My friend Beth & I took a dinner cruise on the Valley Gem, where we enjoyed a meal of Caesar salad, prime rib with horseradish cream, chicken, mashed potatoes, spinach-stuffed roasted tomato, roll and berry cake.
The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta began in 1971 as a way to celebrate the city’s connection to the Kanawha River and its history of sternwheel boats, which were once vital to commerce and transportation along West Virginia waterways. The original regatta grew quickly into one of the largest events in the state, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors for several days of boat races, concerts, parades, fireworks, and family activities.
Sternwheelers—steamboats propelled by a large paddlewheel at the stern—were iconic on rivers like the Kanawha and Ohio in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These boats served as a vital link for goods and people, and the regatta honored this part of the state’s heritage.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Regatta peaked in popularity, featuring big-name musical acts, national media attention, and boaters from across the country. It became a hallmark of Charleston’s summer calendar. However, due to budget issues and waning support, the event was discontinued in 2009, which many in the community viewed as a major cultural loss.
In 2022, the City of Charleston officially revived the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, bringing back much of the traditional programming with a fresh focus on community, heritage, and economic revitalization. The modern version includes river races, concerts, art vendors, food trucks, and sternwheeler showcases, reestablishing the event as a centerpiece of summer in the capital city.
The Valley Gem allower us to participate in the festival in a new way - while enjoying a meal on the river.
