Cincinnati Paddlefest Aims for World Record on 25th Birthday

Imagine 1,100 kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards forming the world's largest floating party on a river that once needed saving.

That's exactly what Cincinnati's Paddlefest organizers are planning for their 25th anniversary celebration on August 1st. The annual event will attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for "Largest Paddle Craft Party," surpassing the current record of 1,105 watercraft floating together for at least 15 minutes.

"We really wanted to go big and do something fun for our 25th anniversary," said Communications and Events Manager Shauna Steigerwald. A Guinness World Records adjudicator will be on site to verify the attempt.

What started in 2001 with founder Brewster Rhoads and a few friends has grown into the nation's largest paddling celebration. Each year, the Ohio River closes to motorized traffic while participants paddle either 4.5 or 9 miles through the heart of the city.

More than 700 people have already registered for this year's record attempt. Past events have drawn up to 1,800 participants, so organizers are optimistic they'll reach the magic number.

To qualify for the record, Paddlefest must include party elements like music, refreshments, or games either on the water or along the shore. Given the event's festive atmosphere, that requirement should be easy to meet.

The Ripple Effect

The celebration does more than just create good memories and potential world records. Paddlefest is organized by and supports Adventure Crew, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting city teens from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with nature through outdoor adventures.

Every registration fee and donation helps fund year-round programming that gives young people opportunities to kayak, hike, climb, and explore the natural world. For many participants, these outdoor experiences are transformative, building confidence and creating connections that extend far beyond the river.

Steigerwald hopes the world record attempt will shine a spotlight on both the Ohio River and the entire Cincinnati community. "We thought it could bring a lot of great attention to Cincinnati, just getting people out together to paddle on the Ohio River, which is so important to our region," she said.

Twenty-five years ago, a few friends had a simple idea to paddle together. Now, that same spirit of adventure is about to make history while helping the next generation discover the joy of the outdoors.