TOPIC: Sat. July 30 Ohio River Ferryboat Festival

The Cleveland BMWMOC club said this was a fun ride for a good cause and are going again this year.

SISTERSVILLE - The second annual Ohio River Ferryboat Festival will be held 9 a.m.-9 p.m. July 30 in Sistersville and Fly, Ohio.

This inter-community event is a dual celebration between Monroe County, Ohio, and Tyler County, W.Va. Vendor setup is free. Those interested in the festival can call Alex King at 304-771-8835.



For the cost of $1 per person per trip ($1 is the cost of walk-on rides), visitors can ride back and forth to experience what both sides of the river have to offer.

Those who ride the ferryboat during the festival, either by walk-on or vehicle, are eligible to win prizes. People will be counted each time they cross.

The 500th passenger of the day (regardless of how many times they have ridden previously during the day) will win the grand prize of a two-hour ferryboat cruise with a free buffet-style dinner for themselves and 24 guests. The cruise will be scheduled after the festival. The dinner will be provided by Marv's Place Diner of Sardis, Ohio.

Those who visit will have the chance to purchase limited-edition commemorative mugs honoring the 2016 Ohio River Ferryboat Festival as well as a special run of King's Blingz Pendants featuring the Sistersville Ferry on them. Those donated items will help raise funds for future festivities, a press release states.

The festival began last year following successful fundraising efforts in which the community at large - including both sides of the Ohio River and ferryboat fans from all over the country - helped raise upward of $20,000 to ensure the service's future, officials said. Events and vendors will be set up on both sides of the river, by the ferryboat landing and the Riverview Restaurant in Ohio and along Riverside Drive in Sistersville.

Last year the large amount of ridership during the Ohio River Ferryboat Festival helped to generate approximately $1,500 in revenue for the ferry, officials said.

SISTERSVILLE SIDE:
* 8-10 a.m.: Vendor setup
* 10 a.m.: Opening ceremony
* 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Black Diamond Wrestling (pro-wrestling) near the Veterans Park
* 1-3 p.m.: Dunk Tank (dunk the mayor/public officials)
* 3-4:30 p.m.: Firefighters Water Battle
* 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Bobby Maynard & Breakdown (bluegrass band from Huntington)

* Other entertainment and activities are expected to include a free swim at Sistersville Pool, which is close to the ferryboat landing; Danny Westfall and his Bubble Wagon that creates giant bubbles, and carriage rides pulled by horses or mules.

FLY, Ohio SIDE:
Historic Tuel's Landing Riverfront Park, 33314 State Route 7, Fly, OH 43946.
* 8-9 a.m.: Vendor setup
* 9 a.m.: Opening ceremony
* 3 to 5 p.m.: Steel Casa, a steel drum band
* 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Price Sisters, performing on fiddle and mandolin

Ohio River ferry keeps Sistersville connected -- WV Gazette

"Before There Were Bridges" -- Beaver County Times