File Photo People browse the many food vendors on Water Street during the 2021 Italian Festival in Wheeling. This year’s Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is slated for July 29-31 on Water Street at Wheeling Heritage Port.

WHEELING — Food, music and the celebration of Italian culture are all on tap during this year’s Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival in Wheeling.

The festival is slated for July 29-31 on Water Street at Wheeling Heritage Port. The festival kicks off at noon July 29 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and continues through the afternoon of July 31.

Janice Whipkey, coordinator of the festival, said new to the festival this year will be a classic car show from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“We wanted to make Sunday more of a family day. It’s something a family can do together,” she said of attending the car show.

In addition to the live entertainment there will also be inflatables and bounce houses for children. The Roots In Booth also will be set up and can provide information for people about their Italian heritage and where in the country of Italy their family originated.

Whipkey added the festival committee is still working on bringing back the Little Italy area of the festival.

The festival continues to be a tradition for many Ohio Valley residents.

“It’s really a fun weekend. A lot of people come from out of town and get together as a family. It makes it a happy weekend,” she said.

Whipkey noted the festival’s kickoff dinner — during which the Italian American of the Year, Anthony “Herk” Sparachane, will be honored — is set for 6 p.m. the Wednesday before the festival at Undo’s West, St. Clairsville. Reservations to attend the dinner can be made by calling the festival office at 304-233-1090.

There will be a variety of entertainers taking the stage all three days of the festival.

Friday’s entertainment includes:

Robert “Moose” Dodrill singing from 12:30-1 p.m.;

The 40+ band is set to play from 3-4 p.m.;

WTRF 7 will broadcast live from the site from 5-5:30 p.m.;

The Avanti Band is set entertain with Italian tunes from 5-6:30 p.m.;

Eli & The Mojo Kings will play from 7-8:15 p.m.; and

Rounding out the night will be Ray Massa’s Big Italian Show starting at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s entertainment will include:

A veterans appreciation ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon;

Bob Gaudio will sing and play guitar from 1:30-2:20 p.m.;

Bobby Pizzoferrato will entertain from 2:30-3:30 p.m.;

Rex Taneri Orchestra will play from 4-5:30 p.m.;

The Ohio Valley Folk Dancers will wow the crowds from 6-6:30 p.m.;

Amici is set from 7-8:30 p.m.;

Lights Out Big Show-Beach Boys will play from 9:15-10:45 p.m.; and

Fireworks will complete the evening at 10:45 p.m.

Sunday’s entertainment includes:

A Catholic Mass is from 10-11 a.m.;

Le Sorelle Di Bacco will play from 11:15 a.m. to noon;

A car show kicks off at noon;

The Ohio Valley Folk Dancers will dance from 1-1:45 p.m.; and

Pocket Change will be the final entertainer for the festival, playing from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The festival’s annual Bocce Tournament also is planned, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be 32 teams allowed. The entry fee is $120 per team. The fee includes beer, four T-shirts, four two-day wristbands and four raffle tickets.

To enter, visit www.italyfest.org.