Vendors and local businesses prepare for Sternwheel Regatta [Video]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The Sternwheel Regatta in downtown Charleston brings out boats along the river and street vendors to Kanawha Boulevard.

Bandit BBQ has set up shop at the regatta for the past three years, and one of the owners, Laura Cook, said it’s an event worth planning for.

“You always plan to come back so you’re planning from like the last day, you’re planning the whole event for the next year,” Cook said.

Diehl’s Pig Shack is another food vendor that set up on Tuesday. Jeff Diehl said the Regatta is an opportunity that’s been hard to refuse.

“There’s some hard-working people, too, and they encourage us to come up. They treat us like royalty, and we will never tell them no,” Diehl said.

It’s not only food and drink. Fancy Five-Buck Fashion will sell accessories during the five-day festival.

The owner, Jessica Martin said, “Just seeing everybody, …