In this 2019 photo, winners of the Ohio River Festival Pageant watch the fireworks. This year’s festival is slated for today through Sunday at Riverfront Park in Ravenswood. (File Photo)
RAVENSWOOD — The Ohio River Festival begins today at 4 p.m. and runs through Sunday at Riverfront Park.
The first iteration of the Ohio River Festival began in 1935 to celebrate pioneer James Rumsey landing the first flatboat in Ravenswood.
The first festival featured a steamboat parade and speeches from prominent political figures at the time. Met with success, the festival became an annual event through the Ohio River Festival Association.
Today, the festival is celebrated to entertain a modern crowd. The event promises to include free inflatables and carnival rides, local vendors, live music performances, and plenty of food.
Saturday’s schedule includes two parades — the Grand Parade where floats will be judged for awards as well as a boat parade at Riverfront Park to call back to the original festival.
Awards from the Grand Parade include: the overall winner, best Jeep, best decorated float, most unique, best sports car, best antique car/truck, best musical group, best royalty, and best equestrian.
Music will be at the heart of the festival this year including a West Virginia resident with some national acclaim. Kate Boytek, a Logan native, will open the musical festival at 6:30 p.m. today. Boytek recently released a single titled “House Fire” that is receiving airplay nationally.
Winner of the 20th season of American Idol, Noah Thompson, will perform at 8 p.m. today following Boytek. Thompson is known for his song “Front Door Famous,” which he co-wrote with Luke Combs, Robert Snyder, Blake Densmore, and Nick Columbia. His other releases include “Make You Rich” and “One Day Tonight,” which shot to No. 1 on the charts
“I am so excited to perform this week at the Ohio River Festival with Noah,” Boytek said, “I cannot tell you how grateful I am and how blessed I feel to perform for all my home state friends.”
Other artists featured during the three-day festival will include Melissa Quinn Fox, Jack & Davis Reed, and Johnny Staats & the Delivery Boys.
Billy Dean, a country music staple and Grammy nominee, will headline the festival on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Dean is known for “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” and “Buy me a Rose.”
Following Dean’s performance, the festival promises a massive fireworks display to celebrate to wrap up the second night of the festival.
Entry to the Ohio River Festival is free and more information on the schedule and activities can be found at: cityofravenswood.com/ohio-river-festival.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com