Sparkling Skies: ‘Absolutely fabulous’ fireworks light up Sternwheel Festival
Fireworks explode Saturday over the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This year’s display was a tribute to music icon Tina Turner. (Photo by Bruce Wunderlich)
Dino-ROAR! came back to town for the Sternwheel Festival. Dino-ROAR! was in Marietta the weekend of the Washington County Fair, and they came back to bring more fun to the area for the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Locals and travelers alike turned out to listen to the Gypsy River Band Sunday afternoon. The Gypsy River Band was one of the many artists who performed this weekend, such as Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute singer, Highway 96, CRUSH (a Bon Jovi tribute band) and lots of local talent. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Members of the Marietta High School Wall of Sound finish up their rehearsals before performing at the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival Saturday. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People gather along the banks of the Ohio River Saturday during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Members of the Marietta High School Wall of Sound perform for a crowd Saturday during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People gathered on the lawn of the Armory Saturday as the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival was in full swing. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Ella Smitley, eight, waits for a balloon animal Saturday on the lawn of the Armory as the second day of the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival was in full swing. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People walk along the banks of the Ohio River Saturday as they check out the boats docked for the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People walk down Greene St. Saturday as they check out all of the food vendors during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Fireworks explode Saturday over the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This year’s display was a tribute to music icon Tina Turner. (Photo by Bruce Wunderlich)
Dino-ROAR! came back to town for the Sternwheel Festival. Dino-ROAR! was in Marietta the weekend of the Washington County Fair, and they came back to bring more fun to the area for the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Locals and travelers alike turned out to listen to the Gypsy River Band Sunday afternoon. The Gypsy River Band was one of the many artists who performed this weekend, such as Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute singer, Highway 96, CRUSH (a Bon Jovi tribute band) and lots of local talent. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Members of the Marietta High School Wall of Sound finish up their rehearsals before performing at the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival Saturday. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People gather along the banks of the Ohio River Saturday during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Members of the Marietta High School Wall of Sound perform for a crowd Saturday during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People gathered on the lawn of the Armory Saturday as the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival was in full swing. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Ella Smitley, eight, waits for a balloon animal Saturday on the lawn of the Armory as the second day of the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival was in full swing. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People walk along the banks of the Ohio River Saturday as they check out the boats docked for the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
People walk down Greene St. Saturday as they check out all of the food vendors during the 47th Annual Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Trending
This year's Sternwheel Festival came to a close on Sunday. According to Fireworks Chairman Dennis Blauser, the fireworks were "absolutely fabulous."
This year, they tried out some new fireworks they had never used before, some of which had to be imported from other countries. The fireworks, like usual, were coordinated to music; this year they coordinated the fireworks to music by Tina Turner as well as many other well known artists.
"The crowd loved it," said Blauser.
On Friday, Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute artist played as live entertainment; Highway 96 played before and after the fireworks Saturday; and CRUSH, a Bon Jovi tribute band, closed out the festival on Sunday. Sprinkled in between the big headliners were tons of local talent such as Bruce Haas Trio, Division Street, and singer songwriter Charlie Brewer.
"It's a great opportunity for the family to get together," said Blauser, referring to the Sternwheel Festival. "It's like a homecoming celebration.
Blauser says that the Sternwheel Festival is a family based show and brings in tourists from around the globe.
"I've talked to folks from California and South Africa and everywhere in between," said Blauser.