CELEBRATE AMERICA
The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra’s annual Celebrate America tour, conducted by Maurice Staton, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at Wheeling’s Heritage Port. The tour will also make stops at the Weirton Event Center (8 p.m., July 5), Clarksburg Amphitheatre (7:30 p.m. July 6) and Canaan Valley State Park (3 p.m., July 7). Guest artist Gary Mauer joins the WSO after most recently starring in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, playing the Phantom. Staton will lead the orchestra in a number of fan favorites, including God Bless the USA, Country Roads, and Stars and Stripes Forever. The Wheeling Symphony is celebrating its 90th anniversary starting with the Fourth of July concerts. The concerts are free and open to the public. 304-232-6191; wheelingsymphony.com
FOURTH 5K
Before the barbecue, before the fireworks, enjoy the Fourth of July Fun Run/Walk on the Susan Wheeler Walking Trails and the Arboretum Trails at Oglebay on Thursday, July 4. The hard-surface course is stroller friendly and pets on a leash are welcome. The race begins and ends at the Good Zoo parking lot. Prizes will be awarded. Light refreshments will be available for all participants. The race starts at 9 a.m. $20.
AFTER THE RACE
Celebrate Independence Day weekend the Oglebay way with live entertainment, face painting, balloon art, inflatable rides, Segway tours, an unforgettable fireworks display and more. The full schedule of events can be found here.
PATRIOTIC MUSIC
Enjoy the annual Independence Day Extravaganza, 11 a.m. Thursday, July 4, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. The free concert featuring patriotic music, empowering music, special guests and fun to celebrate the nation’s 243rd birthday, the parish’s 200th anniversary and Wheeling’s 250th anniversary. Birthday cake and lemonade will be served after the concert.
RED, WHITE AND WINE
Celebrate Independence Day with what has quickly become a popular tradition — the Good Mansion Wines open house cookout and wine tasting. Set for 6 p.m. Friday, July 5, Indulge in grilled homemade sausage served on grilled homemade baguettes with imported extra virgin olive oils and partake in a sampling of American red and white wines. All activities occur in the back bakery but the entire shop is open for seating. $15 at the door, no reservations needed. Occupancy limited to 40. www.goodmansionwines.com
GET YOUR MOJO ON
The First Friday Centre Market Outdoor Concert Series will feature Eli and the Mojo Kings live at Centre Market, 7-10 p.m. Friday, July 5. The stage will be set on the east northbound side of the Market Houses, near SMART Centre Market. Those 21 and over, wishing to purchase beer or wine will be required to buy a wristband. The $5 fee includes first glass of wine or beer. Proceeds from wristband sales will benefit Russell Nesbitt Services Inc. Select Centre Market businesses will be open late for the event. Seating is limited; bring your own chairs. 304-234-3878
SMOKIN’ SATURDAY NIGHTS
Josh Garrett entertains at Smokin Saturday Nights, 7-10 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at Route 88 BBQ & Brew at Oglebay. Enjoy free music, smoked BBQ, craft brews and ciders, lawn games and s’mores by the fire pit. Route 88 BBQ and Brew is located at Oglebay’s Par 3 Driving Range.
CAR SHOW
Drive on over to the 16th annual Wheeling Heritage Car Show, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at Wheeling Heritage Port. There will be dash plaques, prizes, food, entertainment and more. 304-234-3731
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
A group of six veteran musicians known as Still Kickin’ will play from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, July 6, at Undo’s Elm Grove. The band plays a variety of music genres for dancing, listening and toe tappin’ enjoyment. Undo’s is located at 1253 National Road, Wheeling.
