Policies & FAQs

No refunds are permitted.
Participants may switch paddling distance. To change your registration, contact info@ohioriverpaddlefest.org.
Participants may transfer their registration to someone else by contacting info@ohioriverpaddlefest.org by the first Friday in July. Any payment, reimbursement, or exchange of funds associated with a transferred entry must take place between the two individuals involved. Paddlefest does not facilitate the payment between two parties.
Deferrals are not offered for Paddlefest.
We offer four packet pick-up events. Participants unable to pick up their own race packet may have someone else pick up their packet for them.

General

Paddlefest races start at 7:00 am. Recreational paddlers follow, with the put-in closing at 8:30 am.
The river opens to motorized traffic at 12:30 pm. We ask that all paddlers be off the river by noon.
We offer two paddling distance — 9 miles or 4.5 miles.
Dogs are welcome to participate in Paddlefest. However, your dog should only attend the event if it is well-behaved, comfortable in crowds and calm in transit.

Registration & Rentals

If rental boats aren’t showing in the online registration system, they are sold out. Starting on the Wednesday before Paddlefest, remaining rental boats can only be reserved in person.
No. We no longer provide a giveaway shirt at Paddlefest. Shirts can be purchased during registration or at the merch tent.
Please find details about packet pickup options here.
Please do! We donate to the high school teams to help haul boats, but extra donations are always appreciated.

Parking & Shuttles

Yes. Early bird parkers can catch a pre-paddle shuttle from the nine-mile finish at Gilday Riverside Park, 6:00-7:30 am.

Pre-paddle shuttles from Public Landing for 4.5-mile course participants start at 7:00 am until 8:15 am.
Yes, we provide free shuttles from both take out location to the start of Paddlefest and Schmidt Recreation Complex.
No, parking space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis for pre-paddle shuttles.
We welcome paddlers to camp at Schmidt Recreation Complex on Friday night. You can reserve your camp permit as a part of registration.
Please do not park you car at the take out locations over Friday night. Especially at Gilday Riverside Park, cars parked in advance can disrupt parking/boat pick up plans for Saturday.
All parking lots at Paddlefest are free except at the Public Landing where parking costs $5.

Food & Drink

Please remember to bring a water bottle with you to the river. There will be filling stations at the put-in and both take outs.
Our friends at Lookout Joe’s provide free coffee each year at Paddlefest. Find them at the top of the boat ramp.
On Friday, there are two beer booths at the Expo. One is near the food trucks, while the other is close to the stage.
On Saturday, paddlers can enjoy a cold brew when they exit the river at our 9-mile finish. There is no beer at the 4.5-mile finish. Alcohol is not permitted on the river.