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The 14th
Annual Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival will take place on Saturday,
August 18, 2012. Mark your calendars!
Update on Falls Festival for 2012 The next Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival is scheduled for August 18, 2012. Construction of a New Visitors Center project in the Ohiopyle Falls area has been tentatively scheduled to begin September 4, 2012, so it will not affect our event in 2012. According to Park management, it is likely that the construction will last 1 1/2 to 2 years. Once the construction starts, Park management says that the Falls area will not be in any condition to hold any events. It is likely that 2013 Festival will have to be canceled. Rest assured that the Falls Festival will return when the construction ends. It is important to note that this construction will not affect our current access to the Falls. Barry Adams Event Coordinator Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival Previous update: The next Ohiopyle Over the Falls Festival is scheduled for August 18, 2012. However, construction of a New Visitors Center project in the Ohiopyle Falls area may complicate our plans. This project has been fully funded by various State and Federal agencies. A lot of planning has gone into this Visitor Center project. The timing of the construction has not been pinned down as of December 2011 and will impact festival dates; construction could last 1 1/2 to 2 years. It is likely that once construction starts, Park management says that the Falls area will not be in any condition to hold any events. It is important to note that this construction will not affect our current access to the Falls. Rest assured that the Falls Festival will return when the construction ends. New! The 2011 Ohiopyle Falls Festival has come and gone, and it was a great success. Read Barry Adams' Wrap-up article! New! 2011 Results! Other event features include the Falls Under Lights, Town Party, Live Music, Silent Auction and food booths. The area also offers biking, hiking, camping, magnificent scenery, photographic opportunities, history and cultural activities. Please visit www.FallsRace.com for more information and registration details. Here is the event schedule: Saturday, August 20Registration will begin at 8 AM in 9:00 AM - 12 Noon: Waterfall Practice Runs 12 Noon: Two competitions: Falls Race 200-yard whitewater course includes two-foot, four-foot and eighteen-foot drops. After race: Freestyle: Kayakers will
surf the rapids above the waterfall’s eighteen-foot drop, and do routines
and cartwheels competitively, end-over-end, off the edge for points. Waterfall practice runs will
continue afterwards until 4:00 PM. Silent Auction including a Jackson
Kayak The party will feature live music, pictures from the event, and food booths. The Halftime String Band will play at the Town Party. In addition, lights will be cast on the eighteen-foot waterfall, making it a spectacular spectacle and party centerpiece. Proceeds benefit American Whitewater, Ohiopyle Stewart
Volunteer Fire Co. and Boater
Information We need plenty of help and this year we will require everyone 18 and over who wants to run the Falls to give the event at least one hour of safety! Registration fees have been reduced to $15 and volunteers who give us at least two hours of their time will receive a cool T-shirt. Registration forms and waivers are included on this Website. We ask that you download the forms and bring them with you to the event in order to save time--or, please send them in to the address indicated in advance. You can sign up for the race and/or freestyle competitions or to just do practice runs the day of the event. We have increased the prize money
this year for both the race and Freestyle Events. Tell your
friends! It is important that everyone realize that running this waterfall should be for experienced boaters only. Running this class IV waterfall has all the potential hazards involved with any other class IV rapid. Our safety at the base of the Falls only involves helping swimmers if and when they wash out from under the Falls. As with any whitewater activity, you are responsible for judging your own capabilities and for your own safety. If you do not have the experience to run the Falls, please do not attempt to do so. This event is
dependent on getting enough Safety Boaters. The time commitment for
volunteers is minimal. Those interested in assisting with registration or
race administration should contact me in advance. We also have a separate
registration form for volunteers only for safety and
administration. Access to
Ohiopyle Falls:
After more than a decade of running this event and working hard for routine access to running the Falls, AW has received permission for a Pilot Program to be run from May 21 through Sept. 11, 2011. A quick overview of the rules: 1) Paddlers will be allowed to run the Falls between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM. 2) The water level must be 1.8' or lower. 3) A minimum of three boaters per party is required. (The second and third boaters need not run the Falls.) 4) When a permit is required, paddlers must have a permit. All paddlers must register. 5) Putin on river right (Ferncliff). 6) Takeout at the Loop takeout or Bruner Run. (i.e., no taking out at the Lower Yough putin and hiking back up multiple times for a huckfest.) Please read the full set of guidelines by clicking here. Remember: this is a pilot program. PLEASE abide by the guidelines and DON'T mess this up for everyone. Recent Access History:
Photos from the 2010 Festival
Camping at Benner's Meadow Run Area Map Directions from Pittsburgh Directions from Washington, DC Registration for Racers and Volunteers American Whitewater Homepage Check out some recent and not-so-recent
videos: NJMike's buds NJMike's beatdown Open Boater from way back We think you'll find that some of these vids show that Ohiopyle Falls is not at all trivial. Please heed the warnings listed above and shown in these videos. |
 Ohiopyle Falls Access Committee Sprint  (Click the above for the large image of this year's t-shirt, designed by Chuck Kelley, of American Eagle Screen Printing) Articles from the 2010 Festival: Groups offering activities:
  
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