CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — An estimated 235,000 people attended the 2024 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, with the event once again exceeding the economic impact of the previous years .

That’s according to the 2024 Sternwheel Regatta Visitor Analytics Report. They said the economic impact for 2024 was $38.8 million, compared to $37.2 million in 2023 and $31.5 million in 2022.

“The festival in Charleston has led to a resurgence of interest in the Sternwheel boats and how they operate,” Dana Dement, President of the American Sternwheel Association, said. “More and more people are curious about them and we couldn’t be happier as an association.”

22% of attendees were visitors from beyond a 50-mile radius and the analytics show 57% of visitors were from out-of-state. Pittsburgh made up the most amount of people from out-of-state, with attendance from that city up 20% from 2023.

The biggest cities of origin include: Beckley-Bluefield, WV; Pittsburgh, PA; Washington, D.C.; Parkersburg, WV; Clarksburg-Weston, WV; Columbus, OH; Cleveland-Akron, OH; Charlotte, NC; Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA; and Detroit, MI.

"The trips to Charleston have inspired the boats to travel farther than we have in many years," Dement said. "We can't wait for next year and we surely can't wait for the 5th anniversary of the return, and our nation's 250th birthday in 2026!"

According to the analytics, 9,729 jobs were supported and 18% of all spending during the Regatta were from visitors. The average hotel stay was 1.6 days and the average vacation rental stay was 4.6 days.

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The 2025 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta will take place July 3 to 6.

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