(Photo by Gwen Sour) The view from the top deck of the sternwheeler Natalie Jane Saturday afternoon at the 49th Annual Sternwheel Festival.

The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival marked its 49th year Saturday with the familiar hum of paddlewheels, bursts of children’s laughter and the steady rhythm of community gathering on the Marietta riverfront.

The annual festival, launched in the mid-1970s, has grown into one of the city’s most anticipated late-summer traditions. Organizers said this year’s schedule carried all the hallmarks — music, fireworks and boat races — while adding new touches like an art stroll and children’s activities.

For many, the heart of the event is the lineup of sternwheel boats docked along the levee. Captains open their decks to visitors, and longtime attendees swapped stories about vessels that are as much family heirlooms as floating craft.

Jarrod Burden, who built the Jenny B. from scratch in 1986, has been attending since the festival’s earliest days.

“I’ve been coming here since the early to mid-’70s, when it all started,” he said. “We’re here to support the town and appreciate what they do for us. We all gather. We’re all an old community, all of us sternwheel people.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) The P.A. Denny was docked at the riverfront in Marietta for the 49th Annual Sternwheel festival Saturday afternoon.

Some boats carried names that told deeper stories. One vessel, once called the Betty Lou, was renamed Natalie Jane to honor a family friend who died tragically. Its current owners said they went through the full maritime renaming ceremony to preserve her memory.

“That’s probably the biggest story of us having the boat,” said owner Rick Dement. “It’s about keeping her name going and telling stories like this.”

Bob Ferrin and Crystal Looney, who live in their sternwheeler full-time, shared that they purchased their boat sight unseen after moving from Arizona, drawn to the river lifestyle. Built by a steelworker in New Martinsville, W.Va., the boat became their year-round home.

“It’s a real safe boat,” Ferrin said, pointing out its four watertight bilges. “Captain’s just a silly title — we’re just people who love the water.”

The festival also highlighted local artists through its Saturday art stroll. Lynn Cox of LC Designs, working alongside Judy of Clay by Judy, said they wanted visitors to leave with an appreciation for originality.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Marietta High School’s Vocal Point performs on the entertainment barge at the Sternwheel Festival Saturday.

“Every piece is different,” Cox said of their pottery. “We just hope people understand what it takes to hand-make something.”

Cox added that the Parkersburg Art Center continues to showcase their work year-round, while both artists also participate in events such as Harmar Days.

“You can walk into any store and buy something mass-produced,” Cox said. “We want people to see what goes into something handmade.”

On the festival’s family side, activities stretched from relay races to pet adoption. Meredith Saboley, co-chair of the children’s programming, said Saturday’s lineup was designed to keep families engaged despite occasional rain showers.

“We had mini Highland cows from Westfall Farm in Malta, relay races with the Warren High School girls basketball team, bubbles, water tables and inflatables,” Saboley said. “The Wilds came to talk about endangered species, and the Humane Society brought adoptable pets.”

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Meredith Saboley, left, gives Maelynnah Dailey and Layla Jackson a quick science lesson in the kids zone using lemonade on Saturday during the Sternwheel Festival.

The Sternwheel Festival has long drawn visitors from across the Mid-Ohio Valley, filling hotels, boosting downtown shops and giving boat owners a reason to reunite.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Autumn Dunn and Avery Earley play in a foam pit provided by the Foam Garage at the Sternwheel Festival on Saturday.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Maddi Gardner and Ava Hollingsworth receive a doodle of themselves at the Sternwheel Festival’s Art Stroll Saturday afternoon.