Trending
When looking for something to do in the Ohio Valley, many of the activities involve individual communities that have their own festivals and events taking place throughout the year.
That includes the monthly events First Fridays on Fourth in Steubenville and Wednesdays in Wintersville, which is held the first Wednesday of each month along Main Street. Both street fairs offer a chance for the spotlight to shine on the communities and provide relaxing evenings with lots of food, vendors and music.
The Weirton Event Center, meanwhile, will come alive with music, food, vendors and more on the Second Saturday of each month
The month of June has already featured many area festivals such as the Dean Martin Festival, which included activities at the Spot Bar, Historic Fort Steuben, Beatty Park, the Jefferson County Historical Museum, 7 Ranges, Undo’s and the Sycamore Center.
Juneteenth celebrations were held in Steubenville and Weirton, and the annual Greek Food Festival presented by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Steubenville helped to bring thousands of people into town.
Farmers markets are held throughout the region, including the Farmers Gateway Market, which is held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays through September in the parking lot of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wintersville. Steubenville Farmers Market is held Thursday mornings through the last part of October at the corner of Fourth and South streets.
Fourth of July activities are set throughout the region. The Independence Day celebration begins on June 27, with Thunder in the Ville at the Jefferson County Airpark in Wintersville. The event will end with its annual fireworks display.
Steubenville will celebrate the holiday on July 4 with activities throughout the downtown and at Historic Fort Steuben, including performances by the Brassett Hounds, Ron Retzer Trio and Eli and the Fantasy’s at the Berkman Amphitheater before the day ends with a fireworks display.
July 3 in Weirton will feature the annual performance by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and Weirton’s annual fireworks display at the Weirton Event Center. On July 4, Weirton will come alive with its Independence Day celebration. And, Toronto will host the Gem City Fourth on Fourth, which will include the annual fireworks display on July 4.
The McDonald (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual McSummerfest July 25 through Aug. 1 at Heritage Park. The annual event features live music each day and plenty of fair fun.
The Harrison County Fair in Cadiz runs through June 27, and the Carroll County Fair will be held July 21-26.
The Serbian Picnic Grounds in Weirton is known throughout the region for its weekly summer Chicken Blasts. There is plenty of parking. Volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and a playground for the kids are all available to help those who wish to work up an appetite or work off a meal. The events run through August. One of the favorite places for visitors to gather at the picnic is the barbecue building, where dozens of lambs and hundreds of chickens can be seen spinning on spits roasting over open fires as they are prepared to feed hungry guests.
July features Wheeling’s Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival, slated for July 24-26 at Heritage Port. Strings of sausage, pounds of pizza, plates full of pasta and a flurry of fireworks over the Ohio River are planned.
Anthrocon returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh July 2-5.
Weirton’s All Saints Greek Orthodox Church will hold its annual Greek Festival July 10 at 3528 West St.
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix will run through Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park July 11-July 19.
Picklesburgh will come to Pittsburgh July 16-19.
Tekko 2026 is set for July 23-26 at the Lawrence Convention Center.
The annual Grecian Fest presented by St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church will be held July 22-24 at 2215 Chapline St., Wheeling.
Events scheduled for August include the Jefferson County Fair in Smithfield. This year’s Jefferson County Fair is slated Aug. 17-23 at the fairgrounds at Friendship Park. Events will include truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby, the crowning of the king and queen, lots of 4-H activities, plenty of entertainment and competitions and judging.
The Washington County (Pa.) Agricultural Fair will run Aug. 15-22, while the Hookstown Fair will run Aug. 25-29.
Malvern’s Great Trails Festival will run Aug. 29-30 and Sept. 5-6.
The Shaker Woods Festival in Columbiana will run Aug. 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23.
The Great Banana Split Celebration will be held Aug. 21-23 in Latrobe, Pa., and the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival runs weekends Aug. 22-23, Aug. 29-30, Sept. 5-7, Sept. 12-13, Sept. 19-20 and Sept. 26-27, in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Newton.
The Shadyside Art Festival returns to the Walnut Street area of the Pittsburgh neighborhood Aug. 22-23.
The Toronto Arts Festival will run Sept. 5-6.
September also celebrates the West Alexander Fair Sept. 7-12; Belmont County Fair, Sept. 7-13; the Brooke County Fair at Brooke Hills Park Sept. 18-20; the Covered Bridge Festival in Washington and Greene counties Sept. 19-20; the Yankee Peddler Festival in Canal Fulton Sept. 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27; and the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Sept. 24-27.
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival will be held Sept. 11-13 at the Carrie Blast Furnace in Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Taco Festival will be held Sept. 12 in the Strip District.
The Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival will be held Sept. 19-20 in Ligonier, Pa.
Other festivals in October are the Wellsburg Applefest along Charles Street. This year’s event will be held Oct. 2-4. Also, Oglebay Park in Wheeling hosts the annual Oglebayfest, which bills itself as the largest arts festival in the Wheeling Area. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 2-4.
Ending the year is Wheeling’s Festival of Lights which lasts from before Thanksgiving until after the New Year at Oglebay Park. And, of course, Steubenville’s Nutcracker Village, which will return to the city’s streets on Nov. 24, and Steubenville Lights Up the Night, which will help to open the holiday season on Nov. 27.