FROM ONE TRAIN MAN TO ANOTHER — Bob DiBenedetto of the Ohio River Northern Railway club, shared tips about model railroading with Mason Spencer, 7, of Follansbee. Members of the group and others brought working model trains and related gear to Wednesdays in Wintersville on Wednesday. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — The music, fun and food continued with the latest edition of Wednesdays in Wintersville this week.

Several food trucks serving up everything from lobster and shrimp dishes to tacos and hot dogs and ice cream treats could be found in the front lot of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, while area vendors selling hand-made items and other merchandise lined Grove Street.

Adults seeking a place to cool off and relax order a beverage from the Knotty Pint, a mobile vendor of assorted mixed drinks, while listening jazz performed by saxophonist Jake McCormick and keyboardist Henry Schultz.

Younger attendees enjoyed frolicking in the suds discharged by a machine operated by Screwy Louie in front of Wintersville Methodist Church’s Center for Hope.

Inside the social hall were model railroading displays brought by members of Ohio River Northern Railway, a regional club, and others.

COOL JAZZ — Jazz musicians Henry Schultz, on keyboard, and Jake McCormick, on saxophone, attended the many attending Wednesdays in Wintersville on Wednesday. -- Warren Scott

After sharing tips with 7-year-old Mason Spencer, a newcomer to the hobby, Bob DiBenedetto explained the regional group has members from East Liverpool to Martins Ferry and from Weirton to Wheeling, among other cities.

The display was in keeping with the transportation theme cooked up by the volunteer committee behind the event.

Each month’s festival also includes a baking contest and this month’s was centered around sourdough bread.

The concoction, which can be traced to 3900 B.C., has been associated with various journeys through the years.

It’s said to have been a dietary staple for prospectors in the California Gold Rush of 1849, the reason why the San Francisco 49ers’ mascot is named Sourdough Sam, as well as those in the Klondike Gold Rush of the Yukon Territory of Canada in 1898.

GETTING READY — Judges prepared to sample entries in the sourdough baking contest held during Wednesdays in Wintersville. They were, clockwise from left: Dave Robinson, B.J. Pendleton, Stella Hornyak and Sara Devecchis. A baking contest involving a different type of dish is a regular feature of the monthly street fair. -- Warren Scott

Sourdough bread entered into the contest usually included a special extra ingredient, such as chocolate.

The winners were: Sharon Petrella, first place; Emily Johnson, second place; and Allison Pizzoferrato, third place.

To encourage support for local food pantries, the Wednesdays in Wintersville committee drew on a very simple form of transportation: the Radio Flyer and other little red wagons.

Attendees were encouraged to place canned goods in the wagons, which were placed at various sites.

The festival has helped other not for profit groups to raise funds or awareness of their efforts.

On hand Thursday were Catherine Fabian and Nancy Wachenschwanz and other members of the village’s volunteer beatification committee, who were selling train whistles, paper train engineer’s caps and lollipops.

Fabian said proceeds will go to various measures to improve the appearance of Wintersville.

She noted this fall, the group will be placing flowerpots containing mums by the many benches it has placed along streets through the support of many sponsors.

Among the many attending the event on Wednesday was Jean Czernek of Weirton, who applauded the efforts of those behind it to attract visitors to Wintersville.

“I support things where people try to engage the public,” she said.

Joel John, who heads the festival’s committee, was asked about plans for next month.

Set for 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 3, the next street fair’s theme will be “Disco” and include a musical group performing music of that genre and others from the 1970s.

John said girls and boys under 18 will be invited to compete for disco queen and king in a pageant, and various types of cheesecake may be entered into the baking contest.

Everyone also is invited to dust off any old or unusual pairs of shoes, from any era, for the display at the Center of Hope.

For information about the pageant, call (740) 317-5577. For information about the baking contest, call .(740) 424-9679. And those wishing to lend shoes for the display may call (740) 632-6572.

September’s event will be the last Wednesday in Wintersville for the year, but its planners have a couple more 2025 events in the works.

John said from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 14 the group will hold a speakeasy, with a portion of the sale of drinks served by the Knotty Pine going toward the monthly festivals. As on Wednesdays in Wintersville, the beverage vendor will be located behind Exquisite Creations by Joel.

He said it’s open to everyone, but current and past vendors are encouraged to attend and share any ideas they have for next year’s season.

John added the group also is working on plans for the Wintersville Winter Weekend in December, with details to be announced.