Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

Ohio River Sternwheel Festival The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is one of the Midwest's premier riverfront celebrations!
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Join us each September in historic Marietta, Ohio, for authentic sternwheel boats, live entertainment, family fun, great food, and spectacular fireworks.

📢Calling all Little Miss and Mister contestants!!! 👑Application link below⚓️The 2026 Little Miss and Mr. Sternwheel Page...
07/12/2026

📢Calling all Little Miss and Mister contestants!!! 👑

Application link below⚓️

The 2026 Little Miss and Mr. Sternwheel Pageant will be held Friday, September 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Hotel Ballroom!

Contestants must be between the ages of 5 and 8. Girls will model party dresses and boys will model Sunday best or suits. Each contestant will be required to state their name on stage and answer some basic questions during a personal interview with the judges.

All contestants will receive appreciation awards. The winners will receive banners, trophies, along with a phenomenal prize package! One of the duties of the winners of the Little Mr. and Miss Sternwheel Pageant will be to attend the Queen Genevieve Coronation on Saturday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. on the Sternwheel Festival Levee as the train bearer and crown bearer!

Contestants must submit the $25 entry fee with their mailed-in application, or can remit payment online.
*The deadline for entry is August 28, 2026.*
Please make checks payable to Ohio River Sternwheel Festival and mail to: Sandy Wiseman Attn: Little Miss and Mr. Pageant P.O. Box 3 Fleming, OH 45729. (Online payments are subject to $5 service charge)

Application Link:
https://sternwheel.org/events/little-miss-and-mr-contest/

Questions? Contact Butch or Sandy Wiseman at 740-678-2108, Gabbie Gramkow at 740-516-8903 or email, [email protected]

The deadline to enter is TOMORROW!! There is still time to get those applications in! 👑The Queen Genevieve Scholarship P...
06/29/2026

The deadline to enter is TOMORROW!! There is still time to get those applications in! 👑

The Queen Genevieve Scholarship Pageant is a time-honored tradition. Young ladies who are 17-22 years old and are enrolled in an accredited college/university or are a high-school senior are eligible to compete to win scholarships of up to $1,500!

The pageant will take place in the historic Lafayette Hotel ballroom on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The newly-selected Queen will be announced during the Festival weekend at the Coronation Ceremony on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

Contestants must be available to attend the Orientation and Photoshoot on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Contestants must submit the $85 entry fee with their mailed-in application, or can remit payment online. The deadline for entry is Tuesday, June 30th, 2026! Please make checks payable to Ohio River Sternwheel Festival and mail to: Sandy Wiseman P.O. Box 3 Fleming, OH 45729. (Online payments are subject to $5 service charge)

Application Link: https://sternwheel.org/events/queen-genevieve/

Questions? Contact Butch or Sandy Wiseman at 740-678-2108, Gabbie Gramkow at 740-516-8903 or email, [email protected].

One of the hardest things about being a festival of 50 years old, is losing cherished people who were so instrumental in...
06/28/2026

One of the hardest things about being a festival of 50 years old, is losing cherished people who were so instrumental in its history and success. We are saddened to hear of the passing of Judy Williams. Judy was a committee member for many, many years serving as our Captain's Liaison. She made sure our Captain's were welcomed, and took care of any needs or issues that would come up during their stay. As her obituary states, she had a rare gift for bringing joy to others. RIP Judy and thank you for your dedication ❤️

We are 1 week away from the deadline! Time is quickly running out to get those applications in! 👑The Queen Genevieve Sch...
06/23/2026

We are 1 week away from the deadline! Time is quickly running out to get those applications in! 👑

The Queen Genevieve Scholarship Pageant is a time-honored tradition. Young ladies who are 17-22 years old and are enrolled in an accredited college/university or are a high-school senior are eligible to compete to win scholarships of up to $1,500!

The pageant will take place in the historic Lafayette Hotel ballroom on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The newly-selected Queen will be announced during the Festival weekend at the Coronation Ceremony on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

Contestants must be available to attend the Orientation and Photoshoot on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Contestants must submit the $85 entry fee with their mailed-in application, or can remit payment online. The deadline for entry is Tuesday, June 30th, 2026! Please make checks payable to Ohio River Sternwheel Festival and mail to: Sandy Wiseman P.O. Box 3 Fleming, OH 45729. (Online payments are subject to $5 service charge)

Application Link: https://sternwheel.org/events/queen-genevieve/

Questions? Contact Butch or Sandy Wiseman at 740-678-2108, Gabbie Gramkow at 740-516-8903 or email, [email protected].

A HUGE Admiral Level Sponsorship THANK YOU to the Mid-Ohio Valley Family of Dealerships! We're proud to recognize the Mi...
06/23/2026

A HUGE Admiral Level Sponsorship THANK YOU to the Mid-Ohio Valley Family of Dealerships!

