CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN STEUBENVILLE & JEFFERSON COUNTY
“Steubenville will once again be part of Tourism Ohio’s 2024 Ohio Holiday Lights Trail and is included in Tourism Ohio’s Holiday Event Guide,” announced Judy Bratten of the Steubenville Visitor Center.
With 73 stops, this year’s trail brings together Ohio’s most beloved displays, including Jefferson County favorites, inviting Ohioans and visitors to experience the brilliance of the holidays.
“We are excited to see the recognition that our local events are receiving as part of this initiative by the State of Ohio,” Bratten added. “And our communities are eager to welcome visitors who will make wonderful holiday memories here.”
Displays along the self-guided trail include the impressive seven million lights at Winterfest at Kings Island, the nationally recognized and locally beloved Steubenville Nutcracker Village, six beautifully lit botanical gardens to stroll through, five illuminated zoos to explore, and four merry museums and historic parks to wander. Nearly all the displays have over 100,000 lights, with many exceeding one million.
“If you’re looking to experience the magic of the season with the best light displays in the state, the Holiday Lights Trail is a great place to start,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Following the trail gives families the opportunity to bundle up and explore some of the most enchanting holiday experiences in the heart of it all.”
“The magic of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail lies in the dedication of the communities who help bring these displays to life,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development, which oversees TourismOhio. “Each display reflects the creativity and passion of the many Ohioans who are spreading holiday joy and helping families make memories together.”
Besides the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, the county boasts entries in the Ohio Holiday Event Guide, including Christmas at the Fort, Wintersville Winter Weekend, Christmas in Mt. Pleasant, and Old-Fashioned Country Christmas Concert. The Guide lists events in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.
“There are more events in Jefferson County than are listed,” said Bratten. “For information on the many ways you can celebrate the season here, go to the calendar on our website: VisitSteubenville.com. You’ll find holiday musical performances, many of them free, plus craft and vendor shows, and special community events. So many opportunities to make the season merry and bright!”
Links to both the Holiday Lights Trail and Holiday Event Guide can be found at https://ohio.org/home/seasons/holidays.
STEUBENVILLE LIGHTS UP – CHRISTMAS 2024
FRIDAY, NOV. 29, 5:00-8:00 PM
Fort Steuben Park once again hosts the kickoff to the season of wonder and joy as Steubenville Lights Up, on Friday November 29th.
The annual event begins with a Barn Yard Petting Zoo on S. 3rd Street, right in the heart of downtown, from noon to 3pm, featuring friendly goats, pigs and animals traditionally found on a farm.
At the Christmas Tree Plaza in Fort Steuben Park, the 2024 Holiday Market with over 20 craft and food vendors will be open from 3pm to 8pm. The Market chalets are set around the 30’ Christmas Tree which has two model trains chugging around it and holiday music to lift the spirits.
The Park is adorned with numerous trees, lights, and décor perfect for photos and making Christmas memories. The Visitor Center will be open with its Holiday Shoppe selling books, puzzles, craft kits, and decorations. Children can write letters to Santa while their parents can browse among the works of the Steubenville Art Association.
The popular Steubenville Nutcracker VillageTM will be open throughout the downtown with over 200 unique nutcrackers on display and delightful activities and events open to everyone.
But the excitement really begins when the Brenda Casey Dance Studio presents their Christmas Program in the Berkman Amphitheater at 5:15pm. Santa Claus will greet everyone at 5:30pm in the Christmas Tree Plaza. At 6:15, Rev. Jason Elliott of the First Westminster Presbyterian Church will offer a blessing for the tree and the event. To help lead the crowd in the countdown to lighting up the tree and the Christmas lights in the city will be members of the Franciscan University basketball team, led by Joe Wallace at 6:25pm. And then, a spectacular fireworks show will fill the sky, adding to the excitement.
Music by the Honky-Tonk Sweethearts will fill the air and all the activities will continue into the evening as another holiday season begins. If you can’t make the event, it will be broadcast and streamed on WTOV/Fox9.
Jefferson County Fall Farm Stands & Events
Here are some fun fall things to do and places to shop in Jefferson County:-
Rudy’s Farm Fresh Produce – located on SR 43 between Richmond & East Springfield
It’s All Good Farm – located at 101 Tanner Street, Smithfield
Farmers Gateway Market – Wednesdays, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Blessed Sacrament Church, Main Street, Wintersville
Downtown Steubenville Farmers’ Market – Thursdays, 8am to 2pm, Corner of S. 4th and South Streets, Steubenville
Wednesdays in Wintersville: Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie – Sept. 4, 4:30-8:30pm, Main Street, Wintersville
County Road 39 Farm Festival – Sept. 14-15, 8am to 5pm, 775 Co Rd 39, Bloomingdale; food, live entertainment, and Car Cruise-in on Sunday 1-4pm.
Saturday Market on Fourth – Sept. 21, 10am to 1pm, N. 4th Street, Steubenville
Fall Festival – Sept. 28, 10am to 4pm, Exquisite Creations by Joel, Wintersville
First Fridays on Fourth: Fall Festival – October 4, 6pm to 11pm, 4th Street, Steubenville
Festival in the Woods – October 5, 10am to 5pm, 210 S. Park Street, Richmond; huge craft/vendor show, food.
Saturday Market on Fourth – October 19, 10am to 1pm, N. 4th Street, Steubenville
46th Annual Festival of the Arts
Focus in Toronto, a local non-profit organization, hosts the Toronto Art Festival in downtown Toronto Ohio each Labor Day Weekend.
The festival offers a large variety of food from food trucks and a selection of homemade foods and desserts at the Riverview United Methodist Church, where customers will be able to sit and dine inside the air-conditioned downstairs. There will also be lemonade stands and flavored shaved ice available. Toronto Lions Cub will sell its popular chicken dinners in Styrofoam to-go boxes.
