Niya Bennett, 6, of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, stretches out her arms to hug Sylvia Pierson dressed as Rapunzel (not pictured) who was with other princesses and a prince (background) from the Children's Theatre of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä at the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza Thursday, July 3, 2025. Princesses pictured are (from left) Loretta Thurmond as Mary Poppins; Kylie Curnutte as Arial from Little Mermaid; Mariella Rice as Alice; Jojo Abbott as Cinderella; Malia Saar as Anna, Brylie Smolder as Elsa and Brock Tanner as Prince Hans, all from Frozen.
Professor Bubblemaker, of Parkersburg, makes bubbles of varying sizes for folks attending the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza on Thursday, June 3, 2025.
Professor Bubblemaker, of Parkersburg, makes a giant bubble around ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin at the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza on Thursday, June 3, 2025. The 2025 Sternwheel Regatta kicked off Thursday.
Niya Bennett, 6, of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, stretches out her arms to hug Sylvia Pierson dressed as Rapunzel (not pictured) who was with other princesses and a prince (background) from the Children's Theatre of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä at the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza Thursday, July 3, 2025. Princesses pictured are (from left) Loretta Thurmond as Mary Poppins; Kylie Curnutte as Arial from Little Mermaid; Mariella Rice as Alice; Jojo Abbott as Cinderella; Malia Saar as Anna, Brylie Smolder as Elsa and Brock Tanner as Prince Hans, all from Frozen.
CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Harley Smith, 7, and her family were passing through ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Thursday afternoon on their way to Ohio from North Carolina. She got to meet her favorite Disney princess, Rapunzel, at Thursday’s Princess Party at the Family Fun Zone.
The princesses (and one prince) were teen volunteers from the Children’s Theatre of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Sheltered from the heat under a white tent, they took pictures with kids and offered them star trinkets, juice and cupcakes.
Margaret Rose Drenner, 6 (“and three-quartersâ€), thought she might be a little scared to visit with the princesses. She was visiting Regatta for the first time with her twin brother Francis, mom Karla Drenner and grandmother June Butterfield.
The Drenners live in Atlanta, but Karla Drenner, a Georgia state legislator, is from ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, where Butterfield still lives.
“I think it gives them the opportunity to share a little bit of my upbringing and to get to spend time with my mother,†Karla Drenner said. “Regatta has changed so much over time. There are a lot more events, a lot more people.â€
Professor Bubblemaker, of Parkersburg, makes bubbles of varying sizes for folks attending the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza on Thursday, June 3, 2025.
CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
The Drenners were not the only ones visiting from out of state. Desmond Scarpelli, 14, of Winter Haven, Florida, is in West Virginia visiting family and attending his first Regatta. He said he’s most excited for Saturday’s Busta Rhymes concert.
And he’s not alone.
Lincoln Backus, 16, and Jefferson Backus, 14, have also picked Busta Rhymes as their favorite concert of the weekend.
Jefferson, who said he would recommend the “vintage concerts†to other ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä teens, is hoping that "Weird Al" Yankovic will perform here one year. He also enjoyed the new Regatta history exhibit at the Four Points by Sheraton, 600 Kanawha Blvd. E.
“[Regatta] is a great thing to do with a group of friends,†Lincoln said.
Noon-1:30 p.m.: Funeral Parade Workshop to make props for the parade
The Office of Public Art will host Community Public Art Projects at the Family Fun Zone including a 3-D bird sculpture and a paint-by-number Mona Lisa.
All Family Fun Zone events are free, including the Fluidity Aerial Workshop which will teach participants skills on aerial silks. The workshop is open to everyone. Participants are asked to show up five minutes early in full coverage clothing, including a shirt that is tight or can be tucked in. Participants will need to sign a liability waiver.
Professor Bubblemaker, of Parkersburg, makes a giant bubble around ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin at the Regatta Family Fun Zone at Slack Plaza on Thursday, June 3, 2025. The 2025 Sternwheel Regatta kicked off Thursday.
CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
Another highlight that has expanded this year is the Young Entrepreneurs Market. Goodwin said it was one of the Regatta’s most successful events last year. This year, it has expanded to two days, Friday and Saturday. There are 12 young entrepreneurs registered to sell their crafts. Goodwin has already pre-ordered 100 friendship bracelets from one young businesswoman.
“The saying goes ‘You’ve got to see it to be it,’†she said. “If having this Young Entrepreneur’s Market within our Kid’s Zone inspires kids to look at someone’s booth and say ‘Oh, that’s cool. I think I can make that ... I think I can do that,’ that’s what we’re talking about.â€