We're proud to recognize the Mid-Ohio Valley Family of Dealerships as a Admiral Level Sponsor of the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival!

Representing four trusted brands and one local family, their commitment to our community helps make this festival possible. Their support plays a vital role in preserving and growing one of the Mid-Ohio Valley's most cherished traditions.

Be sure to stop by and visit them during the festival and remember to support the businesses that support our community!

Thank you to our friends at Smoker Friendly, for your Commander level sponsorship!
06/22/2026

Thank you to our friends at Smoker Friendly, for your Commander level sponsorship!

NEW… a place to SHARE your FAV . DUST OFF THOSE pictures from the past (almost) 50 years… it’s time for a . We can...
06/20/2026

NEW… a place to SHARE your FAV .

DUST OFF THOSE pictures from the past (almost) 50 years… it’s time for a . We can’t see what you’ve got.. we’ll start ❤

COUNTDOWN BEGINS NOW… 83 DAYS!!

🎨 CALLING ALL ARTISTS, MAKERS & CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS !😎Before anyone assumes…. This flier was created by local artist ...
06/16/2026

🎨 CALLING ALL ARTISTS, MAKERS & CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS !

😎Before anyone assumes…. This flier was created by local artist and designer, Greta ~Marietta Makery s own Marietta Gretta with the assist of CANVA, plus photo credit to Bruce Wunderlich. NO AI was used… only Canva and lots of cutting and pasting and a little (ok, maybe a lot) cursing & Diet Coke . 😍 if you know Greta… she is an artist’s artist!!

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
JOIN US for the Sternwheel Art Stroll, a juried fine art and handmade marketplace taking place during the 50th Anniversary Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in beautiful Marietta, Ohio.

🧨On Saturday, the Sternwheel Art Stroll transforms Marietta's festival grounds into a vibrant marketplace of art, creativity, and handmade craftsmanship. As part of this historic celebration—a weekend-long festival expected to welcome more than 100,000 visitors—artists have the opportunity to introduce their work to thousands of festival-goers exploring one of America's most charming river towns. The day culminates with the festival's spectacular fireworks display, making Saturday one of the most anticipated and well-attended days of the weekend.

❤️ Help us build an incredible artist community for this milestone celebration—TAG YOUR FAVORITE artisans, makers, and creative entrepreneurs below! 🎨✨
We are currently accepting applications in the following categories:

📸 Photography
🧵 Fiber Arts
🏺 Ceramics & Pottery
💍 Jewelry
🪵 Woodworking
🎨 Mixed Media
🖨️ Printmaking
✨ Handmade Fine Crafts
🍪 Cottage Bakery (Limited Spaces Available)
🌟 Emerging Youth Artists (17 & Under)

We're building more than an art market or vendor show—we're creating an art destination that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and connection.

📍 Marietta, Ohio
🚢 50th Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
🎨 Sternwheel Art Stroll
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
⏳ APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 25, 2026

IMPORTANT: Our goal is to showcase the creativity, craftsmanship, and unique vision of working artists. As such, all work must be originally designed and created by the exhibiting artist. AI-generated artwork, mass-produced merchandise, buy/sell items, and commercially manufactured products will not be considered for jurying.

👇 APPLICATION LINKS FOR BOTH CATEGORIES (Main Artist Marketplace & Emerging Youth Artists) ARE LOCATED IN THE COMMENTS! 👇

🤠🍽️ DINE OUT & SUPPORT THE OHIO RIVER STERNWHEEL FESTIVAL! 🚢🎉Mark your calendars for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17 and en...
06/16/2026

🤠🍽️ DINE OUT & SUPPORT THE OHIO RIVER STERNWHEEL FESTIVAL! 🚢🎉

Mark your calendars for tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17 and enjoy a great meal while giving back to one of Marietta’s favorite traditions!

📍 Texas Roadhouse – Marietta
🕒 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 206 Cherry Tree Lane, Marietta, OH

Simply present this flyer when dining, and Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of your total food purchase to support the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival!

Whether you're craving hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, or fresh-baked rolls, every meal helps support the festival and its continued success.

✅ Bring this flyer
✅ Invite your friends and family
✅ Enjoy a delicious meal
✅ Support the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

Thank you to Texas Roadhouse for partnering with us and helping keep this community tradition strong! ❤️🚢

Have you heard? There is a new auto parts store in town. Thank you, O'Reilly Auto Parts, for your support with a Command...
06/11/2026

Have you heard? There is a new auto parts store in town. Thank you, O'Reilly Auto Parts, for your support with a Commander level sponsorship! Please visit them at the festival during the Car Show, in Memory of Garold Greenlees.

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Marietta, OH
45750

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