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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- More than 40 performers are set to take the stage during this year's The Arc of Ohio Presents Everyone's Got Talent.
The community inclusive event is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the St. Clairsville Recreation Center's outdoor amphitheater, located at 102 Fair St.
The talent show is meant to raise awareness for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and features a mixture of performances from those with special needs and their typical peer role models. This is the third year for the event.
Kara Erwin, regional director of The Arc of Ohio, said the event will include food, vendors, free children's entertainment and a talent show. She said the show gives participants a chance to be in the spotlight.
"The community had a need. I could see that we could do a talent show for people with special needs and developmental disabilities and the community would show up. So making it an inclusion event, allowing typical peer mentors talent to be in it, allows everyone to be in it and support each other," she said.
A total of 43 acts will take place, including a variety of talents ranging from song and dance to martial arts. Zayne Alexander Hershaw from Blue Spectrum Band of Columbus will close the show.
"There will be singing, dancing, drumming, and spinning fire. We have somebody tumbling and singing. We have a little bit of karaoke and we have some a cappella. We have a martial arts demonstration and we have a fashion show," she said, adding that Boutique on Main is sponsoring the fashion show.
The show's opening ceremonies will begin at noon with the St. Clairsville American Legion Post 159 presenting the colors followed by Peggy Riccadonna singing the national anthem. In addition to the talent show, there will be free entertainment available such as bounce houses, a pie eating contest, Oglebay Good Zoo, balloon art, a "hometown heroes" dunk tank and more.
"Hometown heroes are people that are around people with disabilities every day - doctors, restaurant owners, police officers, firefighters. They really are like a celebrity to our individuals because we count on these hometown heroes to help in everyday life," she said.
Erwin said there will also be more than 20 informational tables on site to provide families with social services available.
"The talent show brings everybody together for entertainment. While doing that, bringing in these informational tables, it gets the information to the families right there that need it. We have everything from Valley Behavioral Services, Kendall Behavioral Services, Easter Seals, Tri-County Help. We have Cedar Ridge Behavioral Health. We have these social services coming to show the families what’s out there," she said.
Platinum sponsors of the event are Oglebay Institute School of Dance, the Shaheen Law Group, Snotty Pooch, Heritage Christian Childcare Center, IC Care and Kalkreuth Roofing. Sheetz in St. Clairsville is donating all the food and water for contestants and volunteers. Print N Copy, a gold sponsor, donated all the advertising materials for the event.
Erwin sent out a special "thanks" to Cheryl Pompeo, a dance instructor at the Oglebay Institute School of Dance, for all her work leading up to the show.
Erwin said they are anticipating a good turnout and look forward to seeing everyone in attendance. Admission and entertainment are free.