Crowds flow into Ravenswood’s Ohio River Festival
The Powerboat National Races took place this weekend at the Ravenswood Ohio River Festival. (Photo by Candice Black)
People gathered along the river during Ravenswood’s Ohio River Festival to watch the Powerboat National Races. (Photo by Candice Black)
Hunter, 6, and Remy, 5, sat along the river in Ravenswood this weekend to watch the boat races. (Photo by Candice Black)
The Powerboat National Races took place this weekend at the Ravenswood Ohio River Festival. (Photo by Candice Black)
People gathered along the river during Ravenswood’s Ohio River Festival to watch the Powerboat National Races. (Photo by Candice Black)
Hunter, 6, and Remy, 5, sat along the river in Ravenswood this weekend to watch the boat races. (Photo by Candice Black)
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RAVENSWOOD -- People from all over the area gathered along the Ohio River this weekend to check out the activities at the Ohio River Festival in Ravenswood.
The festival began Friday, and coordinator Connie Dunlap said the event started with a decent crowd of people who came to listen to live music.
Dunlap said one of the most popular events at the festival is the Powerboat National Races which were sponsored by Constellium.
"This was really a big draw. You don't find them a lot in this area; people come from all over," she said.
This year, the races were a little bit different with bigger and faster boats. The E 350 hydroplanes can reach speeds up to 115 miles per hour.
The races were organized by the American Power Boat Association, the governing body for power boat racing.
"As technology progresses, boats become faster, easier to handle and safer. This means that U.S., North American and world records are set yearly," the APBA website said.
More than 150 races worldwide are hosted by the APBA, with the Ohio River Festival one of many race destinations around the world.
Miss Jackson County and recent Ravenswood High School graduate Annie Hunt loves coming to the Ohio River Festival every year and enjoys watching the races.
"I think it's awesome; I've been waiting all day for this," she said.
Hunt also enjoys spending time with her family and listening to live music.
"We love the band; we're big music people," she said.
Several events took place over the weekend such as live music, fireworks, a car and bike show, a scavenger hunt, fireworks and a parade.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.