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Tri-State Area residents can take a step back in time this weekend during Ohio Valley Frontier Days at Historic Fort Steuben in downtown Steubenville.
Visitors on Saturday and Sunday can experience early American life on the Ohio frontier. Included will be period music, demonstrations of traditional crafts and sales of handcrafted items, as well as food and games. The history of the surveying and settlement of the Northwest Territory, made possible in part because of the protection offered by the soldiers at Fort Steuben, will be detailed.
That look at our region's history will include the chance to see presentations from blacksmiths, candlemakers, flintknappers and broom makers. Members of the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio will be on hand, as will members of the 1st American Regiment, who will teach the skills that go into shooting a musket.
Visitors will be able to watch archaeologists from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, who have been exploring the site for many decades. There also will be artisans selling their crafts, food vendors and Frontier Dan's tonmahawk toss. Artist and author Alan Fitzpatrick will be selling his original artwork, and author Gary Beckley will be selling and signing copies of his new book, "Oh! Susannah."
Music plays a big part in the festival, and this year's event will include performances by Rich and Kathy Small on Saturday and Steve Free and Bill Schilling on Sunday. A $1,000 donation made by the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in May has been earmarked specifically for entertainment.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $7 for those 13 and older and $3 for youth between the ages of 6 and 12. There is no admission charge for those younger than 6, and a family rate is available, organizers explained.
Ohio Valley Frontier Days is part of a busy month in the city. Activities open with tonight's June installment of First Fridays on Fourth, which will have the theme of Ye Olde First Friday.
The month includes the Dean Martin Festival June 15-17, the city's annual Juneteenth Celebration and the annual Greek Food Festival presented by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church June 21-23. Plus, there are concerts every Thursday evening at the Berkman Amphitheater in Fort Steuben Park.
We hope area residents will attend Ohio Valley Frontier Days. The annual event offers a chance to visit Historic Fort Steuben, one of the region's top tourist attractions, and to learn about our region's history.