“Everybody loves somebody sometime,” and Steubenville loves native son and classic crooner Dean Martin. The city will host a celebration of his career and music on June 16th and 17th with performances by tribute artists, a Dino 5K, a classic car cruise-in, and a parade.
The event kicks off on Thursday evening with a Karaoke Contest at the Spot Bar which has held this contest for years. On Friday evening, Joe Scalissi – a national Dean Martin tribute performer – will join his surprise guests at the Spot Bar for an evening of memorable music.
But the real excitement starts on Saturday with a variety of events opening with the Dino Dash 5K Trail Run/Walk at 8:00 am in the city’s historic Beatty Park. Winners of the race will be awarded their prizes after the parade by performer Scalissi as Dean Martin.
The Dean Martin/Rat Pack Parade will process down Fourth Street at noon with TV personality Lou Martini as the Grand Marshal. Units have been asked to decorate or dress in the Dean Martin theme.
Immediately following the parade, classic cars will be lining up on S. 4th Street for admiring strollers with DJ Kevin Dennis by the Grand Theater. The Grand is the last of the five theaters that once dominated the downtown and is currently undergoing extensive renovations. The lobby will be open where the Steubenville Art Association will have a themed show and art sale and tours of the theater will be offered for donations.
The Steubenville Trolley will run from 1pm to 3pm around the downtown and its famous murals. An onboard tour guide will give the stories behind the murals and the tales of Dean Martin’s time in the city for a $5 donation.
Visitors are encouraged to stop at the Steubenville Visitor Center at 120 S. 3rd Street throughout the day until 4pm where a special video produced by longtime Dean Martin fan Tina Baker will be running. Entitled “Sweet Memories of Steubenville,” the film includes dozens of clips from Martin’s many movies and TV shows where he mentions his hometown. They include scenes with Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, Perry Como and even former mayor Andy Miller. This video can only be seen in Steubenville at the Visitor Center and later during the Rat Pack Dinner Show. The Visitor Center will have a Steubenville History and Dean Martin Display as well. Those who love history can tour Historic Fort Steuben at a special reduced rate that day.
The event climaxes with a nationally acclaimed Rat Pack Dinner Show with Joe Scalissi as Dean Martin with Bryan Duprey as Frank Sinatra, David Hayes as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jamey Duprey as Marilyn Monroe at Froehlich’s Classic Corner at 5:00pm. Tickets for this Dean Martin Festival 2023 Rat Pack Dinner Show are $35 and can be purchased online at EventBrite.com or in person at the Visitor Center.
For more information on this event and lodging, dining, and other attractions go to www.VisitSteubenville.com.
