Due to threatening weather the Dean Martin Tribute Show which was to take place at the Berkman Amphitheater has been moved to Steubenville High School Auditorium, 420 N. 4th Street.  Concert time remains at 6:30pm.

There will be Shuttle Service from the 4 Steubenville Hotels to Downtown and back on Friday, June 16th and Saturday, June 17th.

Please note there are TWO different shuttle routes, see below for Locations, Times and Cost:

In less than a week downtown Steubenville will be bustling with visitors and residents alike enjoying the festivities of several annual celebrations.

Beginning on June 13^th with the 2017 Annual Holy Trinity Greek Festival (300 South Fourth Street) featuring authentic Greek Food & Pastry, Live Music and Dance, Guided Church Tours, Outdoor Taverna, and carry-out service.  The Festival runs from Tuesday, the 13^th, through Friday, June 16^th and is open daily from 11am to 9pm.

The Annual Dean Martin Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 15^th and runs through Sunday the 18^th, with numerous activities and shows including the Dean Martin Tribute Show at the Fort Steuben Berkman Amphitheater at 6:30pm on June 15^th and a Singing Contest later that evening at 9:00pm at the Spot Bar.

On Friday, June 16^th there will be a Meet & Greet and Silent Auction at Best Western Plus at The New Franciscan Square from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, followed by the Dean Martin’s 100^th Birthday Party at The Spot Bar at 8:00pm, admission is $10.

Saturday, June 17^th, brings events all day including the Dean Martin 100^th Birthday Show (Admission $10) at Steubenville High School Auditorium at 4:00pm and a 7:00pm Dean Martin Celebration (Admission $10) at The Spot Bar; as well as the Dean Martin Hometown Celebration which includes the Dean Martin Birthday Parade at Noon, Meet and Greet following the parade at Fort Steuben Visitor Center; a 5K run and walk;  a street fair with food and craft vendors and informational booths; free mini train rides; trolley tours to Jefferson County Historical Museum, St. Paul’s Church, First Christian Church, Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe, Steubenville Popcorn Co., and the Grand Theater; Kurt James Fun n Games; live entertainment at the Fort Steuben Park Fountain; games for youth; petting zoo; face painting; a Dance-a-thon; a 50’s Dance; Trivia Booth; wonderful food from seven different vendors and so much more!

Be sure to mark your calendars now so you don’t miss out on any of the fun and excitement!

Programs, Schedules and maps are available at the Steubenville Visitor Center, on this Website and on the Visit Steubenville Facebook Page.

The bad news is that the opening Concert of the Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series scheduled for Thursday May 25^th has been canceled due to rain.   The good news is that it has been rescheduled for Monday, May 29^th, at 6:30pm.

The concert is a DOO-WOP concert featuring the well known and loved ‘Marcels’.  The Marcels are as advertised, the guys who put the “Bomp” in the “Bomp-A-Bomp” back in 1961 when their first recording “Blue Moon” sold over two and a half million copies.    They have had three record albums and numerous hit singles, with sales in the millions.

They also recorded the theme song, “The Greatest Love” for the motion picture ‘The Interns’ and appeared with Chubby Checker in the film ‘Twist Around the Clock’.   Their signature song, “Blue Moon” has been used in at least four major motion pictures and various TV shows, such as Sha Na Na, Cheers, Moonlighting, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, etc.

The Marcels, featuring Jules Hopson, Kenny Mitchell, Richard Harris and Ted “Reno” Smith bring dynamic energy to the stage with their hits as well as their “Salute to The Jukebox Giants”.

It will be a wonderful way to celebrate Memorial Day, so mark your calendar and join “The Marcels” as they ‘sing’ us back to the past with a fun filled,  rockin’ good show.

AND – No rain allowed!!

The Great Steubenville Eggsibition was unveiled as a surprise gift to the Steubenville community on Easter Sunday, April 16th, and will remain on display until Mother’s Day, May 14th.

Nelson’s of Steubenville, the same folks that brought you the Steubenville Nutcrackers, has created 3′ tall Easter eggs which are placed in downtown businesses for an exciting Easter Egg Hunt! Seventeen giant eggs were designed and meticulously painted by more than 20 different local artists. It is a fun event and well worth your time to visit the businesses and check out these beautiful works of art! Take selfies and share!

