The boat is constructed using only cardboard, duct and house paint - no glue! Of course, the boat will also be on display during Paddlefest weekend.

Team Lemon is attempting this world record to raise money for the Cardboard Boat Museum in New Richmond, OH.

For more information on this great adventure, and how to support the Cardboard Boat Museum, cardboardBoat.pdf.

Join us for an 11 Mile Paddle trip on the beautiful Little Miami River with the Loveland Canoe & Kayak Mini Paddle. Trip will include transportation to the put-in. Vehicles will be parked at the endpoint of the trip so you will be at your car when you get off the water.

Details:
Little Miami River
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Click here for more details

The Ohio River Way, Inc is among this year's recipients of an Ohio Educational Grant.

Among this year’s recipients of boating education grants is The Ohio River Way, Inc., which is using a $15,273 grant award to host the Kids’ Outdoor Adventure Expo. As part of the annual 2-day Paddlefest celebration, this year’s Expo is being held Friday, June 26, at Coney Island in Hamilton County.

“This is the largest outdoor water safety and environmental educational program for children in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana,” says Doug Coates, business administrator for Ohio River Way.

Nearly 3,000 children ages 5-16, mostly from inner city neighborhoods throughout the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metropolitan area, will spend the day learning the importance of protecting the environment. Also included are opportunities to experience paddling a canoe, riding in a whitewater raft, and fishing on Coney Island’s Lake Como.

Click here for more about the awarded grant in this month's ODNR Buckeye Boater.

For more information on the 2009 Kids' Outdoor Adventure Expo, click here