Festivals
There is always a reason to celebrate life on the river!
East Region
East Liverpool
Tri-State Pottery Festival – Celebrating East Liverpool’s rich pottery heritage, this festival is held the third week-end in June.
Toronto
Annual Festival of the Arts – Art, crafts, food, live entertainment and lots of activities for the whole family make this a great Labor Day Weekend event.
Steubenville
Ohio Valley Frontier Days – Historic Fort Steuben opens its gates to soldiers, settlers, surveyors and Native American reenactors for two days of fun and history, the first weekend in June.
The Dean Martin Festival – A homecoming for fans of the Hollywood entertainer, usually held in June.
Central Region
Ironton
Rally on the River – These three days of river cruising fun includes music, a car show, a bike show, poker run, beer gardens and more each August.
Appalachian Uprising – Each June, the fastest growing Bluegrass festival in the nation convenes in Scottown at the Eden Valley Farm.
Portsmouth
River Days – Every Labor Day weekend, Portsmouth celebrates River Days at the Court Street Landing near the historic Boney fiddle district with free entertainment, arts and crafts, and lots of great food.
Roy Rogers Festival – Roy Rogers and Dale Evans fans have been gathering every summer for three decades to celebrate the King of the Cowboys and his cowgirl the first weekend of August with celebrities, memorabilia, and western fun
Southeast Region
Marietta
The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival – Celebrating the legacy of the historic riverboat town with sternwheels, fireworks, music and more is held each September the weekend after Labor Day.
Riverfront Roar – Every second weekend in July, the Ohio River Levee hosts some of the best in professional powerboat racing.
Sweetcorn Festival – Every third weekend in July.
Rivers, Trails and Ales Festival – Every second weekend in August, an outdoor adventure festival featuring three days of paddling, trekking, ales and music usually scheduled for August.
Pomeroy
Big Bend Blues Bash – The Pomeroy Blues & Jazz Society hosts dozens of the best acts in the genre for a three-day party on the river each July.
Sternwheel Riverfest – The three-day riverfront festival begins with a fire truck parade and includes live entertainment, a chili cook-off and line throwing competition.
Gallipolis
River Recreation Festival – Scheduled around July 4 each year, the two-day festival includes kids’ games, free concerts, and culminates in a fireworks display over the Ohio River.
Bob Evans Farm Festival – For more than 40 years the farm festival has been welcoming folks home each October with entertainment, handmade arts and crafts, farm contests and local food.
Gallia County BBQ – Held the 2nd weekend in September and offers a BBQ competition, family activities, kids games and live music.
West Region
Bockfest – Celebrating the coming of spring and the brewing industry each March.
Bunbury Festival – A major music festival takes place the second full weekend in July on the shores of the Ohio River.
Cincinnati May Festival – America’s premiere choral festival is held each May.
Cincinnati Music Festival – Originally the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival in 1962, the Macy’s Music Festival has grown into a two-day event on the riverfront each July featuring great music from the hottest starts in R&B, jazz, soul and hip-hop.
Cincinnati Wine Festival – The international wine festival is held each March.
Cincy-Cinco – Held in May, this is Cincinnati’s premiere Latino festival.
Festival of Lights – November and December is a special time at the zoo with lights on Swan Lake, a black light puppet shot, North Polar Express Train Ride and Fairyland with five hidden fairies.
Paddlefest – The annual June event combines paddling and music with Kids Expo- the largest environmental, nature and water safety education event for children in the Midwest.
Taste of Cincinnati USA – The nation’s longest running culinary arts festival takes place each Memorial Day weekend at Fountain Square.