Tina Turner tribute drives Sternwheel Festival fireworks display
Fireworks explode Saturday over the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This year’s display was a tribute to music icon Tina Turner. (Photo by Bruce Wunderlich)
Dino-ROAR! came back to town for the Sternwheel Festival. Dino-ROAR! was in Marietta the weekend of the Washington County Fair, and they came back to bring more fun to the area for the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Dennis Blauser, Sternwheel Fireworks Chairman, said that the Sternwheel festival typically brings in 150,000 people over the three days. This weekend was no different. Despite the overcast weather Individuals from all over came to the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Locals and travelers alike turned out to listen to the Gypsy River Band Sunday afternoon. The Gypsy River Band was one of the many artists who performed this weekend, such as Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute singer, Highway 96, CRUSH (a Bon Jovi tribute band) and lots of local talent. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Fireworks explode Saturday over the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival. This year’s display was a tribute to music icon Tina Turner. (Photo by Bruce Wunderlich)
Dino-ROAR! came back to town for the Sternwheel Festival. Dino-ROAR! was in Marietta the weekend of the Washington County Fair, and they came back to bring more fun to the area for the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Dennis Blauser, Sternwheel Fireworks Chairman, said that the Sternwheel festival typically brings in 150,000 people over the three days. This weekend was no different. Despite the overcast weather Individuals from all over came to the Sternwheel Festival. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Locals and travelers alike turned out to listen to the Gypsy River Band Sunday afternoon. The Gypsy River Band was one of the many artists who performed this weekend, such as Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute singer, Highway 96, CRUSH (a Bon Jovi tribute band) and lots of local talent. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
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MARIETTA -- This year's Sternwheel Festival came to a close on Sunday. According to Fireworks Chairman Dennis Blauser, the fireworks were "absolutely fabulous."
This year, they tried out some new fireworks they had never used before, some of which had to be imported from other countries. The fireworks, like usual, were coordinated to music; this year they coordinated the fireworks to music by Tina Turner, who died in May at age 83, and other artists.
"The crowd loved it," said Blauser.
On Friday, Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute artist played as live entertainment.
Highway 96 played before and after the fireworks Saturday, and CRUSH, a Bon Jovi tribute band, closed out the festival on Sunday. Sprinkled between the big headliners were tons of local talent such as Bruce Haas Trio, Division Street, and singer songwriter Charlie Brewer.
"It's a great opportunity for the family to get together," said Blauser, referring to the Sternwheel Festival. "It's like a homecoming celebration.
Blauser says that the Sternwheel Festival is a family based show and brings in tourists from around the globe.
"I've talked to folks from California and South Africa and everywhere in between," said Blauser.