The 39th Annual Festival of the Arts in Toronto, Ohio, takes place this weekend, September 3rd and 4th.

This annual fun filled exciting event offers over 100 vendors, a car show, continuous live entertainment, the Charlie Vantiburg Cornhole Tournament, the THS Poetry Contest, the Teeny-Tiny Turtle Race, great food and so much more.

Festival hours on Saturday are 10am-8pm, with Opening Ceremony featuring the Toronto High Band and Little Miss Lion at 11am.    Hours on Sunday are Noon -5pm.

Be sure to stop by the Focus in Toronto Booth near the Gazebo to get your hourly raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets, Featured Raffle item tickets, Turtle Adoption Certificates, and a Discover Toronto, OH shirt. With over 100 vendors they will be raffling over 5 items an hour. All proceeds help sustain the Festival of the Arts, the Christmas Parade and Vendor Bazaar, and FIT’s other yearly activities and donations.    Featured Raffle Item –  Local photographer, 24 Jupiter, is providing two canvas portraits to be raffled off on Sunday the 4th. These canvas portraits feature an outstanding picture of the former Toronto High School in winter, and the new Stadium at dusk. Stop by for a chance to claim these two beauties.

Teeny-Tiny Turtle Race – Each year Focus in Toronto hosts the Teeny-Tiny Turtle Race at Newburg Landing.  With a $5 donation you can enter the race and have a chance to win one of three cash prizes.  Each adopted turtle has a number that corresponds to the certificate.  You can adopt your turtle at participating Toronto locations, or at the Festival.   The first turtle to cross the finish line wins.  Please note that the rubber turtles remain the property of FIT.   1st Place:  $500, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place: $50.

Following is a listing of activities and entertainment for both days:

Saturday Activities:

10:00AM – 3PM: 2nd Annual Car Show – Sponsored by 247 Kustoms 

10:00AM – 8:00PM: Inflatables, Games, Rides by Movin’ N Groovin’

10:00AM – 8:00PM: Festival Art Exhibit

3:00PM: Charlie Vantilburg Cornhole Tournament (Register at the FIT Booth)

Saturday Entertainment:

11:00AM: Opening Ceremony: THS Band & Little Miss Lion

12:00PM: Shelly Irvine and the Steeltones

1:30PM: Tammy Spicer

3:00PM: Powers Martial Arts

3:30PM: The Place For Dance

4:00PM: Roz and Lynn

5:00PM: Titan Cheerleaders

5:30PM: The Bethany James Band

6:30PM: The Lo-Fi Project

Sunday Activities:

12:00PM – 5:00PM: Inflatables, Games, Rides by Movin’ N Groovin’

12:00PM – 5:00PM: Festival Art Exhibit

1:30PM: TEMS vs. Police Department Wing Eating Contest

3:00PM: Teeny-Tiny Turtle Race – $500 Cash Prize

4:30PM: 50/50, THS canvas, and THS Stadium Canvas Raffle

Sunday Entertainment

12:00PM: Shelly Irvine & The Steeltones

1:30PM: Toronto Middle School Cheerleaders

2:00PM: Yankee Grey Band

3:00PM Toronto High School Cheerleaders

3:30PM: Ron Retzer Trio

For more information go to:   www.focusintoronto.com/festival

Casting call!

STEUBENVILLE NUTCRACKER VILLAGE
c/o OLD FORT STEUBEN
120 S THIRD ST
STEUBENVILLE OH 43952

Resident of Steubenville Nutcracker Village

The Mount Pleasant Annual Tour sponsored by the Historical Society of Mount Pleasant is going to take place this weekend, August 6th and 7th.    Mount Pleasant is located in Jefferson County, at the junction of SR 647 & SR 150 from US 250.

There are new buildings and exciting events added to the tour this year.  The hours have also been extended for the tour to 10:00am – 6:00pm on Saturday, August 6th and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, August 7th.

In addition to the society owned properties (Harris Bone Store; Elizabeth House; Historical Center; Burriss Store; Tin Shop), visitors will also have the opportunity to tour the ca. 1814 Quaker Yearly Meeting House state historic landmark.  Representatives from the Ohio History Connection will be on hand at the Benjamin Lundy House/ Free Labor Store to explain the history and significance of the building and detail plans for the extensive restoration of the building.  Visitors can get a sneak peek inside the original Free Labor Store section – believed to be the last extant Free Labor Store in the country.

Additional tour stops include the ca. 1846 Samuel Gill house, located next to the Evangelical Friends Church.  This house was recently purchased by the church and has undergone extensive restoration.  This will be the first time in many decades that the house has been open for the tour.  Directly across the street is the ca. 1800 Humphreville cabin.  This structure, recently purchased by society directors Don & Angela Feenerty, is undergoing intensive restoration to take the building back to its original log form.  For the first time ever tour visitors will be able to take a glimpse into one of the earliest structures in the entire Upper Ohio Valley.

On the other end of town is the crowd favorite J. Brown house, owned by Gary Reynard and Justin McCrea.  The home was originally two separate homes – one built in 1830 and the other in 1918.  An exhibition of paintings by local artist Harold Reynard, a great-cousin of Gary’s, will be on display.

Just a few miles outside of town the ca. 1837 Hicksite Meeting House will be open.  Restoration of the meeting house is underway and visitors may stroll through the small cemetery behind the building — the final resting place for several Underground Railroad conductors and Quaker Civil War soldiers.

Additional attractions during the tour will be an authentic drovers encampment set up near the Quaker Yearly Meeting House.  Society member Bill Sutton will be on hand with an early 19th century wagon that he spent the past year restoring.  The Heritage Dance Association will give historic dance demonstrations beneath the portico of the Evangelical Friends Church.

