Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta
A town of 13,000 at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum takes on about 100,000 visitors for three days, when sternwheelers line the levee and the whole downtown turns out.
At a glance
- Dates
- Sept 11–13, 2026
- Where
- Ohio River Levee, Marietta, Ohio
- Admission
- free
- Official schedule
- sternwheel.org
The schedule
Ohio River Sternwheel Festival as published for Sept 11–13, 2026. Times move on the day, so the organiser's own page is the last word.
- Marietta, Ohio
- Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Sept 11–13 · Ohio River Levee · free
- Sternwheel Festival
- since 1976 · sternwheelers line the levee three days of music, boats and fireworks
- Friday, Sept 11
- opening ceremonies 6 PM Edwin McCain on the levee stage 9:30 PM
- Saturday, Sept 12
- music from noon · Queen's Coronation 7 PM Harry J. Robinson fireworks 9:30 PM
- Sunday, Sept 13
- sunrise service 8:30 AM Captain Sands Memorial boat races 1 PM
- Ohio River Levee
- downtown Marietta · Post Street free admission all three days
- See You on the River
- sternwheel.org for the full schedule
Getting there and getting around
The whole festival is on the Ohio River levee, and Harmar Village is over the footbridge, two walkable districts joined by a pedestrian span.
Roughly 2h from Columbus, OH, 2h 15m from Pittsburgh, PA, door to door by car. Traffic moves the real number around on the day.
Where to eat is on the Marietta festival page, with phone numbers.
Also on around these dates
- Jackson, WY: Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, Sept 9–20
- Helen, GA: Helen Oktoberfest, Sept 10 – Nov 1
- Santa Fe, NM: La Fiesta de Santa Fe, Sept 5–13
- Solvang, CA: Solvang Danish Days, Sept 18–20
About these listings
Everything on this page is published for information only. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, its organisers, or any business in Marietta. Details come from public sources and organisers change them, so confirm anything you are relying on before you travel.
How FOG works while you do this
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Questions people actually ask
When is Ohio River Sternwheel Festival?
Sept 11–13, 2026, in Marietta, Ohio.
Where is Ohio River Sternwheel Festival held?
Ohio River Levee, in Marietta, Ohio.
How much is Ohio River Sternwheel Festival?
Free, as published by the organiser. Check their page for the current price.
Are you affiliated with the festival?
No. Everything here is published for information only. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any festival, organiser or business named on this page.
Does FOG need a data connection while I walk?
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