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“Everybody loves somebody sometime…” sang crooner Dean Martin, and his hometown of Steubenville would love you to come celebrate him at the annual Dean Martin Hometown Festival, June 12-14.

The entire community comes together every year to offer music, activities, tours, and memorable moments that highlight the impact of Martin’s career. And this year will be bigger and better than ever as with the Dean Martin Association heading the planning and promotion and working with the local Harmonium Project.”

The three-day event kicks off on Thursday with a 7pm concert featuring the Vince Villanova Big Band and a Rat Pack Tribute Show in the Berkman Amphitheater located in Fort Steuben Park, overlooking the Ohio River. Later that evening, the iconic Spot Bar will have its annual Dean Martin Karaoke Contest with prizes and lots of good-humored fun.

“For over twenty years, visitors from all over the country have come to give their rendition of Dean Martin favorites,” explained Spot Bar owner Joe DiAlbert. “They never get tired of singing those great classics.”

Friday activities include the First Annual Dean Martin Charity Golf Scramble at 8:30am at the Steubenville Country Club. Patrons are welcome to observe the Scramble for a donation of $25 per person.  An Open House and Tour of the Dean Martin Room of the Jefferson County Historical Museum will be held from 10-3, with a special presentation by Keith Johnson at 12 noon on “Memories of Dino: A Virtual Walk Through Steubenville.” Stroll through the Street Festival with music, food crafts, and fun on N. 4^th Street from noon to 10pm. You can show your fancy footwork at the 50’s Street Dance on N. 4^th Street from 1-3pm or indulge in the Dean Martin Meatball Eating Contest at the Spot Bar at 1pm with performances by Dave Solera and Bob Morelli.

Reminisce with the music and autos of the era at the Dean Martin Classic Car Cruise-In from 2-8pm in Fort Steuben Park, with a minimum of $1000 given to a lucky cruiser for participation. Then head to Undo’s in nearby Weirton for a dynamic dinner show with Joe Scalissi as he sings Dean Martin classics (cocktails at 3pm, dinner at 3:30, show at 5). Conclude the day with Tom Stevens as Dean Martin & friends at the Spot Bar at 8pm.

The festivities continue on Saturday with the morning Dino Dash 5K Run/Walk in Historic Beatty Park leading up to the Dean Martin Hometown Celebration Parade on 4^th Street. The Street Festival continues from 1pm to 10pm while the Jefferson County Historical Museum welcomes visitors until 3pm.  Historic Fort Steuben is open for tours (discounted fees) and the Steubenville Trolley transports passengers through the downtown.

A new event that recalls the Jerry Lewis telethons that ran for thirty years will be held at the green space at Franciscan Square on University Blvd. The Martin & Lewis Telethon Style Reunion Show will feature Joe Scalissi and Matt Macis as hosts to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, from 2pm to 7pm. The action moves back to the Spot Bar for the Dean Martin Memorabilia Auction from 7-8pm with proceeds going to the Dean Martin Bronze Statue fund. The grand finale – Joe Scalissi Sings Dean Martin – at the Spot Bar at 8pm captures the essence of the “King of Cool”: Dino Paul Crocetti, the boy from Steubenville who went on to sing and star in movies, television, and nightclubs for over forty years.

For more information go to www.DeanMartinAssociation.com/festival 

The 19^th year of the Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series began May 29^th with Linden & Melvin and for the first time on the Berkman Stage, Into the Blue, an Electric Light Orchestra Tribute band.

They headlined the first of twelve concerts this season, which will feature a wide variety of musical genres. There should be something to please everyone. Next up, on June 5, will be Magic Moments and The Fantasy’s.  Below is a schedule of all the concerts.

The concerts are a wonderful opportunity to come down to the Fort, spread out a blanket, and enjoy free, quality performances.

This year returning to the Berkman stage for a special show on Monday, June 23, is the United States Army Field Band, Jazz Ambassadors. The Jazz Ambassadors are the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form, jazz.

The Fort began fundraising in February for the event which costs about $32,000.  “We are so grateful to our sponsors and the Ohio Arts Council whose generosity allows us to offer free, live entertainment to the people of the Ohio Valley. The additional funds we collect by passing the bucket at every concert helps cover the costs of sound equipment, grounds maintenance, and printing the keepsake program,” Paul Zuros, Director, said.

Special thanks to Rick Witkowski of Studio L who arranges to contract all the performers, as well as his wife Deb who serves as emcee, and Earl Tuttle of Ohio Valley Audio who makes sure the sound is pleasing to the audience. Also thanks to the City of Steubenville who makes sure that either police officers or emergency personnel are on hand if difficulties occur. “Putting on the series is a group effort,” Zuros noted, “we have a team of volunteers and staff who work hard to book the performers, set up the venue, and make sure the grass is cut and trimmed. We couldn’t do it without them.”

