Thousands of people fill Kanawha Boulevard on July 6, 2024, for the main stage musical act, which featured an “I Love the ’90s†tribute set with various performers, including Vanilla Ice. The 2024 ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta featured five days of free music.
Kanawha County Commission Mark Slotnick and ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin announce the dates for Regatta 2025 on Aug. 14, 2024, at Slack Plaza in downtown ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Thousands of people fill Kanawha Boulevard on July 6, 2024, for the main stage musical act, which featured an “I Love the ’90s†tribute set with various performers, including Vanilla Ice. The 2024 ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta featured five days of free music.
Kanawha County Commission Mark Slotnick and ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin announce the dates for Regatta 2025 on Aug. 14, 2024, at Slack Plaza in downtown ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
The ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta continues to grow.
This year’s five-day festival had a $38.8 million economic impact and an attendance of 235,000, according to data from ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This is up from $37.2 million and 220,000 attendees from last year.
By the numbers
22%: Attendees visiting from more than 50 miles away
57%: Visitors from out-of-state
1.6 days: Average hotel stay
4.6 days: Average vacation rental stay
19%: Visitors had household income of over $100,000
50%: Visitors from households with children
18%: Share of Regatta spending from out-of-town visitors
20: Sternwheelers
245 miles: Furthest distance a sternwheel traveled to get to ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä
The CVB uses various methods to track this data including credit card transactions, cell phone data and third-party tourism data companies.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh was the largest out-of-state point of origin for visitors. Steel City residents at Regatta increased by 20% from last year.
Tim Brady, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä CVB CEO, said that Pittsburgh also was the No. 1 out-of-state market for the USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships in May.
Return on investment
Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said Regatta cost about $1 million to put on. ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and Kanawha County provide funds, but sponsors are the largest funding source, Goodwin said.
She anticipates the economic impact will continue to stay in the $35 million range, largely dependent on weather.
Intangibles
Terrell Ellis from the Regatta Commission said the Regatta also provided the intangible effects of city brand exposure and community engagement.
“It really has, I think, some long-term business impacts for us as we’re just trying to — in a soft way — expose people to who we are and what we do here,†she said.
Goodwin also mentioned the intangible effects of the event.
“It was a chance to be together. That’s what the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta is all about,†she said. “An opportunity ... for us to be together to share time with one another.â€
Next year’s Regatta
The 2025 ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta will be a four-day event, scheduled for July 3-6.
Ashley Perham is a city reporter. She can be reached at 304-348-1240 or aperham@hdmediallc.com.
