From Steubenville to Wheeling, the Ohio Valley goes all in for Independence Day
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Communities across Ohio and the Ohio Valley are gearing up to celebrate Independence Day weekend and the 250th birthday of the United States of America, with events planned throughout the region pulling out all the stops to mark the occasion.
In Belmont County, both Barnesville and Bridgeport will hold Independence Day Weekend celebrations on Sunday. Barnesville's festivities begin at 10 a.m. at Barnesville Memorial Park with food and music, followed by a fireworks display that night. In Bridgeport, the village will shut down Lincoln Street from the fountain to Hall Street from noon until evening. Activities will include live music, food trucks, basketball games and a dunk tank with Bridgeport's first responders. Fireworks will light the night sky at dusk.
Martins Ferry will celebrate America 250 on Friday with a community celebration at City Park beginning at 3 p.m. Activities include live music, food trucks, craft vendors, bounce houses and fireworks. The event also will feature free swimming from noon until dark, sponsored by Unified Bank. Entertainment includes Seven South from 4-6 p.m., The Crush Band from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and D.J. Daner leading up to the fireworks display.
In Steubenville, First Fridays on Fourth returns this week with two days of holiday-themed activities tied to the city's Independence Day celebrations. Friday's event begins at 6 p.m. along Fourth Street between Adams and Washington streets, followed by a second day Saturday starting at 2 p.m. leading into the city's fireworks display around 9:30 p.m. at Historic Fort Steuben.
Friday will feature live music, vendors, local craft beer and children's activities under the theme "Salute to America," according to Marc Barnes, president of the Harmonium Society. The weekend also includes a pie competition, family activities and food offerings such as smashburgers at the Steubenville Grocery Box.
Saturday's "Super Saturday" will include water-themed activities, a patriotic parade and additional community programming leading up to fireworks.
On the other side of the river, Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling has festivities planned Friday through Sunday, beginning with its Salute to Patriotism. Families can head to Schenk Lake for an inflatable fun zone from 3-9 p.m. Friday, featuring obstacle courses, slides and large inflatables. From 3-6:30 p.m., D.J. Daner will provide family-friendly music, followed by an Americana skydiving demonstration at 5 p.m. A foam party runs from 6-8 p.m.
The band MSM will perform at 7 p.m. with an Independence Day concert, followed by a fireworks display.
Saturday features a Firecracker 5K at 10 a.m. and an All-American Pool Party at the Crispin Center beginning at noon. The event includes music from D.J. Daner, a poolside barbecue, a patriotic swimsuit contest and a dads bellyflop competition. Sunday wraps up the weekend with Surfs Up, a Beach Boys tribute band, performing at 7 p.m. at the Oglebay Amphitheatre.
The City of Weirton will also celebrate Saturday with events spanning the Millsop Community Center, Main Street, Edwin J. Bowman Field and the Weirton Event Center. An America 250 parade begins at 5 p.m., followed by face painting, crafts, games and food trucks at Millsop from 6-9 p.m., inflatables and obstacle courses at Bowman Field from 6-9 p.m., and a car show on Main Street from 7-9 p.m. At 7 p.m. at the Weirton Event Center, a concert featuring Brownie Mary's Kelsey and Co. and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers leads into a fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Wheeling will host its celebration Saturday at Heritage Port, anchored by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra as part of its Celebrate America Tour. The performance begins at 8 p.m., with food trucks and a beer tent available for attendees.
Guests will also hear guest artist tenor Edward Washington II, who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Detroit Opera, Annapolis Opera, Opera Orlando and New York City Opera. His roles have included Beppe in Donizetti's "Rita," Robbins in Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," Pong in Puccini's "Turandot" and Tamino in Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte."