Photography by Bruce Wunderlich
Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Celebrates 50 Years of Riverfront Tradition
For 50 years, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival has celebrated the rich heritage of river travel while welcoming visitors to Marietta for one of the region’s largest and most beloved festivals. What began as a community celebration has evolved into a nationally recognized event, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors each year to Ohio’s first city and the scenic banks of the Ohio River.
Held this year from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 13, the festival prepares to celebrate its golden anniversary! Visitors can look forward to a weekend filled with the traditions they have come to love, along with a new attraction designed to inspire future adventures.
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival has long been known for its gathering of authentic sternwheel boats, a tribute to the vessels that once served as the lifeblood of commerce and transportation along America’s inland waterways. Seeing these majestic boats docked along Marietta’s riverfront is a highlight for many visitors, creating a scene that reflects the city’s deep connection to the Ohio River.
For those who want more than a view from shore, Marietta offers a unique opportunity to experience river travel firsthand. Visitors can board authentic sternwheel boats, including the Valley Gem Sternwheeler and the Major/Riviera, for a memorable cruise along the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. These excursions provide a rare chance to experience the sights, sounds, and slower pace of traditional river travel while enjoying some of the most scenic views in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Information and tickets for riverboat cruises are available at ValleyGemSternwheeler.com.
While the boats remain at the heart of the festival, the event has grown into a full weekend celebration that offers something for everyone. Throughout the weekend, festival-goers can enjoy live entertainment featuring local, regional, and nationally known performers. Music fills the riverfront as families gather to enjoy food vendors, activities, and the welcoming atmosphere synonymous with the festival.
No Sternwheel Festival experience would be complete without its signature fireworks display. Widely regarded as one of the finest fireworks shows in the region, the annual display illuminates the Ohio River and draws thousands of spectators to downtown Marietta. Against the backdrop of the river and the illuminated sternwheel boats, the fireworks have become one of the festival’s most anticipated traditions and a fitting centerpiece for the 50th anniversary celebration.
Adding a new dimension to this year’s event is the inaugural Travel Showcase, taking place on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Armory in downtown Marietta. The showcase will feature exhibitors from Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana, offering visitors an opportunity to discover destinations, attractions, and experiences throughout the tri-state region.
Tourism organizations, museums, parks, lodging properties, entertainment venues, and attractions will be on hand to share information and travel ideas. Whether visitors are planning a fall foliage getaway, a winter retreat, a family vacation, or next summer’s road trip, the Travel Showcase will provide inspiration and resources to help turn travel dreams into reality.
The addition of the Travel Showcase is a natural fit for a festival that has spent five decades encouraging visitors to explore Marietta and the surrounding Ohio River Valley. It offers attendees the opportunity to learn about new destinations while enjoying one of the region’s most cherished annual events.
Beyond the entertainment and attractions, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is a celebration of community. Generations of volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, and community leaders have contributed to its success, helping transform a local festival into a destination event recognized throughout the Midwest and beyond.
As Marietta welcomes visitors for this milestone year, the 50th Ohio River Sternwheel Festival promises to honor its rich history while creating new memories for generations to come. With authentic sternwheel boats, unforgettable river cruises, outstanding live entertainment, spectacular fireworks, family-friendly activities, and the debut of the Travel Showcase, there has never been a better time to experience this iconic celebration on the banks of the Ohio River.
For festival schedules, event information, and updates, visit www.sternwheel.org.
