Art Stroll at the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

About the event

The riverside streets of historic Marietta will come alive the second weekend of September with art, music, shopping, great food and celebration during the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival 50th Anniversary and the Art Stroll (Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm) has become a main attraction! Presented as part of the beloved Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, the Art Stroll will transform Marietta into a colorful outdoor marketplace filled with creativity, community spirit, and small-town charm. Visitors can wander through the scenic streets near the Ohio River and discover a carefully curated collection of talented artisans from across the region and beyond. Guests will enjoy shopping for original paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodworking, photography, fiber art, handcrafted décor, gourmet treats, and one-of-a-kind handmade treasures while soaking in the festive atmosphere of the Sternwheel weekend celebration. Throughout the stroll, artists will be demonstrating their creative processes, giving visitors an inside look at the inspiration and craftsmanship behind their work. Beyond the festival… local shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces throughout downtown Marietta will join in the festivities, making the Art Stroll a full-day experience perfect for families, friends, collectors, and festival-goes alike. The event will also feature live art experiences, family-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to relax, explore, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the Mid-Ohio Valley’s most treasured traditions. With the beautiful Ohio River as its backdrop and authentic sternwheelers lining the waterfront, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Art Stroll offers visitors the perfect blend of art, history, shopping, and riverfront magic. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, artist applications, sponsorship opportunities, or volunteer details, please visit .

Dates

Sep 12, 2026 · 9:00 AM - Sep 12, 2026 · 5:00 PM(GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

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Location

Ohio, United States

Ohio St, Marietta, Ohio 45750, United States

Directions

Parking instructions

Parking opportunities are located nearby for attendees and participants. Check the website at for more details closer to the festival dates!

Health & safety

The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival Art Stroll is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for all artists, vendors, volunteers, and guests. Participants are expected to follow all applicable local, state, and federal health and safety regulations, as well as any event-specific guidelines in place at the time of the festival. The festival reserves the right to make adjustments to procedures, layouts, or operations as needed to support the health, safety, and well-being of everyone involved.

Artists, vendors & exhibitors applications

Interested in applying:

2 active applications

Art Stroll: Artist Application

Deadline: Jul 01, 2026

Apply now

The STERNWHEEL ART STROLL (SAS, for short)...

is calling all makers, creators and artists… 🎨

The 50th Anniversary of the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is happening… and the crowds are going to be BIG... Like… really big 👀

Thousands upon thousands will flood the streets of Marietta, Ohio ...

named #1 Best Historical Small Town by Newsweek in 2025

& featured HGTV's top 50 list most CHARMING CITIES of America

We invite you to join one of ORSF's featured events,

STERNWHEEL ART STROLL, Saturday, September 12th!

If your work It your work is handmade, heart-made, and a “I’ve never seen anything like that…” kind-of-creation—we want YOU.

🖌️Painting•🏺Pottery•💍Jewelry•🧵Textiles•🪵Wood•& more

✨ Set in the 💛 of the beloved Ohio River Sternwheel Festival

🎉 > 100,000+ will attend this festival!
👀 Show is Juried for a beautifully curated experience

📅 SAS Applications open May 7 – July 1

📬 Notifications by July 6th (with waitlist opportunity)

⚠️ WARNING: This might become your NEW FAVORITE yearly show! You will absolutely fall in love with everything about Marietta, Ohio—the beauty of the Ohio River, the rich history of the town… and most importantly… the warmth of it's people 💛 and the treasured visitors make the journey each year to our festival of Sternwheel boats and mind-blowing fireworks.

YOUTH Art Stroll: Artist Application

Deadline: Jul 01, 2026

Apply now

🎨 CALLING ALL YOUTH + EMERGING ARTISTS (17 & UNDER)!

The Sternwheel ART STROLL (or SAS, for short 😉) is looking for the next generation of wildly creative makers, dreamers, and artists!

✨ ONLY 6 YOUTH SPOTS AVAILABLE ✨
(Artists 17 & younger must bring an adult.)

The 50th Anniversary of the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is going to be HUGE… like… REALLY huge 👀 --> So be sure to bring your tribe of helpful family members (they work for YOU this day)!

Thousands upon thousands of visitors will flood the streets of Marietta (recently named Newsweek’s #1 Best Historic Small Town in America and featured among HGTV’s most charming small towns) and we want YOUR art to be part of the magic 💛

If your creations are handmade, imaginative, expressive, colorful, bold, quirky, joyful, meaningful—or make people stop and say “WAIT… YOU made THAT?!”

… then we want YOU.

🖌️ Painting
🏺 Pottery
💍 Jewelry
🧵 Fiber & Textile Art
🪵 Woodworking
✨ Mixed Media & More

🎉 Featured during one of the Midwest’s most beloved festivals
👀 Over 100,000+ festivalgoers attend each year
🎨 Youth artists will exhibit alongside talented regional makers
📅 Applications Open: May 7 – July 1
📬 Notifications Sent: by July 6

⚠️ FAIR WARNING: This is going to be a WHOLE LOTTA FUN!! (Plus) You’ll fall in love with the energy of Marietta, the beauty of the Ohio River, the sternwheel boats, the fireworks, the artists, the crowds… and the feeling of seeing people connect with something YOU created. 💛

Terms & Conditions

See Artisan Terms and Conditions

Hosted by OHIO RIVER STERNWHEEL FESTIVAL

Joined Eventeny in March 2026

1 event

Marietta, Ohio, United States