There are perks to living on the river and in the coming days, the community's waterways will be bustling with all kinds of activity.
The fifth annual Marietta Riverfront Roar powerboat races will converge on Marietta beginning Friday at 5 p.m., when several boats will be on display on Front, Greene and Second streets.
"This event brings a large number of visitors to downtown," said Casey Knowlton, group tour coordinator with the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"It is a unique event and (Marietta) is one of the most successful and largest races in the circuit," he said.
The races are part of the APR Powerboat Superleague circuit. Sherron Winer and her husband Sam of New Martinsville, W.Va., are owners of the circuit, which brings the drivers and boats to town each year.
While officials have safety at the top of their lists, Winer said that she is not concerned with debris in the river from the June 29 storm putting a damper on things.
"It's been over a week and anything that was in the river from the storms is gone now," she said.
The Ohio River has been low recently, with little rain falling in the area, but that also isn't expected to be a problem. The level forecast for the weekend is around 15.3 feet.
Winer explained that 6 to 8 feet of water is all that is needed for the powerboats to race.
"The boats are really just on top of (the water), the propeller is underwater," she said.
Events that are planned include entertainment, "Roar's Got Talent," Run for the Roar, formula two and three races and fireworks Saturday night.
Later in the week, the American Queen, the largest steamboat in the world, will begin its eight-day journey from Louisville, Ky., to Pittsburgh, and will make a stop in Marietta on Monday. This will be the first of three stops planned for the area this month.
"On the Ohio River, there is a total change in scenery, culture and history," said Tim Rubacky, senior vice president of the American Queen Steamboat Company.
"Our guests get exposed to as many sites and businesses as you like and the destinations benefit from the economic impact," he said.
Cruises on the boat were discontinued in 2008 until it was purchased in 2011 by the Great American Steamboat Company of Memphis, Tenn, now the American Queen Steamboat Company.
"Cruises are going well. We couldn't be more pleased with the reaction from the public at-large," Rubacky said.
Jeff Spear, owner of River View Antiques and member of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen organization, said he is thrilled that the boat is coming.
"She's fun to look at. There is nothing like a big boat coming to town," he said. "She is big, she blocks the view of the other side of the river."
Spear is also on the Friends of the Museum board and said the organization is looking forward to the passengers' visit to the Ohio River Museum.
"We were guaranteed 1,000 and at $4 a head, that's really good for us," Spear said.
The theme of this particular cruise is Music of the 60s and spectators might even catch a glimpse of performers B.J. Thomas and the Lovin' Spoonful.
"Yeah, people might see them walking down the street," Rubacky said.
The American Queen plans two more stops in the area on July 25 and 29.
"It's awful nice to have passenger travel on the river again," Spear said.
