History of the Sternwheel Festival

Written by: McKayla Burriss (mab012@marietta.edu)

Each year, the weekend after Labor Day, the town of Marietta hosts the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This year was extra special as it was the 50th anniversary.  

According to Hadley Funeral Home, Marietta College graduate Harry Robinson was involved in the Marietta Bicentennial Commission, where he helped organize the celebration of our nation’s 200th birthday. During said celebration, he founded the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival alongside Captains Bob Limle and Gene Fitch. It was created to honor the riverboat heritage on the Ohio River and encourage tourism to the Marietta area, and in 1976 the first festival was held the weekend after Labor Day (Official Obituary of Harry J. Robinson. n.d).  

Each year there are several events and activities to look forward to at the festival. This includes an art stroll, a car show, live music, boat races, vendors, and most notably the Harry J. Robinson Fireworks Show.  

This year, even with the weather, thousands of people still attended the events on the Ohio River Levee. According to Gavin Carrig, 30 historic sternwheel boats were at the riverfront for the weekend (2026). Each year, the firework show is heavily praised, but this year was extraordinary. For the anniversary, the fireworks show included drones, lasers, special effects, and even planes. The 30-minute-long show was certainly something to remember.  

It is important to remember the history of Ohio River transportation and how it shaped Marietta. It is wonderful that the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival allows the community to come together and celebrate Marietta and its history. It also allows the community to share the rich history with tourists. If you want to learn more about the history between Marietta and the Ohio River, you can visit the Ohio River Museum located in Marietta. The museum is currently closed as it is working to build a new facility, but is expected to reopen in 2027.

The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival will return next year, the weekend after Labor Day. For updates on future stories like this one, follow Marietta College student media on instagram at marettacollegestudentmedia.

Edited by: Rebecca Straits (rjs006@marietta.edu)