CINCINNATI — Cincinnati is turning into "Swiftinnati" this weekend as pop superstar Taylor Swift brings her Eras Tour to Paycor Stadium for a two-day event.
With Taylor Swift and other events along the riverfront all weekend long, the Ohio River will see an influx of boats.
"We're ready. All hands on deck," said Shelly Lemker, cruise coordinator for Queen City Riverboats.
The company has been getting upwards of 30 calls a day just in the last month, Lemker said and because they charter rides over for other events, like the Reds game Friday, they're meeting the weekend demand at full speed ahead.
"Then we decided, 'I think we're just going to have to do two separate charters,'" General Manager Kelly Hammel said.
Other charter companies are also bracing for a busy weekend.
Andy Storch, who captains private charters for Classy Ventures said he's been getting requests since shortly after Taylor Swift Tickets first went on sale.
"I booked this boat on both (June 30 and July 1) the first week of April, which is unusual," he said. "The message has gone from a three or four sentence email to, "No, I'm booked."
Storch will be anchoring outside Paycor Stadium like many other boaters are expected to. He worries, as officials do, that could lead to heavy traffic jams.
"Quite frankly I don't know how it will sound and I don't think they really care," Storch said. "They just want to be there."
The river will remain open throughout the weekend, which means barges and large tug boats will still be moving down the shipping channel. The U.S. Coast Guard said they'll be on heightened patrol, partnering with local water rescue crews to ensure boaters' safety.
"That shipping channel on the Ohio runs right up along the Ohio side of the river, so that's where most people are going to want to congregate," Chief Petty Officer Mike Callinan said. "The shipping channel runs far away from the Kentucky side so that would be the safer area if you wanted to -- if you needed to come out."
There's a full list of the weekend's events further below, but if you plan on boating at any time, here's what Boone County Water Rescue wants you to know.
These procedures should be "Nothing New" for avid Ohio River boaters, but at the end of the day, rather be safe than saying "Would've, Could've, Should've."
- All water between the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge and the Brent Spence Bridge is a no wake zone
- All occupants on a boat should have a lifejacket
- Boaters that want to anchor Friday are encouraged to do so on the Kentucky side of the river while keeping the mouth of the Licking River and B&B Riverboats clear. Anchoring on this side of the river will give you both a solid spot to hear the music and catch the Reds fireworks.
- Boaters should leave a "Blank Space" in the river channel for barges — they have the right of way.
Here's a map detailing the channel that should be left open both Friday and Saturday:
Provided
During the fireworks show, boaters must stay outside the 500-foot safety zone that extends from the Ohio bank to the fireworks barge. To put it plainly, there will be "Bad Blood" if you don't stay outside the safety zone and you'll be moved by police.
For anyone out on the water this weekend enjoying festivities that runs into some problems (not the champagne kind obviously), boaters can call the Boone County Public Safety Communications Center at 859-371-1234 or by using Marine Channel 13 or 16. For emergencies, call 911.
Here's the full list of weekend events:
Friday, June 30
- Noon to 7 p.m. — Taygate at The Banks
- 5:10 p.m. — Reds vs. Padres at Great American Ball Park
- 6:30 p.m. — Taylor Swift concert begins with opening act
- 11:15 p.m. — Taylor Swift concert ends
Saturday, July 1
- Noon to 7 p.m. — Taygate at The Banks
- 1:40 p.m. — Reds vs. Padres at Great American Ball Park
- 6:30 p.m. — Greensky Bluegrass concert at The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
- 6:30 p.m. — Taylor Swift concert begins with opening act
- 7:30 p.m. — FC Cincinnati vs. New England Revolution at TQL Stadium
- 11:15 p.m. — Taylor Swift concert ends
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