The Pipes of St. Andrews were the opening act at the Harmar Days Festival on Friday night. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — Despite rain, a large crowd gathered as the Harmar Days Festival returned to the historic Harmar Village this Friday with new attractions, musical performances and a milestone celebration: the 40th anniversary of the Historic Harmar Bridge Company’s purchase of the Harmar Bridge in 1985.

The Historic Harmar Bridge Company Executive Director Natalie Bradley said the committee is especially excited about new additions this year.

“We have Track 9 this year, brand new to the festival, as well as a couple of others — Pickin’ on Country is another one,” she said. “These are just a few new things that we’ve done this year, and I’m super excited about the new people that we could pull in to hopefully pull in a new crowd.”

In addition to new performers, Bradley noted that the festival’s craft vendor section has grown significantly.

“We have it loaded tomorrow from corner to corner. We actually have 29 vendors who will be here,” she said.

Attendees to the Harmar Days Festival gathered around the beer garden on Friday evening for the first day of the weekend festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

The weekend-long celebration includes food trucks, craft vendors, a classic car cruise-in and live music across multiple stages. New food vendors have also joined the event, enhancing the experience for festivalgoers.

Derek Buell, chair of the board for the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, thanked the community and volunteers for their continued support.

“This organization owes [Natalie] everything,” he said. “We do this for this community, which has been so welcoming and supportive of our mission to improve people’s lives and livelihoods by restoring the pedestrian corridor back across the Muskingum River via the Harmar Bridge.”

The festival opened Friday evening with bagpipe music by the Pipes of St. Andrew and a welcome from emcee Ben Bradley.

Bradley also announced that the beer garden is now open for the weekend, following the official start of the festival at 6 p.m. Attendees must check in at the headquarters tent to obtain wristbands and beer tickets before visiting the beer area.

From left, The Historic Harmar Bridge Company Executive Director Natalie Bradley and Historic Harmar Bridge Company Board Chair Derek Buell welcome festival-goers to Friday night’s opening of the Harmar Days Festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

According to Bradley, dozens of sponsors helped make the event possible, including Ataraxia Properties and CAS Cable as platinum sponsors. Additional support came from local businesses and institutions like Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad, Riverview Credit Union, Huntington Bank, and the Marietta Community Foundation.

Harmar Days continues through Sunday with events and entertainment for all ages.

The full schedule is as follows:

SATURDAY

* 10 a.m — Welcome

* 10:30-11:30 a.m. — Past Prime Music

* 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Eleven live paintings followed by live auction

* 12-1 p.m. — High Schools that Rock

* 1-1:30 p.m. — Vocal Point – Marietta High School Choir

* 1:30-2:30 p.m. — Art demonstration: Stained glass

* 2-3 p.m. — The Mother Lovers

* 3-4 p.m. — Art demonstration: Ceramic painting

* 3:30-4:30 p.m. — Hannah & Levi Westfall

* 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Art demonstration: Woodblock carving

* 5-6:30 p.m. — Tanglewood Jam

* 7-8 p.m. — Red Sky Down

* 8:30-10 p.m. — Sour Mash String Band

SUNDAY

* 12 p.m. — Welcome

* 12-1 p.m. — Pickin’ Country

* 1-2 p.m. — Art Demonstration: Felting

* 1:30-3 p.m. — Matt the Phatman & Sasha

* 3-4 p.m. — Art Demonstration: Pottery

* 3:30-5 p.m. — Joshua Lee & The Nice Dream

* 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Happy Hour, half-price beer

* 5 p.m. — Harmar Days Festival raffle drawing