Following is a list of the eggs, the artists and locations.   There are also maps available at the businesses showing the placement of all the eggs.

Enjoy!

“Egglectic CollaborEggtion” Painted and sponsored by the Steubenville Art Association – Located at the Historic Fort Steuben #EgglecticCollaborEggtion

“Sapphire Reflection” Painted by Kateri Schmiesing – Sponsored by and located at Tri-State Financial Services #SapphireReflection

“Magyar Memories” ­Painted by The DeLaratta Family – Sponsored by Urban Frontier Organization – Located at Two Brothers Dry Cleaners #MagyarMemories

“Spokój” Painted by Michael Manocchia – Sponsored by First National Bank – Located at Froehlich’s Classic Corner #Spokoj

“Eggsquisite” Painted by Marianna Schmiesing – Sponsored by Franciscan University of Steubenville – Located at Bookmarx Bookstore #Eggsquisite

“Sugar Bunnies” Painted by Alysia Basluke – Sponsored by Legal Hair – Located at Ed McCauslen’s Florist, Inc. #SugarBunnies

“The Jelly Bean Prayer” Painted by Anna Chaney – Sponsored by Nelson’s – Located at The Steubenville Popcorn Company #TheJellyBeanPrayer

“Love Where You Live” By YOU! – Sponsored by and located at The Steubenville Popcorn Company #LoveWhereYouLive_Steubenville

“Hope of Eternity” Painted by the Nelson Sisters – Sponsored by and located at Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe #HopeOfEternity

“The TARDIS” Painted by Jim Chaney – Sponsored by Councilwoman-at-Large Kimberly Hahn & Jerry Barilla for Mayor – Located at Mike’s Sweeper Center #theTARDIS

“Because I Could” Painted by Christina Cerrato – Sponsored by Dr. & Mrs. W. Hunter Vaughan – Located at PNC Bank (Downtown Steubenville) #BecauseICould

“Happy Easter, Bridget Riley” Painted by Gerald Van Scyoc – Sponsored by Barium & Chemicals, Inc. – Located at Huntington Bank (Downtown Steubenville) #HappyEasterBridgetRiley

“A Legacy of Faith” Painted by Lana Deyoe – Sponsored by and located at the Antique Warehouse #LegacyOfFaith

“Rorschach Rabbit Oreo” Painted by Augustine Sirilla – Sponsored by Eastern Gateway Community College – Located at the Grand Theater for Performing Arts #RorschachRabbitOreo

“An Eggcellent Canvas” Painted by Christine Venditti – Sponsored by and located at the Downtown Bakery #AnEggcellentCanvas

“Belleview Spring Fantasia” Painted by the Sirilla Family – Sponsored by Attorney Francesca Carinci – Located at Public Library of Steubenville & Jefferson County #BelleviewSpringFantasia

“Ciche Noce Spokoine Gwiazdy” Painted by Brodie Stutzman – Sponsored by and located at Nelson’s #CicheNoceSpokoineGwiazdy

Everyone has been asking and patiently (or impatiently) waiting for the schedule to be released for the 2017 Historic Fort Steuben Summer Concert Series at Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben Park, and now it is here!

The concerts begin this year on Thursday, May 25^th at 6:30pm, with a fantastic DOO WOP ROCK’N’ROLL night featuring “The Marcels”, then occur every Thursday at the same time through August 10^th.

There are favorites returning like “Beatlemania Magic”, “Ron Retzer Trio”, and “Legend” and also a number of great talents playing at Berkman for the first time such as “The Marcels”, “Hit Play” and “US3 The Essence“.

There is also a special concert on Saturday, June 24^th by the US Army Band: Jazz Ambassadors.

Let’s hope for great weather for all the concerts this year!

If you are a fan of ‘the theater’ you won’t need to leave town this month to be entertained!  Upcoming in March are three popular and diverse plays being offered by our local educational institutions.

