Photo by Derek Redd Robert “Moose” Dodrill opened up the entertainment for the weekend singing standards for the crowd.

WHEELING — As Beau Catalano, the 2025 Italian American of the Year, snipped the ceremonial ribbon before the Little Italy Stage near WesBanco Arena, so began the 42nd edition of the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival.

Wheeling’s Heritage Port will once again be home to a three-day celebration of Italian culture, complete with food, music, dancing and more.

For as many years as Festival President Michele Fabbro has been part of the event, she still gets excited to see the culmination of 11 months of preparation.

“Every year, I say this is the best festival ever, and I think that’s going to be the same this year,” she said. “It’s food, fun and family and that’s what Italians are all about.”

Food booths lined both sides of Water Street near the Ohio River, allowing guests to grab Italian classics like homemade meatballs, Italian desserts and the Sons of Italy’s sausage sandwiches, but there were also other street fair foods and booths with cuisine from other cultures.

A pair of stages – the Little Italy Stage near WesBanco Arena and the main stage near the river at Heritage Port – will provide the entertainment throughout the weekend. Friday’s performances began at the Little Italy Stage with Robert “Moose” Dodrill singing the standards, followed by the Folkloric Dance Ensemble showcasing traditional Italian dances. Fabbro said she was excited for accordionist Mikey Dee, who will play sets at 1:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

The main stage will be home to acts like Amici and the McCartney Project, a Paul McCartney/Wings/Beatles tribute band.

Both Fabbro and festival chair Tony Filberto said they were excited for events that showcase Italian culture. Along with the dance ensemble and accordionist and bocce tournaments, Sunday will include a Mass led by the Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese. Following Mass will be a traditional Sunday spaghetti dinner, along with cooking demonstrations for gnocchi and limoncello.

“It’s the most important thing,” Filberto said. “You can find a street fair anywhere. We are an Italian heritage fair. We’ve really done things to bring it back to our Italian heritage, and that’s the goal. We want everyone to be entertained, but we also want to show our respect to our Italian heritage.”

The festival also will be a spot where victims of the June 14 flash floods in Ohio County can get help. Fabbro said FEMA will be on site all weekend to help flood victims apply for aid, now that President Donald Trump has signed a federal major disaster declaration.

“We have a little here for everybody,” Filberto said.