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STEUBENVILLE -- Steubenville's 29th annual Dean Martin Festival kicks off this evening with three days of live music, great food, crafts, games for kids and a Classic Car Cruise--and if that's not enough, festival-goers also can try their hand at swing dancing, belt out some Dino-themed karaoke favorites, take a trolly ride, enter a meatball eating contest or see a parade.
This year, the fun will be focused at Historic Fort Steuben, the Visitor Center and Berkman Amphitheater as well as the 100 block of N. Fourth Street and Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th St.
Spot Bar owner JoJo DiAlbert, a festival favorite, said bigger is definitely going to be better.
"It's a great thing," DiAlbert said. "It's really spread out this year. The street is going to be closed, there will be vendors and everything. It brings a lot of people around."
To accommodate festival-goers, Market Street will be closed from Third Street to Fourth Street, and the 100 block of N. Fourth Street will also be closed to vehicular traffic.
"This is the first year in a long time that a well organized and fun-filled festival is underway," Mayor Jerry Barilla said. "It's good to see such energy and enthusiasm–I'm excited."
This year the Dean Martin Association, Franciscan University, and downtown businesses teamed together to dial up the temperature on North Fourth.
"We're working hard to give this historic, 65-year old festival the Steubenville spirit that it deserves," said Marc Barnes, president of the Harmonium Project. "We're blocking off the commercial district of North Fourth Street, inviting local breweries, food trucks, and craft vendors to join us, adding games for kids, and filling the whole Father's Day Weekend with live music from our Fourth Street Stage."
Barnes said there'll be events downtown all day, each day.
"That's what I love about a great downtown, and it's what I hope for from all these revitalization efforts-, and from the Dean Martin Festival this weekend: that families can just show up, and know that there will something fun, exciting, and talented waiting for them," he said.
DiAlbert said it's good to see the downtown abuzz with music and visitors, pointing out the celebration is always a big draw for those who, for whatever reason, moved away from their home town: His opening night Karaoke Contest has always been a favorite for Steubenville natives as well as first-timers who flock to Spot Bar for a couple hours of fun.
"Over the years I've learned most people don't care how crowded it is as long as they're there, even if they have to stand it doesn't matter," DiAlbert said. "They just want to be a part of it."
Today's lineup
• Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, 426 Franklin Ave. There'll be refreshments, and visitors can also check out the museum's Dean Martin Room.
• Dean Martin Exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St. You can also tour the Fort ($1 discount).
• The Out Late Jazz Band, 6 p.m. on the 4th Street stage.
• The marquee event, a live concert featuring the Rat Pack Show and Vince Villanova Big Band, 7 p.m. at Berkman Amphitheater/Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St.
• Learn to foxtrot, swing and rhumba to a live jazz band, featuring Matt Hill & Friends, 8 p.m. at Leonardo's Coffeehouse, 159 N. 4th St.
• Norside Organ Trio, 8 p.m., 4th Street stage
• Dean Martin Karaoke contest, 9 p.m. at the Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th St. Participants will offer up their own renditions of, you guessed it, Dean Martin favorites.
• Open Jam, 9 p.m. at Chesterton Cigars, 183 N. 4th St.
Friday
• Coffee, Cigars, and Jazz on Fourth, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., 4th Street Stage
• The Dean Martin Association's Charity Golf Scramble, 8:30 a.m. at Steubenville County Club, 413 Lovers Lane. Visitors can observe ($25 donation).
• Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, 426 Franklin Ave. There'll be refreshments and check out the Dean Martin Room. At noon, Keith Johnson presents "Memories of Dino: Virtual Walk Through Steubenville."
• Dean Martin Exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St. Fort tours ($1 discount).
• Meatball eating contest, 1 p.m. at the Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th St. Dave Solara and Bob Morelli sing.
• Dean Martin Class Car Cruise, 2-8 p.m. at Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St.
• Joe Scalissi Sings Dean Martin, 5-7 p.m. at Undo's Catering, Weirton.
• The Brasset Hounds, 6 p.m. on the 4th Street stage
• A showing of Ocean's 11, a "Rat Pack" film, at 7 p.m. in the Sycamore Youth Center , 301 N. 4th St.
• Rich Zabinski, 7 p.m., 4th Street stage
• Dean Martin & Friends (featuring Tom Stevens), 8 p.m., Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th.
• Street Dance with Pork Pie Cats and Matt Hill & Friends, 8 p.m.-10 p.m., 4th Street Stage
• Open Jam, 9 p.m. at Chesterton Cigars Speakeasy Stage, 183 N. 4th St
Saturday
• Dino Dash 5K, 9 a.m. at Beatty Park, 621 Lincoln Ave. Registration table opens at 7:30 a.m.
• Coffee, Cigars, and Jazz on Fourth, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on the 4th Street Stage
• Open House, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, 426 Franklin Ave. Refreshments, Dean Martin Room open.
• Dean Martin Exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Steubenville Visitor Center, 120 S. 3rd St. Fort tours ($1 discount).
• Dean Martin Hometown Celebration Parade, starting at noon on N. 4th Street.
• Dave Salera and Bob Morelli (as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin), 1 p.m. at the Spot Bar.
• Downtown Trolley Rides, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Fort Steuben Park, 120 S. 3rd St.
• Martin & Lewis Telethon Style Reunion Show, a tribute and charity auction hosted by Joe Scalissi and Matt Macis, 2 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Green Space, Franciscan Square, University Boulevard.
• Boilermaker Jazz Band, 3 p.m. on the 4th Street Stage
• The Brassett Hounds, 4 p.m. on the 4th Street Stage
• Dean Martin Memorabilia Auction, starting at 7 p.m at Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th St. Proceeds go to the Dean Martin Bronze Statue Fund.
• Joe Scalissi Sings Dean Martin, 8 p.m., Spot Bar, 217 S. 4th St. $25 admission.
• Dean Martin Karaoke Competition, featuring the Out Late Band, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on the 4th Street Stage.
• Big Blitz, 9 p.m. on the 4th Street Stage