Coming up first Shrek, the Musical, based on the 2001 DreamWorks film ‘Shrek’ and William Steig’s 1990 book ‘Shrek, is being presented by Steubenville High School on March 23th, 24th & 25^th at the high school auditorium.   Shrek, the Musical, is a story set in a mythical “once upon a time” sort of land where a green orge named Shrek has retreated to an ugly swamp to live out his life in happy isolation, until evil Lord Farquaad exiles a gang of fairy tale beings to ‘his’ swamp.  In order to get them out, Shrek strikes up a deal with Farquaad (who wants to become the King) to rescue Princess Fiona, who is awaiting her true love in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon.  So Shrek and a very loud talking donkey set out and rescue the princess, but once they head back with Fiona, it starts to become apparent that not only does Shrek, an ugly orge, begin to fall in love the lovely princess, but Fiona has a huge secret of her own.

Steubenville Catholic Central will present The Wizard of Oz on Friday, March 31st, Saturday, April 1st and Sunday April 2^nd at Lanman Hall in Catholic Central High School.   The Wizard of Oz, of course a classic, is a story well known by most.  A beloved favorite through the generations.  However, just for those of you who may be from another planet, The Wizard of Oz is a story about Dorothy and her dog, Toto, who live in Kansas, but are supposedly ‘whisked’ away in a Tornado to the magical Land of Oz, where she encounters all sorts of characters including a good witch and a bad witch. She befriends the Scarecrow, who wants a brain; the Tin Woodman, who desires a heart; and the Cowardly Lion, who is in need of courage. Along with her newly found friends, she sets out on her quest along the ‘Yellow Brick Road’  to reach the ‘Wizard’ in hopes that he will get her back home to Kansas.  Many adventures unfold along the way and ultimately the audience learns valuable ‘lessons’ through the characters experiences and realizations.   No wonder this story is timeless.

Last, but definitely not least, will be Franciscan University of Steubenville Drama Department’s production of Bernard Pomerance’ The Elephant Man to be  presented Friday, March 31^st, Saturday & Sunday, April 1^st & 2^nd,  Friday, April 7th, and Saturday & Sunday, April 8^th & 9^th at the Anathan Theatre in Egan Hall at the University.  Bernard Pomerance’s play ‘The Elephant Man’ is based upon a 19th-century London, England historical figure named Joseph Merrick who was severely deformed. His deformities were so great that many called him the elephant man. During his lifetime, he was rejected by family and society and exhibited in various events.    In the play ‘John’ Merrick is a star freak show attraction in traveling side shows until he comes to the attention of Dr. Frederick Treves who takes him under his care .  He (Merrick) is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of aristocracy and literati only to be denied his ultimate dream, to become a man like any other.   Pomerance uses the presence of Merrick to expose hidden faults of some of the characters and issues present within the play.  The main themes of ‘The Elephant Man’ are fear, human condition, and alienation and loneliness.

So if you are looking for a whimsical fantasy, a classic or something a bit darker, there is a play for you. Or maybe you will want to see all three!

Whatever the case, the Drama Departments of these three educational institutions never fail to put out excellent productions with very talented casts.  And you don’t even have to leave town to enjoy them.

For more details on these three plays and other events and activities in the area go to the Events Calendar on this website.

With this beautiful weather, many thoughts are going toward Spring.  And even though it is not here yet, and we may well have some ‘rough’ weather prior to its arrival, it is not too soon to think about and plan for the upcoming events and activities that will be here before we know it.

Yet this month, if you like music (and who doesn’t), you won’t want to miss Retro Night featuring hits from the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s, a fundraiser for Ohio Valley Youth Network at 6:30pm on Saturday, February 25^th at the Fellowship Hall, First Westminster Presbyterian Church, 235 N. Fourth Street.

Coming up next month, there is a little something for everyone, including the 2017 Home & Garden Show, March 3-5, this year at the new location of St. Florian Hall, Luray Drive in Wintersville;  St. Patrick’s Day fun with the 6^th Annual Benefit for the Jefferson County Humane Society hosting St. Patrick’s Dueling Pianos Party on March 17^th at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville and on March 18^th,  the 8^th Annual Campbell-Dickinson Run/Bike/Walk & Noah Long Kid’s 1K Fun Run, as well as St. Baldrick’s Shave Off at the TEMS Building, 201 S. 4^th Street, Toronto.  Another Annual Fundraiser during March is the AIM Women’s Center Banquet on March 20^th at 6:00pm at St. Florian Hall, Luray Drive, Wintersville.  And don’t forget the March “What’s Up Downtown” on the 29^th of the month at the Fort Steuben Hotel Ballroom, North 4^th Street, Steubenville.

