THE RACE IS ON — Two young racers in a previous Wellsburg Oil Can Derby make their way down Fourth Street. Fred Marino, the event’s organizer, said despite initial concerns about the street being ready for this year’s race, it is slated to occur at 9 a.m. July 4. -- Warren Scott

WELSBURG — Despite initial concerns about Fourth Street being ready for the Wellsburg Oil Can Derby, the race will return on July 4, said Fred Marino, the event’s coordinator.

Marino said work on a sewer line under the street had created some concerns about whether it would be repaved in time for the derby to be held on the holiday, continuing a decades old holiday tradition.

Each year boys and girls, ages 8-14, pilot soapbox-style cars, usually sponsored by local businesses and organizations, down the sloped street on the morning of Independence Day.

The race is divided into two classes based on the combined weight of the driver and car, with winners named for each.

Dating to 1946, the event takes its name from the oil cans produced by Eagle Manufacturing, a local industry that had sponsored it in its earlier years.

But it was revived in 2012, following a 40-year hiatus, by Marino, who has been aided by Steve Mitchell and many other volunteers.

Marino said as a boy, he enjoyed building a car for the race with his father, Al, and wanted today’s youth to have the same experience.

He said parents or guardians of youth interested in participating may find registration forms at the Wellsburg branches of Main Street Bank and WesBanco and may return them on the day of a practice run to be held at 9 a.m. June 30 at Fourth Street.

There is a $30 registration fee.

Marino said on the morning of June 29, he and other volunteers will be setting up the street with orange construction barrels and hay bales, to separate the audience from the cars, and making other preparations.

He said anyone interested in helping is welcome to join them.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. July 4 following a flag raising ceremony and a few remarks on the significance of the holiday at the adjacent E.R. Nichols 1st Ward Park.

All of the racers are invited to appear in the city’s Independence Day parade to be held at 7 p.m. that day on Charles Street.

The race is one of many events held in Wellsburg during the week leading up to and including Independence Day, many of them organized by the volunteer Wellsburg 4th of July Committee with support from the city.

The include a series of free concerts to be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night at Central Park at 17th and Charles streets.

Slated to appear are the following musical acts: Bon Journey, an award-winning Bon Jovi and Journey tribute band, on June 28; the high-energy rock and roll of the Next on June 29; country singer Nathan King on June 30; the classic rock and roll of 40 Plus on July 1; the country sounds of Cross Creek the Band on July 2; and the rock and rhythm and blues of Refugee on July 3.

Attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Local vendors are being booked for the concerts.

Cody Rice, the committee’s chairman, said this year, disc jockey G-Con will warm up the crowd gathering at the Betty Carr Recreation Site near 17th and Main streets to view the fireworks display, which will begin at about 10 p.m. on July 4.