Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta takes place right at the river with over 30 docked Sternwheelers, food, entertainment and a very memorable fireworks show.
2023 DATE: September 8-10, 2023
Location: Ohio River Levee
100 Post St
Marietta, OH 45750
Website: https://sternwheel.org/
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This post documents my experience on September 11, 2010.
Marietta is more than just a cute Ohio town with a cute movie theater and drug store…
…because, even if you couldn’t tell by the nostalgic mural…
…it’s actually Ohio’s oldest city.
Settled in 1788, Marietta has given this country many governors and senators over the years, making an impact on this country one way or another.
And, every September, they continue to affect our lives, pulling us and thousands of others from all over the country…
…to look at a boat.
Actually, this type of boat is a sternwheeler, or a paddle steamer that has its paddle wheel in the stern, or rear of the boat.
And the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival didn’t have only one…
…it had around 30 that docked along the river shore to be admired.
Just don’t go jumping on board uninvited. The owners of these paddleboats are festival goers just like you…
…and they deserve to eat in peace.
Of course, if you did want to go on a boat, the festival gives you that option. Just down river…
…there’s a huge boat willing to let you on…
…and tell you about one of its more interesting voyages.
It cost $10 dollars, but I hear it’s worth it if you have the time.
And you may actually have it because, for the size of the crowd that comes each year…
…there were only two inflatables…
…less than 20 vendors (none paddleboat related)…
…about 10 vendors where you could get a meal…
…and then 10 more for drinks and fair food.
Really not that many…
…when you consider what the lines were like for some booths.
But there was a reason it was particularly long the evening I was there.
Along the river…
…people were setting a place for themselves.
And even after the last band played…
…they stayed there and waited.
As it turned out, this was the night of the famous pyrotechnic show that the festival has put on for the past 10 festivals, thanks to Pyrotechnico out of New Castle, PA.
In fact, once the rains started pouring and I balanced the umbrella to protect…
…my Cheyenne Burger with pulled pork, onion rings and BBQ sauce…
…the crowd still wandered the streets…
…enduring the rain…
…and waiting for that show.
But I couldn’t.
This was my fifth festival of the day after more than 250 miles. I was exhausted, worn down by festival food, and I would have to wait around another hour just for the start of the show. With my hotel another half hour away in clear traffic, I couldn’t imagine how long it would take if I left Marietta with all the other festival goers.
Therefore, I never saw it, but some of my friends have. So, if you like fireworks, it’s definitely worth staying for.