A Grand Weekend In Wheeling

By CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer


WHEELING — The 32nd annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk is Wheeling’s premier event for 2008. And while Race Director Robert “Scat” Scatterday has his hands full preparing for the distance race, he and others are determined to provide quality entertainment throughout the entire Memorial Day weekend of May 23-26.

“I realized that what we have going on with the race coincides with several other nice things going on here in Wheeling on Memorial Day weekend. We want people to know they can come to Wheeling and spend an entire weekend,” he said.

The second annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour, the Wheeling Jamboree, and concerts at Heritage Port and Oglebay Park are some of the events of which Scatterday speaks.

“I think it will be mutually beneficial for all of us to work together to promote the entire weekend package,” Scatterday said.

The 32nd annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk gets under way at 4 p.m. Friday, May 23, with the Olympic-style Torch Relay, led by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin. The relay will make its way through the community and honor those who have served in all branches of the military.

This will be followed at 6:15 p.m. by the Blackhawk helicopter flyover and landing on the Heritage Port stage. The Tiny Tot Trot will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by the Ogden Fun Run at 7 p.m. and the Ogden/Masters Mile at 7:15 p.m.

Action kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with the 20K Walk. The main event — the 20K run — begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K Run and Walk at 8:15 a.m.

From 9 a.m. to noon, the “Easy Street” concert will take place at Heritage Port.

“At 11:30, we are going to have ‘Lunch on the Port’ with salad, wings, meatballs and pizza,” Scatterday said. Those participating in the 20K run will get to eat for free, while meals will be available to the public at the cost of $5 per person.

The Wheeling Jamboree will hold a concert at WesBanco Arena, kicking off at 7 p.m. Saturday. Musical artists scheduled to perform include The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Cherryholmes, The Fabulous Bender Boys and the Jamboree Trio.

Jeff McCamic of the Wheeling Jamboree said he is pleased to have all of the events falling on the same weekend.

“Anytime you can bring more people into the city, it will prove beneficial to everyone. Hopefully, we can keep things like this going,” he said.

For more information on the Wheeling Jamboree, call 304-232-6750.

Meanwhile, Bridges, a band specializing in folk music, will play at the Towngate Theater in Center Wheeling at 8 p.m. Saturday.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, registration for the second annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour will take place at Heritage Port, with the tour slated for a 10 a.m. start.

Cyclists will be able to choose from one of three rides. The 10- and 25-mile rides will remain on the trail, while the 100K ride will leave the trail near Brooke County and loop through Bethany and West Liberty, making a stop at Bethany College.

Following their rides, participants will return to the port for lunch.

The Friends of Wheeling also will lead a tour for casual bike riders and walkers that will feature stops at historic sites where guides will discuss the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the Stifel Calico Works, Warwick China, Mail Pouch Tobacco and other historic places that lined the Ohio River during the height of Wheeling’s industrial power.

For more information on the bicycle tour, call 740-635-3700.

At 7 p.m. Sunday, the rock group Streamline will provide a free concert at Oglebay’s Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater.

Finally, Monday will feature a pair of free concerts at Heritage Port, as the David Alley Band will take the stage at 5 p.m, and will be followed by another performance by The Fabulous Bender Boys at 7:30 p.m.

The weekend kicks off the summer season as Oglebay Park where an array of activities will be offered for the entire family.

On Saturday through Monday, there will be inflatable rides at Schenk Lake from 1-5 p.m.; Salt ’n Pepper strolling barbershop quartet will be in the gardens and offering their vocal entertainment from 1-4 p.m. Saturday; also from 1-4 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Doozy the Clown will be performing in the lake area; from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Streamline Band, featuring traditional country and oldies music, will perform free to the public at the Anne Kuchinka Amphitheater; also each night at 8 and 9:30 p.m., there will be a Cascading Waters Fountain Show at Schenk Lake, which is free to the public.

Oglebay’s outdoor swimming pool is set to open Saturday, May 24, while the outdoor pool and water slide at Wheeling Park is set to open Saturday, May 17.

“Once everyone knows what we have to offer here, we will attract even more people than we normally do for the race. And the best thing about all of this is that it adds to the quality of life we have here in Wheeling,” Scatterday added.

Though he admits his workload can get a little heavy at times, Scatterday believes it is all worth it.

“Hopefully, this is just the start of making Memorial Day weekend even bigger and better in Wheeling for many years to come,” he added.

For more information on the 32nd annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk, visit www.ogden20kclassic.com or call 304-233-0100, ext. 317.