Shoppers will want to check out the sale at Second Chance Antique Store in town.  The Rodak family, who recently purchased the old Lone Tree restaurant, will have the building open to sell their locally produced honey.

The Elizabeth House Tea Room will be open to serve a light lunch and refreshments.

Visitors are also encouraged to visit the nearby Farm Restaurant and Black Sheep Winery.

For more information or questions, please contact the Historical Society at 1.800.752.2631.

Due to the inclement weather, tonight’s concert at the Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben Park, featuring Adrian Niles and Jeff Jimerson & Airborne has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 31st at 6:30pm.

This week the Berkman Amphitheater in Fort Steuben Park will be rockin’ with the sounds of Adrian Niles and Jeff Jimerson & Airborne.  The concert begins at 6:30pm and as always there is no admission cost.  A free will collection will be taken.

The food and other merchandise vendors open at 4:30pm so come early to get a good seat and have something to eat and maybe even do a little shopping.

After this week there are three scheduled concerts remaining:  August 4th, Golden Oldies Night featuring One-A-Chord and Geezecats;  August 11th, Classic Oldies featuring Roz and Lynn and Original Fantasy’s; and on August 18th House of Soul is coming back to ‘make up’  for being rained out in the middle of their performance on July 14th.

The season is definitely coming to an end soon, so don’t miss any of these great performers.

Adrian Niles Band

Jeff Jimerson & Airborne

A new and exciting addition to downtown Steubenville is the Antique Warehouse, located in the old Denmark’s building at 322 Market Street.

This very diverse and interesting store has items from 25 different vendors and is a wonderful place to find a one of a kind gift, add to your own collection or just browse about and take a walk down memory lane.

Hours are from 10am to 5pm seven days a week!

For more information call 740.317.5742.

Other antique shops in Steubenville and surrounding area include:

Adams Antiques of Steubenville, a long standing shop displaying and selling antiques and collectibles, including many Dean Martin items. They feature a variety of dealers.

Adams Antiques is located at 406 Adam Street, Steubenville and their hours are 11am to 6pm daily, closed Mondays.

For more information call 740.282.2400.

Second Chance Antiques is located in Mt. Pleasant Ohio, at 19 Mulberry Street.  They have a unique blend of antiques, country primitives, crafts, shabby chic, new and old, presented by 8 vendors.

Second Chance Antiques is located within 2 miles of The Farm Restaurant and Black Sheep Vineyard.  Their hours are Thursday & Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturday 11am to 3pm.

For more information call 740.769.7639.

Antique Emporium is located in two large houses at 2523 Sunset Blvd., Steubenville .  A variety of items much of which is acquired through estate auctions and purchases.

By appointment,  please call 740.264.7806.

Why not make a day of it- visit all four and get in some serious antiquing.

Summer is moving right along as is this year’s Summer Concert Series.  This Thursday is R&B, Funk and Soul night featuring “House of Soul”. As of now (if no more are rescheduled because of rain) there are four weeks remaining.  Yet to come are: July 21st –  Ohio Valley Classics with Steve Free and Hoard & Jones; July 28th – Classic Rock & Blues with Adrian Niles and Jeff Jimerson & Airborne; August 4th – Golden Oldies with One-A-Chord and Geezecats;  and August 11th – Classic Oldies with Roz & Lynn and Original Fantasy’s.

There is a nice variety of music yet to come and hopefully something for everyone!

The Concerts are held at the Berkman Amphitheater in Fort Steuben Park, 120 South 3rd Street, Steubenville and begin at 6:30pm.  There is no admission cost, although a free will collection is taken.

Come a little early and get something to eat at one of our food vendors or shop for a T-shirt commemorating this 10th year of Concerts, some delicious fudge, jewelry or other cool items.   And don’t forget to get some “Steubenville” popcorn!

                               House of Soul playing at the Berkman Amphitheater at 6:30pm on Thursday, July 14th, 2016.

The City of Steubenville will be celebrating the Fourth of July on Monday with an exciting day and evening of fun events, concluding with a “Fireworks Extravaganza” at 9:45pm at Belleview Park.  Here is a listing of the days events:

City of Steubenville Schedule Events

10am – Opening Prayer Service and Salute to Military, sponsored by Faith in the Future at Ft. Steuben Park, 120 South 3rd Street

Noon – Senior Citizen Luncheon at Prime Time Center,  Lovers Lane

Noon – 5pm – Free Swimming at Belleview Pool

4pm -until end – Food Favorites (vendors) at Belleview Park

5pm until end – Music by DJ, Belleveiw Park Lower Field area

5pm-9pm – Family Fun Free Zone (Inflatable Youth Games) Belleview Park  Lower Field area

9:45pm – Fireworks  Extravaganza,  Belleview Park

Be sure to come out for this wonderful, traditional day with our community!

The Downtown Steubenville Farmers’ Market opens this Thursday, June 23rd at 8:00am. Many of our friends and your favorites are returning this year with their healthy, delicious produce, jams, jellies, pickled beets, salsas and more. Be sure to come by for some goodies. You may also want to pick up a cute handmade craft while you are there! The Market will be open every Thursday through October from 8:00am to 1:00pm and is located at the corner of South Fourth and South Streets.

Some of our vendors-

Russell’s Produce

Aunt Kimmies Jams & Jellies

Woolf Farms

Angiuli Farm Market

Due to the threat of thunderstorms, Thursday’s concert at the Berkman Amphitheater, Fort Steuben Park, featuring ‘The Diamond Project’ has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 19th at 6:30pm.