Our paddlers and guests enjoyed a fabulous time at our 8th annual Blazing Paddles Riverfest on Saturday July 18, 2026, just days before Cleveland’s 230th birthday. Is there any better way to celebrate the river and the city that helped a young nation rise to global prominence than a paddle on the historic & scenic comeback Cuyahoga River?

MANY thanks to our paddlers, super-volunteers, stakeholder partners, safety personnel, and SPONSORS for making our audacious vision for an immersive and authentic annual Cleveland waterfront festival a reality!

Several galleries are below for viewing. Video is coming up (editing is a time suck). As the saying goes, images of an event are like fish and news. All are best enjoyed when served fresh!