There will be food vendors set up with popcorn, hot dogs, grilled cheese, fries, ice cream, gelato, lemonade, and cold water. Something for everyone to enjoy.

Concert program books are now available at the Fort Visitor Center. 

The concerts will begin around 7pm every Thursday from May 29 to July 31 at the Berkman Amphitheater in Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3^rd Street in Steubenville. For more information go to www.OldFortSteuben.com or call 740.283.1787.

From tossing a tomahawk to making rag dolls, there will be two days of hands-on-history as Historic Fort Steuben presents its annual festival, Ohio Valley Frontier Days, June 7 and 8.

Historic Fort Steuben, a reconstructed fort on its original site overlooking the Ohio River, invites visitors to meet the blacksmith, the candlemaker, the flintknapper, and the reenactors. They can tour the Officers’ Quarters, the Enlisted Men’s Quarters, the Commissary, the Quartermaster’s Store, and the Hospital as well as take in the panoramic view from the upper level of the Guard House. Artisans will offer their crafts for sale from woodcrafts to jewelry. Danielle McMahon will have her Irish Cottage gifts and, for a second year, High Flight Herbs and Lavender Farm will be selling delightful lavender products as well as wood-turned items.

Since the fort was originally built to protect the surveyors of the Northwest Territory in 1786, members of the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio have been involved with Historic Fort Steuben since its reconstruction. Working with students and staff of the University of Akron Surveying and Mapping Program, PLSO members have developed a museum in the Fort that traces the history of surveying from the ropes and measuring sticks used by the Egyptians to the drones and GPS units which are now common in modern surveying. At the festival, PLSO members will welcome the public to the museum and will teach the history and use of the chain and compass, the 18^th century method of surveying.

Frontier Dan will guide participants in the Tomahawk Toss, members of the 8^th Pennsylvania Regiment will portray the life of an 18^th century soldier, and Baron von Steuben will teach drill to young recruits.

Visitors can meet the archaeologists from Franciscan University of Steubenville and explore the ongoing dig on the site.

The Mousetrap Puppet Theater will be back to entertain visitors with their unique “Punch and Judy” puppet show. Three shows will be offered each day: 11am, 2pm, and 5pm on Saturday, and 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3pm on Sunday.

From old time to bluegrass, join Owen Hoopes on Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm as he explores the sounds of our early settlers and the many ways they’ve influenced the music of today.  Visit the exhibit Hall for a sweet treat, hands-on demonstrations and live grass roots music, or catch him strolling the event grounds with fiddle in hand and request a tune.  Consider bringing an instrument to share a story, jam with Owen and celebrate our musical heritage together.

On Sunday, Bill Schilling will be in the exhibit hall playing and singing period and contemporary folk, traditional, and folk-style tunes using guitars, mountain and hammered dulcimers, recorders, autoharps, ukuleles, jug and other instruments to entertain guests.

Representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution will be stationed both days in the exhibit hall too.

Food vendors include The Cheesy Pack featuring hot dogs, fries, cheese sticks, pulled pork, and of course their signature grilled cheese. Lynn McLeish will be here with her baked goods, jams and crafts.

You also could win a beautiful handmade quilt made by local artisan Helen Sweeney.  Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.  The drawing will be held on Monday, after the festival. There will be a scavenger hunt for the kids, too, with a chance to win a prize.

Food vendors, crafters, and other retail booths will be set up in the Fort and in Fort Steuben Park. Hours for the event are Saturday June 7, from 10am – 6pm and Sunday June 8, from 11am – 4pm.  Admission to the Fort will be $7/adults, $3/youth 6-12, and under 6 free. There are also special family rates. For more information call 740.283.1787.

June in Steubenville and Jefferson County is a perfect time to visit with trees in full leaf, trails inviting hikers, sites open for tours, and a flurry of festivals. And it’s not too late to plan your visit and make reservations!

For nature lovers, be sure to check out the trails in historic Beatty Park, located in downtown Steubenville. From simple walking trails to more challenging hikes, the Park has signage, rest spots, and even a StoryWalk to accommodate all skill levels. Or take a short drive out of town to Friendship Park where there are opportunities for bird watching, kayaking, and nature trails.

For history lovers, Historic Fort Steuben in Steubenville is open daily for tours. One of only two fully reconstructed forts in Ohio, Fort Steuben recreates life in a military fort on the Ohio frontier in 1786-87. The adjacent First Federal Land Office is the original log structure where early settlers registered or purchased land in the early 19^th century. The Jefferson County Historical Museum in Steubenville is open two days a week or by appointment and boasts a Dean Martin Room with memorabilia of the city’s native son and the Presidential Room with portraits of the eight Presidents who came from Ohio.

