MARIETTA — The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival committee has designated street closures for the weekend event, and this year shows no changes from previous festivals.

Starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, the 100 blocks of Greene and South Second streets were scheduled for closure, and the 100 block Front Street will be restricted to local traffic only. Motorists going through downtown on State Routes 7 or 60 should use Third Street.

Today at noon, the 100 block Second Street (north of Greene) and the 200 block Greene Street will close, and at 5 p.m. the 100 and 200 blocks Ohio Street will be closed and all traffic on the 100 block Front Street will be prohibited.

On Saturday night during the fireworks display, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., no pedestrians will be allowed on the Williamstown Bridge.

All streets reopen at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The street closures will allow setup of the numerous itinerant vendors that come to the festival and minimize traffic conflict with the thousands of pedestrians coming to the events, which include nearly back-to-back live music at the levee starting tonight and continuing through Sunday morning.

Parking will be available nearby at a big lot on Second Street between Butler and Greene streets, first-come, first-served, for $5 on Friday and $10 on Saturday, sternwheel festival committee president Stacy Frederick said.

Overflow parking will be available in the lot of the Marietta Municipal Court building on Butler Street, and festival patrons also can park at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Shuttles from the fairgrounds, Frederick said, will run on the hour today from 6-11 p.m.. Saturday from 10 a.m. to late evening, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shuttle service is free, Frederick said.

Handicapped parking is available at no cost in the CMAC lot on the southeast corner of Greene and Butler streets, she said.

In addition to the fixed address shops and restaurants downtown, festival visitors will have numerous mobile food service and merchandise vendors to choose from.

Frederick said 16 food trucks will be set up, including several not seen at sternwheel festivals in the past.

“There will be quite a variety of new things, like Mexican, gourmet burgers, warm fruit cobbler, non-alcoholic frozen drinks, and a mobile sports bar,” she said.

The list of food and beverage sellers includes Busy Bee, Camp Hervida, the Civitan Club, Country Roads Kettle Corn, Coco Bongo, DeChellis, Fair Foods, Flight of the Concessions, Jamie’s Apple Treats, Kiis Bloomin’ Onion, Kona Ice, Lupita Food Truck by Cozumel, the Marietta Noon Lions, Marietta Tiger Athletic Boosters, Sprankle Concessions and Triple L Concessions.

Merchandise and crafts vendors will number 22, ranging from Africana clothing and accessories to Amish dips and jellies.

This year’s festival is the 44th. The event is organized by a committee with a budget of about $140,000 and the efforts of scores of volunteers. The committee estimates that it brings 100,000 people to Marietta, along with up to 35 sternwheel boats, over the course of the weekend.

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If You Go…

* What: Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

* When: Friday through Sunday

* Where: Downtown Marietta

* Cost: Free

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At a Glance

Today

All musical entertainment will be held at the Ohio River levee

* 6 p.m.: Opening ceremonies at the levee

* 7 p.m.: Steve and Beverly Pottmeyer

* 7:30 p.m.: Little Miss and Mr. Sternwheel Pageant in the Lafayette Hotel Ballroom

* 8 p.m.: Stallion

* 9 p.m.: Pop/rock band ‘Oak & Ash’

* 10 p.m.: Blues/rock band ‘The Blue Stones’

Saturday

* Noon: Marietta High School Wall of Sound

* Noon: Children’s Activities at the Gazebo on the corner of Ohio and Third streets

* 1 p.m.: Marietta High School Choir – Vocal Point

* 2 p.m.: Two Buds and a Slap Box

* 3 p.m.: Anthony Mossburg

* 4 p.m.: Four on the Floor

* 5 p.m.: Track 9

* 6 p.m.: Jake Binegar

* 6:30 p.m.: Anthony Mossburg

* 7 p.m.: Coronation of Queen Genevieve on the barge

* 7:30 p.m.: Jake Binegar

* 8 p.m.: Track 9

* 9 p.m.: Simply Queen

* 9:30 p.m.: Harry J. Robinson Memorial Fireworks

* 10 p.m.: Simply Queen

Sunday

* 8 a.m.: Sunrise service at the levee

* 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Car show on Second Street in Marietta.

* 10 a.m.: Alfie and Omegas

* 11 a.m.: Sons of Maverick

* Noon: The Settlement Band

* Noon: Children’s Activities at Gazebo on the corner of Ohio and Third streets

* 1 p.m.: Captain James E. Sands Memorial Races on the Ohio River

* 2 p.m.: The Settlement Band

* 2:30 p.m.: Motown Sounds of Touch