Marietta Catfish Festival

Celebrate Catfish, fishing and outdoor adventure with us.  Marietta has partnered with the Ohio League of Sportsmen and their annual Ohio River Interstate Catfish Tournament to create a family fun event. 

Bring the family, look around for whimsically painted catfish sculptures, eat catfish and enjoy Marietta!  Buy a $5.00 Bobber Raffle ticket for the chance to win $1,000 or $500!  Watch the Bobber's float down the Muskingum River - first and second bobbers to the make it to the Harmar Bridge win the prizes!

Painted Catfish Challenge

Original Channel Catfish $350                                       

•  (1) Three dimensional Catfish Sculpture  (example painted by Becky Johnston)
• This life-like channel cat measures 36”l. x 12”h. and is an actual taxidermy form with a fiberglass shell and foam interior it does requires professional supervision to prepare fish prior to painting/decorating
• Painted Catfish to be completed by July 15th
• Catfish will be displayed in Marietta July 17-August 15^th,2009
• If individual desires, Painted Catfish will be auctioned during the event
• Proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 (Restore Marietta and recipient selected by individual/group)
• Individual/group will receive recognition and listing in Catfish Sculpture Program/Walking Map

ReStore Marietta will stimulate economic vitality, enhance the visual appearance, and improve the quality of life in Marietta through the promotion of our Historic community as a great to live, work, shop, and invest.

 Trophy Catfish Plaques $150      designed by Thaddeus Brejwo                                                

                                          

• Individual/group to receive (3) Two dimensional Catfish Plaques
• Catfish Plaques are lightweight vacuum formed plastic and should be mounted to a substrate or framed to insure they are not broken
• Catfish Plaques to be completed by July 15th
• Plaques will be displayed in Marietta July 17-August 15^th,2009
• If individual/group desires , plaques will be auctioned during the event
• Proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 (Restore Marietta and recipient selected by individual/group)
• Individual/group will receive recognition and listing in Catfish Sculpture Program/Walking Map

First Catch Catfish Plaque $65       designed by Thaddeus Brejwo                                             

                                                

• Individual/group to receive (1) Two dimensional Catfish Plaque
• Catfish Plaques are lightweight vacuum formed plastic and should be mounted to a substrate or framed to insure they are not broken
• Catfish Plaque is to be completed by July 15th
• Plaque will be displayed in Marietta July 17-August 15^th,2009
• If individual/group desires , plaques will be auctioned during the event
• Proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 (Restore Marietta and recipient selected by individual/group)
• Individual/group will receive recognition and listing in Catfish Sculpture Program/Walking Map

Fresh Catch Catfish Sculpture  $50 (open Category)

• Individual/group/artist responsible for creating a Catfish Sculpture
• Catfish sculpture can be made from any material, wood, clay, metal, glass, fibers, paper, etc. 
• Catfish sculpture to be completed by July 15th
• Sculpture will be displayed in Marietta July 17-August 15^th,2009
•  
• If individual/group desires, plaques will be auctioned during the event
• Proceeds from the auction will be split 50/50 (Restore Marietta and recipient selected by individual/group)
• Individual/group will receive recognition and listing in Catfish Sculpture Program/Walking Map

Proceeds from event benefit ReStore Marietta, Inc. a non-profit group .

Contact:         Chuck Swaney, ReStore Promotions Chair

                        740-215-4663     chuckshome@suddenlink.net

Catfish Festival Schedule

July 17, 2009 through August 14, 2009:

Painted Catfish on display throughout downtown Marietta – whimsical creative and fun!  Click here for locations.

Friday, August 14, 2009

3:00 pm                       
Catfish Tournament Begins at the Marietta Boat Ramp.  Click here for tournament details.

6:00 – 9:00pm          
Merchants & Artists Walking Tour, downtown

Saturday, August 15, 2009 – Muskingum Park

Noon                     
Outdoor Recreation & Educational Exhibits Open

 

    Exhibits include:
        Catfish Sculptures
        Catfish art by local school children
        Muskingum River Parkway
        League of Ohio Sportsmen
        ODNR Division of Wildlife
        Friends of the Lower Muskingum River
        Kids Games
        Mural Games

 

Noon                   
Catfish Fry and Broughton’s Ice Cream Concessions Open

Noon– 8:00pm       
Painted Catfish Sculptures on Display & Silent Auction
Minimum starting bid is $100 per catfish sculpture.  Choose your favorite! Vote in the People's Choice Award - 25 Cents per Vote.

3:00 pm                       
Watch the Catfish Tournament weigh-in and release at Marietta Boat Ramp

 

4:00 pm                       
Bobber Drop Raffle 
    1st Prize $1,000; 2nd Prize $500 - tickets are $5.00 each
    Call the Visitors Bureau for ticket info 800-288-2577

5:00 pm                       
Catfish Tournament Awards Presentation

5:00pm - High School that Rock
5:30 - 6:30pmLittle Mill Creek Boys
6:45 - 7:45pmRichards Brothers Bluegrass Band
8:00 - 9:00pmSouth Of The River


8:30 pm                       
Announce Catfish Auction Winners

9:30pm                        
Lighted Boat Parade on the Muskingum River
Presented by The Marietta Boat Club

 

Sunday, August 16, 2009

1:00 - 2:00pm
Registration for recycled  raft race at Indian Acres Boat Ramp

 

2:00 - 4:00pm                  
Mighty Muskingum River Raft Race - Boat Launch to Putnam Street Bridge

 

To download River Raft Application , click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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