Nathan Jeffers/photo

Pictured is Butch Bonecutter with the City of Point Pleasant hanging up a banner in preparation for this weekend’s Tribute to the River Celebration.

slideshow

POINT PLEASANT — As the anticipation of Labor Day weekend and an extra day off from work and school grows, so does the excitement of the upcoming 2012 Tribute to the River Celebration.

Presented by the Point Pleasant River Museum, this year’s celebration marks the sixth year of this event and looks to be another exciting eventful time to spend with visiting relatives and friends. Among the list of events include towboat tours, inflatables, a Sternwheel boat parade, as well as other exhibits, contests, games, entertainment, and food.

Kicking off the line-up of events at 8 p.m. on Friday evening, August 31, at the Point Pleasant Riverfront Park will be Smith & Company, who will be performing several bluegrass selections. Then again starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, September 1, will be the tours of tugboats and the MV Standard, built at the Marietta Plant in 1923. The Point Pleasant River Museum also opens for business at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The itinerary for the rest of the day on Saturday is as follows:

10 a.m. — Riverworks Discovery; 11 a.m. — River Boat Whistle Blow, sign-ups for corn hole and line throw; Noon — Inflatable, slide and castle, children’s games and contests begin, corn hole and line throw competition begins; 1 p.m. — Calliope entertainment with Myron Duffield “King of the Calliope Players”; 2 p.m. — Sternwheel Boat Parade; 4 p.m. — Sing along with the Stars; 5 p.m. — Captain’s Dinner; 6 p.m. — All of the Above band; 7 p.m. —Memorial Service for deceased rivermen; 7:30 p.m. — Story teller Donna Wilson; 8 p.m. — Elimination Drawing; 8:30 p.m. — The Elsons-Gospel Music entertainers from New Martinsville.

Also participating in the event are the following companies: Amherst Madison, Inc.; AEP River Operations; Ingram Barge Co.; Corp of Engineers; Kanawha River Navy; American Sternwheel Association; WV Lottery; and Riverworks Discovery.

Admission to the Tribute to the River Celebration is free. For more information, contact the Point Pleasant River Museum at 304-674-0144, or museum@pprivermuseum.com.