POINT PLEASANT — Festivities continue today for the 2009 Point Pleasant Sternwheel Regatta.

The festival got off to a great start on Thursday with several activities. Friday’s Regatta events were jam packed as well.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities on Friday, including the Precious Paws Pretty Dog Contest at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, which was a new event for this year’s Regatta and provided a chance for owners to show off their dogs’ best skills.

Friday evening also included a performance from Adam D. Tucker and headlining act Whitney Duncan. Duncan said she was both happy and excited to do a concert in Point Pleasant.

“I love (Point Pleasant). I think everyone is so nice and it is so pretty here,” Duncan said. “The riverfront park is gorgeous and the (Historic) Lowe Hotel is the coolest hotel we’ve stayed in.”

She added that she enjoyed visiting Point Pleasant’s Krodel Park, which is where she went for a run prior to Friday’s concert. As for her performance, Duncan said she likes to see the crowd have a good time.

“I like people to have fun... I do some covers that people know and I mix it with my music,” she said. “I like it when (the crowd) sings along with the songs they know and when people dance to the music.”

Several youngsters also participated in the Pretty Baby Contest at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, which saw five year-old Allyson Gillispie and five year-old Preston Taylor be named Little Miss and Mr. Showboat.

Today’s activities are jam-packed, and will kick off with the Pleasant Valley Hospital 5k River Run at 8:30 a.m. The 3.1-mile course will begin at Point Pleasant Primary School on 22nd Street and run through town on paved city streets until the finish, which is at the entrance of Tu-Endie-Wei State Park on Main Street. Medals will be awarded to the first overall male finish and overall female finishes. Those who finish first in their age groups also will receive medals.

Following the run will be the Regatta Parade, which will feature several floats and festival royalty. The grand marshals for the parade are Trey Barker, Marshall University’s Marco mascot, and Rebecca Durst, West Virginia University’s Mountaineer mascot. Both Trey and Durst are graduates of Point Pleasant High School.

Other activities for today include a line throwing contest at the Point Pleasant River Museum at 2 p.m. and the WBYG Colgate Country Showdown, slated for 6 p.m. at Point Pleasant Riverfront Park. In addition, today is Kids Day, which includes a variety of activities catered to children including marble ice fishing, hole in the bucket relay, can you whistle?, balloon head relay, jump rope splash, water spoon relay, over and under relay, game show, bubble blowing contest and hula hoop contest.

Kids Day activities begin at 1 p.m. and will take place at riverfront park. All events and activities for children, with the exception of the inflatable bounces houses, are free of charge. However, some activities may be limited to a certain number of children.

Entertainment for this evening will be a performance by Heavens Rush, which is slated for 6 p.m. at Tu-Endie Wei State Park. The fireworks show and Rockin Reggie, scheduled for 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., will close out this year’s Regatta festival.

For more information, visit www.pointpleasantregatta.org.