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Multiple events keep downtown hopping

Over 100 kayaks —with a few paddleboards — paddled between Point Park and Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park on Saturday morning as the main event of this year’s Parkerburg Paddlefest. The Ohio River was closed to barge traffic several hours Saturday to accommodate the paddlers. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

PARKERSBURG — Downtown Parkersburg was bustling with crowds to enjoy Paddlefest, Riverfest and the Downtown Throwdown BBQ and Brewfest on Saturday.

The main event for the 2019 Parkersburg Paddlefest started Saturday morning with kayakers and paddleboarders gathering at Point Park in downtown Parkersburg.

Mark Lewis, director of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau which organizes Paddlefest, said 80 people were pre-registered for Saturday’s event. Eventually about 130 people participated in the paddling event.

That is a very positive sign since the Paddlefest had to be canceled last year due to heavy rains and high water, he said. Lewis said Paddlefest began Friday night with a glow paddle featuring lighted kayaks on the Little Kanawha River which drew 150 paddlers, twice the participation from the last one in 2017.

“We’re really pleased that with that year break, we had so many participants (Friday night) and (Saturday),” he said.

Participants in the 2019 Parkersburg Paddlefest put their kayaks in the water at Point Park on Saturday morning. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

Lewis said he was pleased with all that was taking place this weekend in downtown Parkersburg with the Paddlefest, Riverfest and the Downtown Throwdown event.

From 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, the section of the Ohio River between Point Park and Blennerhassett Island was closed to commercial traffic giving the paddlers a safer venue for the event. The paddlers were able to paddle to the island, spend several hours enjoying its attractions and other activities and paddle back to Point Park.

Lucas Martin and Tracey Sartor, both of Parkersburg, were participating in Paddlefest for the first time Saturday. Both have been kayaking for a short time, Sartor about two years and Martin about five years. They have participated in a few similar events, like Marietta’s River Trails and Ales Festival, and decided to try Parkersburg Paddlefest after learning about it on social media.

“It’s a good sense of community,” Sartor said of the event. “(Friday) night was great, the glow paddle was amazing.”

Both said they hope to return to Paddlefest in the future.

Mathew Koukios, Mike Casto, Jerry Townsend, and Toby Nichols, each from Parkersburg, came out to enjoy the food, drink and listen to the evening’s second band Jinxed. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

Donald Stewart, of Parkersburg, was also participating in Paddlefest for the first time after a friend recommended it.

“I thought it looked like a good time. I’ve visited the island before by the ferry so I thought I would try it by smaller boat,” said Stewart, who has been kayaking part time for the last decade.

He especially liked the fact that Paddlefest arranged for barge traffic to be absent for several hours. That meant less concern about safety and more enjoyment of the experience since he didn’t need to watch for the large vessels.

Paddlefest concludes today with a farewell lake paddling excursion at North Bend State Park Lake.

Riverfest, also happening at Point Park over the weekend, drew a steady crowd of people to enjoy the sternwheelers and live music.

Julie Gillespy and her friend Connie Sams enjoy the food at the Downtown Throwdown BBQ and Brewfest on Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

For dinner time, well over 1,500 people made their way to Bicentennial Park for the fifth annual Downtown Throwdown BBQ and Brewfest

“When we do events such as Taste of Parkersburg and the brewfest, they are fundraisers for Downtown PKB, and the money spent is put back into the community through projects and programs,” said Wendy Shriver, executive director of Downtown PKB.

As far as the barbeque went, there were many local restaurants and food trucks that set up a tent and sold different samples of their food, but the Parkersburg Brewery was the only local beer sold this year.

“This is our first year, as the event always falls on our companies anniversary,” said Kenzi Amos, assistant manager of the Parkersburg Brewery.

“We are so glad to be able to be out here this year and support the revitalization of the downtown area, it is important to keep it home and support all the local businesses, so this event is perfect for that,” Amos said.

Well over 1,500 people made their way to Bicentennial Park for the fifth annual Downtown Throwdown BBQ and Brewfest on Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

The Convicted Pigs and Q-Wagon had long lines from the moment the gates opened, as people tried and voted for the best barbeque of the event.

“We eat Q-Wagon all the time, but last year the Convicted Pigs won, so we thought we would try them this year and then cast our vote,” said Cassi Hitt, who was attending the event for the second time with her husband Lance.

The winner was announced before the evening was over, with Convicted Pigs becoming the Throwdown’s first consecutive winner.

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