Sternwheel Festival kicks off opening night
Photos by James Dobbs LEFT: Sternwheeler will be docked at the Ohio River Levee through the weekend during the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
Ruby Erb, 2, left, cheers on her brother, Elijah Erb, 7, at the fish bowl carnival game Friday at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Photo by James Dobbs The Kona Ice truck was a big hit at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Photo by James Dobbs The Kona Ice truck was a big hit at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Steve and Bev Pottmeyer perform Friday at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Russ Riggle, owner of Possum Products LLC, has been making wood toys since he was a kid. He started doing it professionally five years ago.
Photos by James Dobbs LEFT: Sternwheeler will be docked at the Ohio River Levee through the weekend during the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
Ruby Erb, 2, left, cheers on her brother, Elijah Erb, 7, at the fish bowl carnival game Friday at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Photo by James Dobbs The Kona Ice truck was a big hit at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Photo by James Dobbs The Kona Ice truck was a big hit at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Steve and Bev Pottmeyer perform Friday at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
Russ Riggle, owner of Possum Products LLC, has been making wood toys since he was a kid. He started doing it professionally five years ago.
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MARIETTA -- After being canceled in 2020, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival returned to downtown Marietta on Friday and will run through Sunday at the Ohio River Levee.
The smell of freshly popped popcorn and fried funnel cakes filled the air Friday evening as the 45th annual festival started for the weekend.
Festival attendees, volunteers, vendors and performers from all over the Mid-Ohio valley joined the fun as they listened to a variety of music. The Kona Ice truck was particularly popular as many attendees ordered a cup of ice that they got to flavor themselves with the flavorwave machine.
William Smrek, who was born on Sept. 11, said he is a big fan of the festival.
"I've been coming on and off since 1987," Smrek said.
This year he was helping his wife Kim volunteer with the Little Miss and Mr. Sternwheel Pageant. The couple's daughter Jordan was crowned the 2016 Queen Genevieve.
The sternwheel festival will continue throughout the weekend.
Schedule of events
Sept. 11
∫ Noon: Marietta High School Wall of Sound
∫ Noon to 4 p.m.: Children's Activities at the Third Street Gazebo (DinoROAR, face painting, balloon twisters, carnival games)
∫ 1 p.m.: Marietta High School Vocal Point
∫ 2 p.m.: Two Buds and a Slapbox
∫ 3 p.m.: Bruce Haas and Roger Full
∫ 4 p.m.: Generation Gap Blues Band
∫ 5 p.m.: Ashley Best
∫ 6 p.m.: The Settlement
∫ 7 p.m.: Queen Genevieve Coronation
∫ 7:30 p.m.: Bruce Haas and Roger Full
∫ 8 p.m.: The Settlement
∫ 9 p.m.: Parrots of the Caribbean
∫ 9:25 p.m.: Harry J. Robinson Fireworks Super Show (Accompanying music on 95.1 FM)
∫ 10 p.m.: Parrots of the Caribbean
Sept. 12
∫ 8 a.m.: Sunrise Service on the Levee
∫ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: ORSF Car Show In Memory of Garold Greenlees (Presented by the Rollin' Oldies Car Club)
∫ 10 a.m.: Alfie and the Omegas
∫ 11 a.m.: Jake Binegar
∫ Noon: The Chase Classic Rock Show
∫ Noon to 4 p.m.: Children's activities at the Third Street Gazebo (DinoROAR, balloon twisters, Campus Martius Museum, carnival games)
∫ 1 p.m.: Captain James E. Sands Memorial Races (Sternwheel Boat Races)
∫ 2 p.m.: The Chase Classic Rock Show
∫ 2:30 p.m.: Michael Grimm
Parking
Official sternwheel parking is available on Friday and Saturday only and is located on Second Street, between Greene Street and Butler Street. The cost is $5. Handicap parking is also available at the CNAC lot (formerly JD Byrider), 200 Greene St., and is free of charge.
Free hotel shuttle service may be provided by some hotels to their visitors. Ask the front desk clerk at your hotel if they offer shuttle service.