POMEROY, Ohio – Drew Webster Post # 39 The American Legion Honor Guard led the opening ceremonies for the Pomeroy Sternwheel Regatta Thursday night on the Pomeroy Levee, which included a flag raising.

The national anthem was then sung by Channel 13 meteorologist Bryan Hughes aboard his paddle steamer, the Katie H. Hughes is a member of the American Sternwheel Association, and spends her weekends on the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. .

Hughes said he sang the national anthem at many festivals and events and was happy to have been invited to do so at this year’s Sternwheel Regatta.

The opening ceremonies followed the 5th Annual Jim Sisson Fire Truck Parade, named in his honor after his passing in 2018. Sisson was a retired Pomeroy firefighter and former team leader as well as a member of the council of the village of Pomeroy.

The parade was led by this year’s Grand Marshal, the family of Guido and Vidia Girolami. Girolami was a US Army veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, and a member of Post # 39. He died in 2010.

The parade and ceremonies were set against the backdrop of the Ohio River, where paddle steamers had gathered to begin their first night at the festival. Others were due to arrive because the activities are scheduled until today.

The Sternwheel Regatta will culminate with the announcement of the Sternwheel model winner on Saturday night at 9 p.m., followed by fireworks along the river at 10 p.m.

Program for Saturday Sept. 25:

8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. – Registration for the River Rat Club 5K race at the lower end of the parking lot (not yet confirmed);

9 a.m. – 5K River Rat Club 5K Run (not yet confirmed);

8 am-11:30am – Breakfast served at the Pomeroy Eagles open to the public and registration for the Poker Walk;

9 am-10am – Registration for the Kayak poker run at lock 24 in Racine;

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Chili cuisine in the upper parking lot, first place $ 300; Second place $ 200; Third place $ 100;

10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Poker Walk Downtown Pomeroy, first place $ 100;

10:00 am – 11:30 pm – Opening of food vendors and artisans;

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Kayak poker Run from lock 24 on the banks of the Pomeroy river;

11 am – 11 pm – Sale of beer tents and t-shirts on the dike;

12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Cornhole tournament, lower parking lot;

2 p.m.-8 p.m. – DJ Kip Greaser (riverside);

4-5 p.m. – Beard Man registration (Pomeroy Eagles Club);

4 p.m. – Hula Hoop competition for children;

5 p.m. – Two Rivers Cloggers (gazebo in the parking lot);

5 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Big Bend Beard Man Contest (Pomeroy Eagles Social Hall);

5 pm-6pm – Duck Derby; $ 500 first place winner, $ 200 second place, $ 100 third place, $ 50 last place for the duck, 1,000 ducks running until the finish, during the race, four tickets will be drawn for prices ;

5 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Horse-drawn carriage rides at the corner of Court Street and Main Street;

5-9 p.m. – Divide the pot;

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – The captain and the first officer cook (by the river);

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Carl Acuff Jr. Show Since 1992, the Carl Acuff Jr. Variety Showband has become an American institution, according to information provided by Regatta. Features new and old country, gospel, comedy, nostalgic rock, motown, nightclub, audience participation, knockoffs and of course a salute to all the uniformed men and women of the past, of the present and the future. The show is “sure to have you on your feet,” according to the organizers.

9:00 p.m. – Announce the winners of the basket raffle and the winner of the Sternwheel model;

10 p.m. – Fireworks (along the Pomeroy river).

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Red Sky Down from Marietta, Ohio performs on Pomeroy Levee after the opening ceremonies of the Pomeroy Sternwheel Regatta.

Drew Webster Post # 39 presents the colors at the Sternwheel Regatta Opening Ceremony on Thursday evening.

The regatta’s national anthem was sung by Channel 13 meteorologist Bryan Hughes, pictured with his paddle steamer, the Katie H.

Paddle steamers dock along the seawall at Pomeroy for the annual regatta.

Visitors to the Pomeroy Sternwheel Regatta wave from the shore of the Ohio River.

Racine makes an appearance in the 5th Annual Jim Sisson Memorial Fire Truck Parade.

The 5th Annual Jim Sisson Memorial Fire Truck Parade traveled downtown with fire trucks from across Meigs County, including Tuppers Plains.

The sun sets on the first evening of the Pomeroy Sternwheel regatta which continues until Saturday, September 25.

Lorna Hart is a freelance writer for Ohio Valley Publishing.