The Ohio River Sternwheel Festival is drawing attention from around the state of Ohio and soon around the country!

A film crew from Ron Foth Advertising out of Columbus stood atop the Betty Lou Sternwheeler Friday afternoon to videotape the Valley Gem Sternwheeler for a new commercial.

The Ohio Tourism Division is paying the agency to create a commercial highlighting the state as a family fun vacation destination.

"It means a lot. They can reach further markets than we can and they're further supporting what we are marketing ourselves as a place for heritage and history and shopping," said Kelly Blazosky, the director of the Marietta/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Marietta is one of several sites the crew is taping.

The commercial's set to air around the country next March.