Ohio River Sternwheel Festival summertime hit
Published Thursday, July 31, 2008, The Marietta Times
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival which occurs every year on the weekend after Labor Day, has been voted Best Community Event in the area for the Marietta Times 2008 Readers' Choice survey.
The first Sternwheel Festival was held the weekend after Labor Day, 2976 in order to encourage tourism in Marietta as well as help preserve the riverboat heritage of the area.
Preparations for the 33rd annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival began in October last year, only three weeks after last years' festival, said Evy Bryant, director general of the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.
Afterward, monthly meetings are held to arrange and discuss arrangements and fund raisers for the event.
"Most of the work happens in the spring," said Bryant.
She said that many music events and even a breakfast fund raiser are used, and that a lot of money for the event is raised during the festival itself.
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is a non-profit organization operating on a budget of approximately $140,000 annually, with funding through the sales of souvenirs, private donations, corporate sponsors and fund raising events held throughout the year, according to their Web site. Their committee is made up strictly of 85 volunteers.
Over the past 33 years, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival has attracted tens of thousands of people to Marietta during the weekend event, as well as 30 to 35 authentic sternwheel boats.
"I'd say the peak time is the fireworks show, and it's been estimated that 80,000 to 100,000 people attend the show each year," said Bryant.
"We're a little more focused on children this year," she said. They have added a 5K run and fun walk to this year's activities, as well as time set aside from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday for childrens' activities. Registration for the run and walk can be done through the organizations's Web site; www.ohioriversternwheelfestival.org.
Along with these new events, there will be a Little Miss and Little Mr. Sternwheel Pageant, a Rollin' Oldies car show and a Photo Contest.
All events are free and food and beverage will be provided by various vendors throughout the weekend.
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival committee was very excited to find that they were chosen as the area's best festival, according to Bryant.
"We're just glad the community likes it as much as we do," she said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reigning queen ready to give up crown, Sternwheel pageant a tradition
By Erin E. O'Neill, ,eoneill@mariettatimes.com Published August 18, 2008, The Marietta Times
Nicole Erb, center, reacts when she is chosen as Queen Genevieve for the 2007 Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. Times file photo.
It's almost time again for the annual Ohio River Sternwheel Festival which includes music, food, fireworks and the Queen Genevieve pageant.
Nicole Erb represented Beverly last year and was chosen from among eight candidates between the ages of 17 and 22 from all over the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The decision of who will be crowned Queen Genevieve is made by a panel of judges at the scholarship pageant, and their scores are tabulated by a local accounting firm. This year's pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Washington State Community College's Graham Auditorium. The selection of Queen Genevieve will be announced at the coronation ceremony Sept. 6.
Question: How did you learn about the Queen Genevieve pageant and what was the process like to apply?
Answer: When I was little, I always went to the Sternwheel Festival and I knew about the pageant. I knew it as a scholarship pageant, and I thought it would be a great opportunity.
So I went online and filled out an application, which asked you to write a bio including your goals in life and your achievements. Then there was an interview process with the judges, an evening gown competition and an onstage interview.
I think I did my best in the personal interview. It gave me an opportunity to show my personality and to show I was confident in representing the Sternwheel Festival and Marietta.
Q: On your application you had to name your ambition in life. What did you say and has it changed?
A: Well I finished one of them which was to complete my biology degree, and I'm going on to the next one. But it really hasn't changed. I didn't list just one ambition because I always hope to do more and more with my life.
Q: What are some of the perks of having the title? How much is the scholarship?
A: I won $1,750 and I won a resume competition for Washington State which was $500, so I was awarded $2,250 in all. That's almost a whole year (in tuition) at Washington State so that was great.
We also got to go on the boats and I watched the fireworks from a sternwheeler, which was great. I was also in a lot of parades, and I just judged the Little Miss and Mr. Belpre contest last weekend.
Q: What have some of your duties been and what have been some of your favorites?
A: I really enjoyed judging the Little Miss and Mr. pageant. It was hysterical, really fun. I've also enjoyed speaking on behalf of the Sternwheel Festival. I have a good sense of community, and I love Marietta.
Q: What will your role be in this year's Sternwheel Festival?
A: I'm going to emcee the Little Miss and Mr. Sternwheel pageant and attend the Captains' Dinner. But really I'm just going to support the girls because they may have a lot of questions about how things work.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FACT BOX:
Nicole Erb
Age: 23
Address: Represented Beverly in 2007 pageant, now lives in Coolville.
Family: Parents, Dennis and Charlene; younger brother, Jared
Education: Graduated from Washington State with an associate of science degree in biology; currently in her second year of the medical laboratory technician program
- The 2008 Queen Genevieve pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Washington State Community College's Graham Auditorium. The selection of Queen Genevieve will be announced at the coronation ceremony Sept. 6 at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival.
- For more information: www.ohioriversternwheelfestival.org