Historic Mt. Pleasant, just 20 minutes from Steubenville, is a National Historic Landmark District of the Underground Railroad. The charming village has century old homes and a variety of architectural styles lining the streets. Six historic buildings are open by appointment.

June is festival and fun season: the Holy Trinity Greek Festival runs from June 4-6, First Fridays on Fourth is June 6, Ohio Valley Frontier Days June 7-8, Dean Martin Hometown Festival June 12-14, Juneteenth Community Festival June 19-21, and 2025 Juneteenth Celebration June 19-22, all in Steubenville, and the St. Agnes Strawberry Festival in nearby Mingo Junction on June 22.

For information on these and other events check our calendar on VisitSteubenville.com, and for shopping, lodging, or dining suggestions, contact us as info@VisitSteubenville.com.

Over 45 huge and exquisitely painted eggs are hidden in businesses and shop windows in downtown Steubenville for a giant-sized Easter Egg Hunt that will run until May 4.

Each egg is a work of art created by a local artist. Some include cultural or Pysanky designs while others depict characters, stories, or imaginative motifs.

Visitors can pick up a map at the Steubenville Popcorn Company (157 N. 4^th Street) and explore the historic downtown. You might want to grab a map for the Easter StoryWalk, there, too.

 Follow the map to locate the eggs. All are within walking distance of each other except one at the downtown library. Make sure you say hi to all the friendly shop owners!

After finding all the Art Eggs, stop in to headquarters (Steubenville Popcorn Co.) to sign the chalk egg, (And get some yummy popcorn, too)

This springtime event is produced by the Steubenville Cultural Trust – the same creative folks who offer the summer Catfish Art Walk and the Steubenville Nutcracker Village.

For more info, visit: https://www.steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/spring-eggsibition.html

Many wonderful events coming up!

The  Steubenville Art Association’s  “Show Us Your Stuff”  Art Show is currently taking place at Historic Fort Steuben Visitor Center.   There are over 100 pieces of artwork from local artists on display. 

The SAA was founded in 1946 to promote interest in the arts in the Ohio Valley and is still going strong today. 

The SAA has a monthly Artist Spotlight exhibit at the Fort Visitor Center and the Antique Warehouse Kiosk.   They also host a Christmas season art sale as a part of ‘Christmas at the Fort’ and a Dean Martin art sale at the Fort Visitor Center in June.

They offer monthly artist workshops and demonstrations of different mediums, styles and techniques, followed by their meetings, with guest artist speakers. 

The SAA community involvement includes painting and having their own Nutcracker, painting an egg for The Great Steubenville Eggsibition, a catfish for The Catfish Crawl, and creating and painting The Beatty Park Mural.

If you are interested in becoming a member or sponsor, please send your information to steubenvilleaa@yahoo.com.

The “Show Us Your Stuff’ Art Show will run until March 21^st, Monday-Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm. 

Mark your calendar!  The Annual Spring Quilt Show at Historic Fort Steuben is quickly approaching.

There will be quilts on display by quilters from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  The quilts are each unique, varying in age, fabric, patterns, colors, and techniques, and include both hand quilted and pieced and machine sewn. Many have creative themes and interesting stories. 

There are quilters who have been sharing their creations at this show for years, and each year many new quilters are welcomed.  Seasoned quilters as well as first timers, men and women, old and young alike.

Visitors can vote for their favorite quilt at $1 per vote.  Also, a $5 raffle ticket may be purchased to win a beautiful quilt made by local artist Helen Sweeney.

This year’s show will run from April 7^th – 18^th, Monday – Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm, or by appointment.

Attention quilters: There is no fee to enter this show.  An application can be attained by calling 740-283-1787, by email mary@visitsteubenville.com. , at the Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd Street, or online at www.oldfortsteuben.com.   Completed applications must be received by March 17^th.

Historic Fort Steuben invites entries for the annual Spring Quilt Show that will run from April 7th through April 18th at the Visitor Center in Steubenville.

Whether newly finished, a treasured heirloom, or an old favorite, handcrafted quilts and coverlets of all sizes are welcome to be displayed. Entrants are invited to give a little history of the quilt –each one is a story!

All applications must be submitted by March 17th to be included. There may be a limit placed on the number of quilts entered, depending on availability of space.

Applications can be obtained at the Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd Street, Steubenville, on the website http://www.oldfortsteuben.com/quilt-show, or by calling 740-283-1787.