There will be plenty of live entertainment, with bands, area vocalists and other performers.
In addition multiple vendors will be selling a variety of handmade arts and crafts.
Details of vendors and entertainment may be found on the festival Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TorontoOHArtFestival/
This year’s festival will take place the weekend of August 30 – September 1. Located at the city’s Gazebo Commons. Tents, canopies and booths will be placed on the grounds around the First Presbyterian and Riverview United Methodist churches and areas along North Third and Main Streets. Hours are Saturday, August 31st from10am – 6pm and Sunday, September 1st, from 11am – 5pm.
Lewis & Clark Join the City of Murals
The amazing expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with their trusty dog Seaman, native American Sacagawea, and African American York, will be displayed in a new mural crafted by international mural artist Kyle Holbrook on a building in downtown Steubenville this summer.
“It was truly a serendipitous moment when we met Kyle last summer,” said Judy Bratten, Director of Historic Fort Steuben and the Visitor Center that maintains the murals. “He was bicycling down 4th Street and started talking to me and Mayor Jerry Barilla about the murals in town, with no idea that we were the ones who handled them!”
Holbrook, a resident of Pittsburgh, has created murals in 43 countries and 49 states, with a particular emphasis on positively influencing the social environment. The artist took time to do extensive research on the Corps of Discovery, noting that the Lewis and Clark Expedition holds significance for various diverse populations such as Native Americans, African Americans, and veterans. The expedition, which took place from 1803 to 1806, was an important chapter in American history and had a huge impact.
“The Mayor and I had been talking about developing a mural to honor the Expedition, especially since Historic Fort Steuben is now part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail under the auspices of the National Park Service,” Bratten explained. “Meriwether Lewis had to stop in the small town of Steubenville on his way down the Ohio River to meet Clark in Indiana. As a result, Steubenville is included in Lewis’ journals.”
There is an extensive display in the Fort Steuben Visitor Center on the expedition, with activity booklets for youngsters who want to participate in the NPS Junior Ranger Program.
For more information, call 740-283-1787.
Steubenville Catfish Crawl
Back for a second year is the Steubenville Cultural Trust’s Catfish Crawl. The display will run from July 1st through September 1st. This year nine catfish will be on display, including four making their debut.
Each of the catfish was painted by a local artist. Next to each 5 foot statue there will be a fun or historical fact about the Ohio River.
The Catfish Crawl is intended to draw visitors to downtown Steubenville for the summer months. The first year went well drawing attention from neighboring communities and being featured in the Facebook group Ohio Road Trips.
The walking tour is free, self-guided and available 24/7.
The Catfish featured in this article is located by the fountain at Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd Street.
For information on the Catfish Crawl ArtWalk, visit steubenvillenutcrackervillage.com/catfish.html
Friendship Park Kayak Launch Ribbon Cutting
Friendship Park in Smithfield, Ohio, will open the new adaptive launch to the public in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11:00 am.
The Coast Guard Flotilla 082-07-02 will be available from 9:00 – 11:00 am for complementary vessel inspections with a safety class beginning at 10:00 am. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 11:00 am with festivities continuing through 2:00 pm.
Food will be provided by Crossroads Christian Church Wintersville, Ice Cream Island food truck will be on-site, and raffle tickets for a chance to win a kayak donated by Friends of Smithfield will be sold for $10 each. The drawing will be held at 2:00 pm with proceeds benefiting the Paddle Sports Program at the park.
On December 14, 2023 Jefferson County Commissioners approved the purchase of a nearly $75,000 adaptive kayak launch to be engineered by BoardSafe Dock Systems and installed at Friendship Park using American Rescue Plan funds. The adaptive launch provides safe means to launch paddle craft vessels making the lake more accessible for those with and without physical impairments.
For more information visit the Friendship Park District page on Facebook or email friendshippark@jeffersoncountyoh.com.
Steubenville Celebrates Its Native Son
As an entertainment icon, Dean Martin is remembered every year in his hometown of Steubenville. The 2024 Dean Martin Festival will highlight his music and life June 13-15.
The center of the celebration is held at The Spot Bar with a karaoke contest on Thursday evening, a tribute to Dean Martin by Russ Loniello on Friday evening, and entertainment by Bob Morelli (Dean Martin) and Dave Salera (Frank Sinatra) followed by Joe Scalissi with a Dean Martin tribute on Saturday evening.
On Thursday evening, the Fort Steuben Concert Series will present Dean Martin themed performances by Bob Morelli, the Vince Villanova Big Band, and a Rat Pack Tribute show.
Other events offered around town include opening the Dean Martin Room at the Jefferson County Historical Museum on Saturday from 11-4. Earlier on Saturday morning, runners & walkers can participate in the Dino Dash 5K in the beautiful Beatty Park with music (Nail City Brass Band, 8:30-10:30am), refreshments for all, and information canopies for Dean Martin Association, Friends of Beatty Park and Jefferson County Genealogy Society. The Steubenville Visitor Center will offer Dino’s Downtown Trolley Rides from 11-4 on Saturday highlighting the significant sites and many of the City of Murals artworks.
Throughout Saturday, the Visitor Center will host a display of Dean Martin memorabilia and run a video of clips from Martin’s movies and television show where he mentions his hometown: “Sweet Memories of Steubenville.” The Steubenville Art Association will have a show and sale of original work related to the day.
As part of the celebration, Historic Fort Steuben will offer reduced entrance fees and have displays on Steubenville history. Downtown shops will have Dean Martin specials as well.
For more information on these and other attractions in Steubenville, contact the Steubenville Visitor Center, 740.283.4935 or go to www.VisitSteubenville.com.
