Traditions fest begins Wednesday

STEUBENVILLE - Four days of three different festivals downtown start Wednesday with the annual Grecian Food Festival set to kick off at 11 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on South Fourth Street.

The Grecian Food Festival, set to run Wednesday through Saturday, will offer a variety of authentic Grecian food such as loukaniko, moussaka and Greek salad as well as Grecian pastries like baklava, diples and Elena's raisin cookies.

Phone-in and carry-out orders are available during the festival by calling (740) 282-7770. The fax number is (740) 282-2091.

Festival parking is free, and organizers said Greek icons, music and souvenirs will be on sale during the four-day event.

More than 1,000 visitors are expected to tour Dino Crocetti's hometown on Friday and Saturday during the annual Dean Martin Festival.

"Fans tour Dean Martin's hometown, hang out at local clubs, hear the Dean Martin impersonators and share lots of memories," said Beth Wood, executive director of the Steubenville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Martin festival is part of the city's Traditions Festival, along with the Grecian Food Festival and Ohio Valley Frontier Days.

Deana Martin will make an appearance at 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the Steubenville post office on North Third Street, and she will appear from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day at the Steubenville Kroger store for a CD, album and book-signing event.

"Dinner with Deana Martin and friends" is set from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Naples Spaghetti House.

Friday activities will conclude the Dean Martin Tribute Show starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Spot Bar. The show will include Richard Treglia at 7:30 p.m. followed by Deana Martin, Lauren Mascitti, Drew Anthony and Russ Loniello from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Dean-O-Holics Show Band will perform. from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

They will be followed by Eric DeLauro, who won the Sinatra Idol Contest in Hoboken, N.J.

On Saturday, Deana Martin will be at the Fort Steuben Visitors Center from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. while entertainment featuring the Frank Gallo Band is set to start at noon at the Spot Bar. The popular meatball eating contest at the Spot Bar will be at 1 p.m. followed by the Crooners at 3 p.m.

The Saturday evening schedule at the Spot Bar will start with the annual auction at 7 p.m. and will include Drew Anthony at 7:30 p.m. as Dean Martin from the Las Vegas Rat Pack Show, Lauren Mascitti at 8 p.m. and Russ Loniello at 8:30 p.m. Deana Martin will perform at 9 p.m. followed by Chris Denam as Neil Diamond at 9:30 p.m., Pittsburgh's Rat Pack appearing at 10 p.m. and Denam again at 11:30 p.m.

"Local History Day is set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the fort's place in local and national history," said Judy Bratten, director of Historic Fort Steuben.

In keeping with the theme of the day, several authors will be at the visitors center, Bratten said.

The newly released "The Story of Historic Fort Steuben" will be on sale in the exhibit hall where the author, John Holmes, will be available for signings. The book is a dramatic telling of the people and events surrounding the original fort as well as its reconstruction.

Tom Twyford, who has written a memoir of growing up in the Ohio Valley during the turbulent years that bracket World War II, will be selling "The Son of a Boilermaker." His book captures his recollections of a time of innocence with pathos and humor.

Theresa DeCaria will be selling her nostalgic cookbook, "The Table My Mother Set," as well as bookmarks, measuring spoons and other related accessories.

Gloria Renda will have the "Pleasant Hill Schoolhouse Cookbook" as well as "Stories of Alikanna" for sale.

Also, the reprint of "Doc Schilling's Tales and Stories of Yellow Creek" will be offered by Virginia Glenn, whose family has taken on the project of collecting additions to the local classic.

And from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Deana Martin will be on hand to autograph her book "Memories are Made of This" as well as photos and other items," said Bratten.

Ohio Valley Frontier Days at the Historic Fort Steuben is set for June 27-28 and will provide an historical conclusion to the 12 days of festivals.

Admission to the festival is $3 for adults, $1 for youth ages 6-12 and free for children under age 6, said Bratten.

She also encouraged visitors to stop at the First Federal Land Office located next to Historic Fort Steuben.

"The land office is a replica of a colonial-era home and will display local historical artifacts as well as a two-and-one-half-ton bell from the Jefferson County Courthouse. We stage our events together and provide a variety of activities," Bratten said.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)