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The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, which is in its 48th year in Marietta, has plans to double its fireworks and entertainment budgets for the 50th festival in 2026. (File photo)
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The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival will feature the Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival as part of its entertainment lineup. The entertainment acts that the festival attracts are part of its efforts to maintain and increase festival attendance. (File photo)
The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival will feature the Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival as part of its entertainment lineup. The entertainment acts that the festival attracts are part of its efforts to maintain and increase festival attendance. (File photo)
PARKERSBURG — Residents of Wood and Washington counties and surrounding areas have many fairs and festivals to choose from each year.
Two such events that draw thousands of people are the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival in Parkersburg and the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta.
The Parkersburg Homecoming Festival began in 1983 and draws an estimated 14,000 to 16,000 people over the two days it’s held, according to Parkersburg Homecoming President Kyle Pierce.
“Our mission is to provide free family entertainment for our community and also promote tourism and promote our struggling downtown businesses.” Pierce said.
The Homecoming is working to maintain this level of attendance and increase it in the future through its range of entertainment and the events it offers.
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, which is in its 48th year in Marietta, has plans to double its fireworks and entertainment budgets for the 50th festival in 2026. (File photo)
Pierce said Homecoming has grown premiere attendance significantly over the past two years by featuring TikTok artists as part of their entertainment lineup. They’ve had Priscilla Block and Brandon Davis in the past.
Blok rose to fame on and off TikTok in 2020 when she posted a video of herself singing her song “Just Over You” and landed in the Top 15 Country Songs on Apple Music and at the top of the iTunes All Genres Chart in 2020, according to an article in Rolling Stone magazine dated August 6, 2020. According to an article in People magazine dated November 11, 2021 Mr. Davis started his music career on TikTok in 2020 by making videos of himself singing covers of country greats.
“We have a great line-up of entertainment this year,” Pierce said.
The Homecoming, which is set for Friday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17, will feature an appearance by up-and-coming country artist Kelsey Hart on Aug. 16, according to Pierce.
Hart had a song at number 9 on the Billboard chart in 2023, “Life With You” which gained popularity on TikTok. Hart teased snippets of her song on TitkTok before releasing it, according to a November 15, 2023, article in Billboard magazine.
Pearce said Hart’s opening act will be Jack and Davis Reed.
August 17 Homecoming will feature national recording artists Dailey & Vincent. Their website describes them as a country, bluegrass and gospel act.
According to Pierce, homecoming will include The Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival, which will be held on August 17 for the 22nd year in a row. Kids Fest will also be offered this year and will be free for all children.
To learn more about the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival and the events, entertainment and vendors that will be at this year’s festival, visit https://parkersburghomecoming.org/.
The Sternwheel Festival on the Ohio River will be Sept. 6-8 and will be in its 48th year, according to director Cheri Sievers.
“The first ORSF was in 1976, to promote tourism and preserve the riverboat heritage for which our area is so famous,” Sievers said.
In the past, the festival has had an estimated attendance of 100,000 people, according to Sievers.
Planning for the 2024 OSRF is just beginning, Sievers said, and there will be a full weekend of family-oriented entertainment, including Queen Genevieve and Little Mr. show.
The festival created a new committee, the 50th Committee, because in two years the event will celebrate its 50th anniversary and it will be America’s 250th birthday year, Sievers said.
“Anyone who’s witnessed our anniversary year fireworks knows it’s over the top!” Sievers said. “Can you imagine the 50th? We are now planning ahead.”
With it being the nation’s 50th anniversary and 250th anniversary, Sievers said at ORSF that “I’d expect new, special, very patriotic (events) and just The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, but just like the caffeine!”
Attendance at the festival remains steady each year, especially on Saturday night. They saw a slight drop in attendance at the first festival after COVID, but that’s not the case now, according to Sievers.
They are constantly brainstorming new ideas to increase attendance and raise funds, Sievers said.
“We are doing our best to improve social media and use travel sites and organizations to promote the festival,” Sievers said. “We work very closely with the Marietta-Washington CVB, Marietta Main Street and the chamber.”
The festival became a member of the Ohio Association of Fairs and Festivals last year. According to Sievers, membership in the association benefits them in terms of marketing. The association is also a source of vital information and resources such as vendors, entertainment and years of festival experience.
“Attending their biennial meeting also allows us to network with other fairs and festivals,” Sievers said.
Big things are coming for the festival in 2026.
A fundraiser usually held during anniversaries returns to the festival, the Sternwheel Ball. Sievers said it will be bigger and better than their last ball in 2022 because 2026 is their 50th anniversary.
Their goal for 2026 is to double their entertainment and fireworks budget. They should start planning now to do so. The public should stay tuned for more information on how they can help this cause.
Sievers said they really appreciate all the support they have received from their community. She knows that the festival creates obstacles for some businesses within its perimeter and is grateful for their understanding and support.
“Right now, we really want people to continue to be excited about the festival every year, but we want them to be super excited for the upcoming 50th celebration in 2026.” Sievers said.
Learn more about ORSF at https://sternwheel.org/.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]
