Come to Marietta, Ohio for the 26th celebration of the Sternwheel festival. One by one, from up river and down, the sternwheelers arrive in Marietta, Ohio, home of the American Sternwheel Association. All events are FREE , and the atmosphere is festive and friendly. It's always the weekend after Labor Day.
Festival begins with the first of many free concerts of the weekend.
Crowds gather at the Ohio River Levee to admire 30 sternwheeler boats docked at the Levee, meet family and friends, set up their lawn chairs or add their square of color to the huge patchwork quilt of blankets that cover the banks of the Ohio River. Entertainment is varied and continuous- calliope, singers, dancers, musicians from jazz to rock and roll. Evening cornation of Queen Genevieve of the River. The skies blaze with fabulous fireworks compared to none, over the lights of dozens of sternwheelers and hundreds of pleasure boats, scattered in the calm Ohio River awaiting the spectacular half-hour display. Don't forget to visit the second annual Car Show featuring cars from yesteryear.