Fifty Years of Paddlewheels: Marietta's Sternwheel Festival Hits the Big 5-0

This weekend, the little river town of Marietta, Ohio throws the 50th edition of its beloved Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. And according to the Marietta Times this week, folks didn't even wait for the opening ceremony — visitors were already gathering along Marietta's riverfront days ahead of the festival to enjoy the boats, history and the renovated levee.

What's happening

The 50th annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival runs September 11–13, 2026, on the Ohio River levee in Marietta. If you've never seen a sternwheeler — one of those big, flat riverboats pushed along by a churning paddlewheel at the back — Marietta in September is the place to fix that. The festival brings authentic sternwheel boats, live entertainment, family fun, great food, and spectacular fireworks to the historic town each September.

The early arrivals are half the charm. The Marietta Times talked to one boat captain from West Virginia who summed up showing up a week ahead of schedule simply: "This is when the fun is." He's brought his boat to Marietta for 33 years, has attended the festival since 1976 — and his vessel is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. A hundred-year-old boat at a fifty-year-old festival. That's the good stuff.

Why fifty years matters

The festival was founded in 1976 and takes place the weekend after Labor Day — meaning generations of Marietta kids have grown up assuming that's just what September is for. It's grown into something remarkable for a town this size: more than 100,000 tourists visit historic Marietta each year for the festival.

And the continuity runs deep. Per the Marietta Times' earlier coverage of the milestone year, several returning entertainers have been with the festival for 40 of its 50 years, and the Marietta High School choir and band perform every year as a way to support the district. Fifty years in, the hometown kids are still on the bill.

The fireworks, the art, and a new twist

The Saturday night fireworks are the crown jewel. Widely regarded as one of the finest displays in the region, the show illuminates the Ohio River and draws thousands of spectators downtown, with the lit-up sternwheel boats as the backdrop.

There's plenty on land, too. The festival's Art Stroll returns as part of the 50th anniversary celebration, with a curated outdoor artist market featuring original artwork, handmade goods, and makers from across the region. Even at fifty, the festival is still trying new things: an inaugural Travel Showcase debuts Saturday at the Armory downtown, featuring exhibitors from Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana.

A river town doing what river towns do best

Marietta sits where the Muskingum meets the Ohio, and this festival is the town leaning all the way into its riverboat roots. Beyond the entertainment, the festival is a celebration of community — generations of volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, and community leaders have helped transform a local festival into a destination event recognized throughout the Midwest and beyond. It's a good reminder that the best Ohio traditions aren't manufactured; they're maintained, year after year, by people who love where they live. That's the spirit behind our whole Ohio collection, honestly.

Go see it

If you're within striking distance of southeast Ohio, the festival runs through Sunday, September 13 — and if you miss it, it's the weekend after Labor Day every year, so mark next September now. Wander the levee, watch the paddlewheels turn, stay for the fireworks. And if you want to look the part on the riverbank, our O-H Tee pairs nicely with a lawn chair and a lemonade shake-up. Yell the O-H; someone on a boat will finish it.

Common questions

When and where is the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival?

The 50th annual festival takes place September 11–13, 2026, on the Ohio River levee in Marietta, Ohio, and it's held the weekend after Labor Day each year.

What is there to do besides look at boats?

Plenty — live entertainment, family fun, great food, and spectacular fireworks, plus a curated outdoor artist market and a new Travel Showcase at the Armory downtown.

How big is this festival, really?

Big for a small town: more than 100,000 tourists visit historic Marietta each year for the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.

Reported by Marietta Times. Details as published at the time of writing.