LUNCH ON PINE MOUNTAIN
Lunch With Books, at noon Tuesday, July 9, will feature writers Scott Hanna, Richard Hague, Larry Smith, Kari Gunter-Seymour, Sherrell Wigal, Omope Carter Daboiku and Marc Harshman, reading from “Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel: Homegrown Revolution — Appalachia Acting Up.” Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring a bag lunch, and complimentary beverages are provided. 304-232-0244; www.ohiocountylibrary.org
BLUESDAYS AT RIVER CITY
Blues-rocking, soul-singing drummer Lindsay Beaver will take the stage with her band at BluesDays at River City, 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. With influences ranging from Little Richard to The Ramones, from Billie Holiday to Queens of the Stone Age, Beaver has crafted a timeless sound and personal style. Her Alligator Records debut, “Tough As Love,” explodes with Beaver’s volcanic singing, deeply soulful delivery and powerful chops on seven original songs and a handful of vintage roots gems. Other upcoming BluesDays at River City events include: Nick Schneibelen, Wednesday, July 17; Nikki Hill, Wednesday, July 24; and Sue Foley, Friday, Aug. 2. $20 www.heritagemusicfest.com
‘THE BOLD, THE YOUNG AND THE MURDERED’
Oglebay Institute’s Parcel Players will stage “The Bold, the Young and the Murdered,” by Don Zolidis at 7 p.m. July 10-13 at Towngate Theatre. The long-running soap opera, “The Bold and the Young,” is in its last days: its hunky hero has self-esteem issues, its villainous old man is more interested in soup, and its heroines are slightly psychopathic. The executive producer gives the squabbling cast an ultimatum — complete one episode overnight or the show dies. But when the director ends up murdered, and other cast members start dropping like flies, it seems like his threat might actually come true. Can these misfits discover the murderer before the show is literally killed off? $8. 304-242-7700; www.oionline.com
CHOCOLATE TEA
The Eckhart House will present a Chocolate Tea, in celebration of World Chocolate Day, with scones with sweet cream and jam, assorted confections and gourmet tea selections, at noon, Saturday, July 6 ($12). Reservations 304-232-5439; www.EckhartHouse.com
ALL SUMMER LONG …
SUMMER SERIES
• Curtis Johnson Quintet, 7 p.m., Sunday, July 7, Oglebay Sundaes Under the Stars, Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater
• The U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, Warwood Toe Tappin’ Tuesdays, Warwood Garden Park
• The Lava Game, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, St. Clairsville Summer Concert Series, Central Park Complex
• Ziegenfelder’s Community Thank You, Vince Villanova’s Big Band, 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, Wheeling Waterfront Wednesdays, Heritage Port
SCENIC RIDES
Oglebay announces the return of scenic Segway tours! Tours take riders on an adventure through the park’s hard-surface trail system to enjoy breathtaking scenery while aboard the ultimate high-tech ride. Segway tours depart from Oglebay’s Schenk Lake boathouse daily at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person, and tours are approximately 90 minutes. All Segway riders must be at least 16 years of age and wear a helmet and closed-toe shoes. 304-243-4026; www.oglebay.com/segways
DIVE INTO DISCOUNTS
Beat the heat and take advantage of special rates all summer long with Wheeling Park’s Fun After Five discount program. Through Aug. 9, park visitors will receive discounted pool admission of $3 for adults and $1 for children, plus free waterslide admission from 5-7 p.m. Guests can also enjoy half-priced activity wristbands daily after 5 p.m. Activity wristbands provide access to mini golf, swimming, water slide, tennis and pedal boats. 304-243-4085
DIVE-IN, DRIVE-IN
Back by popular demand, Wheeling Park presents free summer drive-in movies. Grab a parking spot in front of the Wheeling Park White Palace at dusk for an old-fashioned drive-in experience. Drive-In movies take place from 9-11 p.m. on July 12, 26; Aug. 16, 30. Guests who prefer to float with a flick can dive into the Wheeling Park pool to enjoy the summer dive-in movie series from 9-11 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 10. Admission for kids ages 4-12 is $6.25, and admission for guests ages 13 and older is $7.25. The movie screening is included with the cost of pool admission. Dive-in movies can also be enjoyed free of charge from the upper level of Wheeling Park’s Stone Building. Drive-in and dive-in movie titles will not be published due to movie licensing constraints. However, guests are encouraged to visit the Wheeling Park Facebook page to participate in weekly movie guessing games, where they’ll be challenged to guess the movie titles for themselves. 304-243-4085; www.oglebay.com/wheeling-park
DOWN THE ROAD …
• Plan now for the St. Michael Parish Community Festival next week, Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13. Food, fun and fellowship, 6-10 p.m. July 11; 5-11 p.m. July 12-13.
• Lunchtime Live! with the bluegrass/Appalachian folk duo Dustin and Lilli, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, July 12, Market Plaza, Wheeling.
UP THE ROAD …
• “Mama Mia” opens this weekend at Brooke Hills Playhouse and runs Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6, with an 8 p.m. curtain time, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, July 7. The show continues at 8 p.m. Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, July 14. “Mama Mia!” takes place during a 24-hour period in the summer of 1999 on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, where bride-to-be Sophie dreams of having her father give her away at her upcoming wedding. The only problem is that Sophie’s mother, the free-spirited Donna, refuses to identify Sophie’s father, so Sophie narrows down the list to three likely suspects, and invites all three men to the wedding. 304-737-3344
• Don’t miss what the New York Times calls “convulsively funny” parody, as Pittsburgh’s CLO presents “Spamilton,” at Pittsburgh’s CLO’s Green Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. The show runs Wednesdays-Sundays through Aug. 25. Tickets 412-456-666 or online.
