There’s been some talk during the past several months that there are not a lot activities for area residents to participate in.

If you take a good look around, you’ll find that’s far from the case.

Whether you like to enjoy live music in an outdoor venue surrounded by your friends and family, enjoy learning more about the history of the Tri-State Area or want to partake in some classic summer treats, there’s plenty to do across the region.

Several of the area’s major events already have taken place. It’s a list that includes Frontier Days at Historic Fort Steuben, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Greek Food Festival — which celebrated its 39th year — and the Dean Martin Hometown Festival, all of which brought the downtown area to life.

Our region celebrated the nation’s 249th birthday with events and several community fireworks displays. The weekend included a first-time event — a wing festival in Toronto.

The Martin festival offered some new attractions, things that should make it more attractive to local residents and fans of the King of Cool from around the world who are looking to descend on Eastern Ohio in June to remember one of the all-time great entertainers. Those included a golf tournament and a presentation at Franciscan Square. While the parade was canceled because of the inclement weather the region experienced that weekend, it figures to once again become a prominent part of the weekend in the coming years.

There’s a lot going on this week, too. On Friday, Weirton’s All-Saints Greek Orthodox Church will hold its 38th Greek Food Festival at 3528 West St. On Saturday, the Weirton Steel 25-Year Club will hold its annual picnic at the Serbian Picnic Grounds in Weirton.

The Catfish Crawl has returned to the streets of Steubenville, and the 5-foot creatures will stand post at locations around the city through the end of August. It’s another way the Steubenville Cultural Trust is working to make the downtown area more attractive, and joins the group’s other attractions, including the Great Steubenville Eggsibition, which places giant eggs through the downtown during the Easter season, and the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, which continues to draw attention from across the country and around the world. This year’s edition is scheduled to open Nov. 25.

Monthly outdoor festivals are gaining in popularity, including the event that started them in the region, First Fridays on Fourth in downtown Steubenville. The remainder of the schedule includes ’80s Night on Aug. 1, Storybook First Friday on Sept. 5 and Oktoberfest on Oct. 3.

Wednesdays in Wintersville will continue on Aug. 6 and Sept. 3, and Second Saturdays, a series organized by the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, will continue its inaugural season Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13.

Weekly concerts continue in communities throughout the area. Thursdays at Steubenville’s Berkman Amphitheater come alive at 7 p.m., with the remainder of the schedule including Thursday, Shades of Time and Aristotle Jones and the Appalachian Soul Band; July 17, 7 South and Eldorado; July 24, Poor Man’s Heaven and No Bad Juju; and July 31, Beatlemania Magic.

Toronto’s summer concert series starts a little later than the others in the region, and that means there are still many weeks left to enjoy an evening of entertainment on Wednesdays in the heart of the Gem City. The remainder of that schedule includes this Wednesday, Friends and Linden & Melvin; July 16, Pocket Change; July 23, the Ron Retzer Trio; July 30, Chelsea Householder and the Remainders; Aug. 6, US Kids Unplugged and Night Moves; Aug. 13, the Fantasy’s; Aug. 20, Twice as Nice; and Aug. 27, Jimmy Lee Hook.

Monthly Monday Music Madness continues in Brooke County with shows on July 14, the Bucketlist Band; July 28, Pocket Change; Aug. 11, Twice as Nice; and Aug. 25, the Matt VanFossen Band.

The Tiltonsville Gazebo Concert Series includes shows on Thursday, Carl Besece; July 17, Still Kickin’; July 24, Dawes-Kinse-Stewart and Friends; July 31, Sarah Hays Band; Aug. 7, Jim Berze; and Aug. 14, the Polkaholics.

And, concerts at the Weirton Event Center continue on Friday, with a performance by the Full Circle Band; July 25 will see Let’s Groove Tonight take the stage; and Aug. 1 will feature Gospel Night.

There also are festivals held by local churches and organizations nearly every weekend. That includes the annual Strawberry Festival that was held in June at Wintersville Methodist Church and the annual St. Thomas Episcopal Church’s Peach Festival, which will be held in Weirton Aug. 9. Also set for later this summer is the July 19 Brew and Food Truck Festival, hosted by Festival in the Woods, in Richmond Park. That event will include the first All-Edison Class Reunion, which is looking to bring together graduates from all of the schools that have been a part of the Edison Local School District, including Stanton Local, Springfield and Jefferson Union.

While the Harrison County Fair is over, area residents can still look forward to the Carroll County Fair, which will run July 14-20, and the Jefferson County Fair, which will run Aug. 11-17.

And, helping to round out the summer will be the annual Toronto Art Festival, which will be held Aug. 30-31.

If you count yourself among those who believe that summer runs from June 1 through Aug. 31, you are facing a sad reality — we’ve nearly reached the halfway point of the season. That doesn’t mean that there still is not a lot to — just take a look at all our area has to offer.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)