POINT PLEASANT — September is around the corner and the Point Pleasant River Museum is ready for their 3rd Annual Tribute to the River National Maritime Days Celebration.

Scheduled for Sept. 4-6, this event has added several new attractions and activities this year. In addition to the sternwheel races, The Esquires and many exhibits, a Chili Cook-Off and parade increases the size of the festive occasion and provides the public with more to enjoy and take part in.

The very first Chili Cook-Off will be awarding cash prizes for first, second and third place. First place will receive $300, second place $200 and third place, $100. The parade will come down Main Street at 11 a.m. on Saturday. To enter either one, you must register with the river museum to get rules and more details.

The largest gathering of river boats will also be seen this year at the Point Pleasant Riverfront Park. Jack Fowler, Director of the River Museum, looks forward to the river museum fundraising event.

“With all of the big boats docking at the Riverfront Park, it leaves no room for pleasure boats, for the first two days,” Fowler said.

Two of the boats docked will be the newest and oldest boats on the river. Tour the M/V Mountain State, the newest boat of the American Electric Power/MEMCO fleet and the oldest boat, the Madison Coal & Supply’s M/V J S Lewis, and experience firsthand how much living conditions have improved for men and women working on the river.

An opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4 followed by towboat tours that will be open to the public till 6 p.m. each day. During the first day, Top Shelf Rhythm and Blues Revue and The Esquires 10 Piece Show Band will perform, in addition to the very well known Glen Singer, “The Horse Guy.” The day will wrap up with dancing to the music of The Esquires.

Saturday, Sept. 5 is the day to bring the kids out. With kid’s games, a Coast Guard Auxiliary, remote control river boats, “River Coastie”, and the River Works Locks and Dam exhibit, there is plenty to see and do. The second day will also be the kickoff for the Chili Fest and the parade. Sternwheel races begin at 2 p.m. and a Captain’s Dinner with Bad Boyz BBQ will also be selling meals to the public from 5-7 p.m. As for entertainment, the Eternity Gospel Group and the Gospel Harmony Boys will carry their tunes off into the night until 9:30 p.m. when square dancing with the High Country Band hits the stage. During Saturday, cash prizes will be given out to winners in the Corn Hole Tournament and Line Throwing Contest.

The final day of the Tribute to the River, Sunday, Sept. 6, features more boat tours as well as tours of the river museum. Youth in Gospel will take the stage at noon and music from Maranatha Cornerstone Church Choir, Chase Likens, and The New Prophets Gospel Group will last until 3:30 p.m.

The outstanding entertainment all three nights will take place at the Riverfront Park stage. All activities will also be on the river side of the flood wall, except for the parade. Be sure to stop by and see the 23 boats from the Kanawha and Upper Ohio River and join in on the excitement and fun provided for free.

Exhibitors for the three day event include US Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, River Works Discovery, Marshall Inland Waterways Academy, Rahall Transportation Institute, Kanawha River Power Squadron, US Coast Guard Auxiliary and member companies of Huntington District Waterways Association.

Several of the tour vessels that will be there everyday include the M/V J S Lewis-Madison Coal & Supply, US Army Corps of Engineers work barge, and MUSCG Buoy Tender Osage. On Friday and Saturday, tours will be given on the M/V Mountain State American Electric Power/MEMCO and you can only catch the Marathon Oil towing vessel on Sunday.

As for food, the Bad Boyz BBQ will be serving dinners as well as the river museum who will have a concession stand set up with all the ‘must have’ foods of an event including funnel cakes, soft drinks, ice cream, hot dogs and taco-in-a-bag.

“We are blessed to have a lot of support this year,” Fowler said. “The community, local businesses and towing companies have given us tremendous support that we are very grateful for.”

The Point Pleasant River Museum, along with the Huntington District Waterways Association, will join together to celebrate in the three day event. They extend an invitation to the public to join them and help recognize and congratulate the local river industry.