For the past 11 years, the Marietta Riverfront Roar has been bringing powerboat racers, spectators, fans and those looking for a fun time to the area.
During the 12th annual event this weekend, attendees can count on the same level of excitement, as well as some new events, to lure them to the levee, said those planning the event.
"We have a lot of different activities planned," said Gary Williams, chair of the Riverfront Roar committee.
Among those are a National Guard climbing wall, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Nextel Cup car on display, a K-9 demonstration from the Marietta police department and a pull-up challenge sponsored by the Marines.
The Run for the Roar 5K and Tot Trot will be held Saturday morning and Williams said people can register up to the day of the event.
"We typically are able to give half, about $600 to 700, to the Humane Society (of the Ohio Valley) and half goes back to the Roar to help sustain the event," he said.
Fact Box
Riverfront Roar schedule
Friday
Noon to 5 p.m. - Road closures (Front Street from Butler to Greene, Greene Street from Third to Front, Second Street from Butler to Greene, and Ohio Street from the levee to Third), concessionaires set up.
5 p.m. - Powerboats on display on Front, Greene and Second streets.
6 to 9 p.m. - Merchants and Artist Walk, downtown Marietta and Harmar Village.
5 p.m to midnight - Beer garden with live entertainment at the Pepsi Pavilion, located in the city parking lot between the Lafayette Hotel and the Ohio River.
5 to 5:30 p.m. - Live entertainment begins with High Schools That Rock.
5:30 to 6 p.m. - Jessica's Dance Company.
6 to 6:30 p.m. - Carpe Diem (Acoustic rock).
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Matt Enik Band (Country).
7:30 to 8 p.m. - Amanda Sams (Solo Performer).
8 to 9:30 p.m. - The Faculty (Variety).
9:30 to10 p.m. - Gels Dance Centre.
10 -noon "Roar's Got Talent" (Talent Competition).
Saturday
7 a.m. - Registration begins for Run for The Roar, armory lawn Front Street.
8 to 9:15 a.m. - Run for the Roar roadrace.
9:15 to 9:30 a.m. - Run for The Roar Tot Trot, armory lawn Front Street.
9:30 to 9:45 a.m. - Run for the Roar awards presentation.
10 a.m. - Powerboats on the Ohio River for testing and fine-tuning.
10 a.m. - Beer garden opens.
Noon - Opening ceremonies, Ohio River Levee.
1 p.m. - Heat races begin.
12:30 to 12:45 p.m. - MOV'n Dragons Demonstration.
5 p.m. - Heat races conclude.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Live entertainment begins with Triple Threat (Classic & Southern Rock).
6 to 7 p.m. - Columbus Zoo Safari at the armory location (time subject to change).
6:30 to 7 p.m. - Marietta Dance Academy.
7 to 8 p.m. - Jinx'd (Rock).
8 to 8:30 p.m. - Brittany Fox (Solo performer).
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. - Insured Sound (Variety).
9:30 to 9:50 p.m. - Fireworks at the levee.
9:50 p.m. to midnight - Live entertainment continues on stage with Audio Outlaws (Country).
Sunday
9 to 11 a.m. - Registration and set up for Pioneer Corvette Show at the armory.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Pioneer Corvette Club Car Show - Entry is $10. There will be door prizes. T-shirts for the first 50 entrants. Awards for the top 25 cars. All makes and models welcome.
10 a.m. - Powerboats on the Ohio River, beer garden open noon to 5 p.m.
Noon - Opening ceremonies on the levee.
12:30 to 12:45 p.m. - MOV'n Dragons demonstration.
1 to 4 p.m. - Final races.
4:30 p.m. - Vadakin Cup and trophies awarded.
Another popular event is Roar's Got Talent, which will be held Friday from 10 p.m. to midnight. Registration forms can be found at www.mariettariverfrontroar.org.
"We have celebrity judges and cash prizes and some people say it is their favorite event," Williams said. "The crowd is great and very encouraging."
An event that is suspected to be popular with families is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Safari show, which is planned for 6 p.m. at the armory on Front Street.
"They will have a truckload of small animals, reptiles, birds, whatever animals can travel," said Williams, adding that the exhibit is made possible this year through the sponsorship of the Bartlett Farmers Bank.
"There are a lot of things going on that aren't race related that people can just come down to the river and enjoy," he said.
For many, events like this mean entertainment, as well as fireworks and festival food.
Louise Gwinn is on the vendor relations committee for the Roar and said that she and husband Sam get a jump on organizing as soon as the ground starts to thaw.
"We send out letters in early March to find out who can come," she said. "We try to find a lot of variety. We don't want repetition."
This year's offerings are kind of like the United Nations of food vendors, according to Gwinn.
"I've never seen so much variety," she said.
Food vendors will include kettle corn, Star of India, filipino, Mexican and Italian cuisine, funnel cakes and cotton candy, blooming onions, hot dogs, Marietta Lions Club famous fries and more.
The races will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Williams said that Marietta has once again been chosen as the favorite destination by the Powerboat Superleague.
"(The drivers) like the layout and the fact that they can park the boats on the street and interact with the fans," he said. "They don't get to do that anywhere else so (Marietta) is unique."