April may well bring showers, but this year will also bring the 12^th Annual Child Advocacy Fundraising Dinner on April 1^st at St. Florian Hall, Wintersville.  Also two favorite yearly ‘shows’ come up in April – the Spring Quilt Show at Fort Steuben Visitor Center, which runs from April 3rd to the 14^th and the Steubenville Art Association Spring Art Show, running from April 22 to May 6^th, at Eastern Gateway Community College, Steubenville.   And if you like to read, a definite must for you is the Pleasant Hills School House Historical Museum Book sale, taking place at 3125 SR 213 Steubenville on April 8th.

May takes you from a relaxing “Tea for Two” event at the Elizabeth House Tea Room 438 Union Street, Mt Pleasant, on May 20^th to an uplifting ‘rollicking’ good time at the long awaited opening night of the 2017 Fort Steuben Concert Series on May 25^th at the Berkman Amphitheater in Fort Steuben Park, at 6:30pm.  Historic Fort Steuben also has its annual Fundraising Dinner on May 10^th at the Hellenic Hall of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Then look out for June when things really get moving, but more on that another day!

No excuse for complaints of ‘nothing to do’ are allowed, so if any or all of these events ‘suit your fancy’ check our Events Calendar on this site for more details on them, as well as additional events.  The Calendar is updated regularly, so check back often.

The ‘citizens’ of the Steubenville Nutcracker Village may be on hiatus for now, but if you have developed an ‘addiction’ for them and are seriously missing them, there is no need to go ‘Cold Turkey’ until they return.

Drosselmeyer’s is a year-round Christmas shop with a fantastic selection of large and small nutcrackers of many different designs and origins (even an entire nutcracker collection you can fit in the palm of your hand with their Russian nesting dolls).   In addition to the nutcrackers they have many other wonderful items such as mugs, shirts, ornaments, pictures, magnets, and  more.

You also want to be sure to satisfy your craving for some Steubenville Company Popcorn while you are there.  And with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching you will want to check out their Valentine Gift items.

Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker Shoppe is located at 155 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, and is open from 9:30am – 6:00pm, Monday through Saturday.

Stop by to shop for a unique and special gift (for someone else or yourself) or just stop in to browse around and visit with the Nutcrackers.  You are likely to run into a familiar ‘Village’ Nutcracker or two there as well.

The Shoppe is owned and operated by the same folks who create the Steubenville Nutcracker Village ‘citizens’, so you are sure to be impressed!

“POOF”!   The Nutcrackers disappeared the same way they appeared.   Fort Steuben Park is looking pretty lonely and empty now that the Nutcrackers have left.  The beautiful Christmas Tree is still there, but the chalets are empty and closed up for the season as well.

In just a few short months though the grass will be turning greener and the trees will be blooming, the fountain will be up and running and the Park will be alive with tourists as well as locals looking for a lovely place to spend some time.  The Fort itself will be open for the season May 1st and by the end of May the Park will again be filled with music and folks coming every Thursday evening to listen to it at the Berkman Amphitheater.

For now, however, remember that the Fort Visitor Center and Gift Shop is still open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  There is always something interesting to look at in the Exhibit Hall and always something special to shop for at the Gift Shop.

In April  the Annual Quilt Show will take place in the Exhibit Hall.  So if you wish to have a quilt on display this year, please get in touch with the Visitor Center.    And for all those who just like to enjoy looking at them, the show runs from April 3rd – 14th, so mark your calendars to come and enjoy the wide variety of old, new, hand and machine sewn quilts.  Every year brings something different and exciting.

As for the Nutcrackers, it will seem like no time at all and they will have returned with ‘reinforcements’ to once again ‘Take Over’ Fort Steuben Park, bringing with them some surprises as well.