PORTSMOUTH- Musicians are getting tuned, food vendors are placing orders, parade floats are being finalized, and pageant contestants are getting fitted for the upcoming Scioto County festival highlight of the year, with another River Days on the horizon.

“I’m really excited,” Friends of Portsmouth Executive Director Bryan Smith said. “ We’ve been working hard. I think this is a River Days for the books, because it is the best we have planned since the Friends took over. Whether it is the kids’ zone, sponsored by TCC, which is completely free, Family Feud, the hot dog eating contest— there is something scheduled for the whole weekend.”

The festival, which has been ongoing for over six decades, is organized by Portsmouth’s premier festival organization, Friends of Portsmouth.

The group is known for hosting large festivals and events, from record-breaking achievements to Winterfest, Glocktoberfest and Festifall, to Fourth of July and River Days. The group stays active all year long developing opportunities for downtown Portsmouth and the surrounding region.

River Days has been scheduled for August 30 through September 1 and will feature rides and games, merchants, food trucks and vendors, live music, a parade, the River Days Queen Pageant and more.

“River Days is about community. The parade, pageant; everything is about the community. It brings a lot of people out and visitors to the area,” Smith said.

The music will feature Josh Stewart Band on Friday, between 7 and 8:30 p.m., as well as The Party Bus Band between 9 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday will feature Gimme Sugar, a Rolling Stones tribute band, between 7 and 8:30 p.m., and Little River Band between 9 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday will wrap up music lineups with Rock This Way, an Aerosmith tribute band, between 6:30 and 8 p.m., as well as Chris Higbee between 8:30 and 10:15 p.m.

The events kick off, however, with the annual Rotary Fish Fry on the Esplanade between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Opening Ceremony and Introduction of River Days Contestants will be held on Friday between 5 and 5:30 p.m.

Family Feud will be organized just before the Friday concerts, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Saturday starts with a splash, featuring the Annual River Days Parade at 11 a.m. and the River Days Pageant contestant float contest between 1 and 3:30.

Toy Story will be the Saturday outdoor movie, alongside popcorn, between 2 and 4 p.m.

The Miss River Days Pageant will be held at Shawnee State University at 6:30 p.m., which will crown another Miss River Days for another year.

Sunday will feature plenty with Candyland Children’s Museum activities scheduled between 2 and 4 p.m. Cars will be projected outdoors between 4 and 6 p.m. A hot dog eating contest is organized for 3:30. The Miss River Days Queen and Court will be introduced at 5 p.m., just before the 5:30 launch of the Ducky Derby. Fireworks will end the night at 10 p.m.

Ducky Derby passes are sold by the organization as a fundraiser for the weekend’s endeavors. The grand prize winner will receive up to $1,500. You can adopt a duck at the event or online.

Monday will feature FLOTSAM Floating Circus at the Court Street Landing at 6 p.m.

According to the non-profit circus, they are a troupe of musicians, circus performers and puppeteers traveling on a “ramshackle raft,” providing free performances in cities as they float down river.

The group has been active since 2019, and, in that time, has traveled over 1,000 miles of river across eight states, performing for tens of thousands of people. These journeys take them all over in their boat, which they call transit, stage, and even home.

“It is a circus on a boat, basically; there is live music, world-class circus performers and puppetry, but it is also weird,” Troupe Captain Jason Webley explained. “It is sort of an unusual show. It isn’t just a series of circus acts. It is these characters sort of telling this parable, but, at the same time, it is open to interpretation. Like I said, it is kind of weird, but I’d like to think it is weird in a welcoming, inviting way, instead of weird and lofty sort of way.”

All musical acts and main attractions will continue to be held at the Municipal Lot on the corner of Washington and 4th Streets.

“The goal is to get back to the riverfront eventually, but we are a couple years from that, until the City can complete some of their exciting riverfront developments,” Smith explained.

While the event continues to be off river, Smith said that there is plenty to do, and the event only continues to grow.

“We have stuff going on each day, not just music and food truck vendors,” Smith said. “We have a lot to be proud of as we continue this tradition. We have a hardworking team, and we will have things for the whole family to do. We have some great music acts this year with some tribute bands and Little River Band, as well as Chris Higbee. We will see a lot of kids and families during the day and music bringing out adults at night; it is for the whole family.”

To stay updated on events and information related to the organization, follow them on Facebook or visit their website at www.friendsofportsmouth.com To sponsor the event, ask questions, or contact someone at Friends of Portsmouth, email [email protected] or call 740.354.7711.