This year's Ohio Valley Black Heritage Festival Family Fun Day on Sunday will feature a variety of gospel acts including national recording artists The Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi.
The annual free event held at Wheeling Heritage Port coincides with the Bikes, Brews and Barbecue Rib Cook-Off, scheduled June 22-24. Both the festival and cook-off have a new sponsor this year, WesBanco.
''We're proud to be a partner. This is a great event to be involved with,'' said Donnie Sheller, vice president-district sales manager at WesBanco.
Article Photos
Photo by Shelley Hanson
Ohio Valley Black Heritage Festival committee members, from left, Joyce Brooks, the Rev. Myron Seals and Sharon Mayfield prepare for the festival’s Family Fun Day slated Sunday. Also shown is Donnie Sheller, vice president-district sales manager at WesBanco, one of this year’s sponsors.
The Family Fun Day is slated from 1-8 p.m. In addition to gospel music acts, there will also be a children's tent offering face painting starting at 2 p.m., bounce inflatables from 2-6 p.m., a Lowe's children's workshop from 3-4 p.m., and clowns and balloons and a special appearance by Wheeling Nailers mascot Spike between 4-6 p.m.
''It's going to be bigger than ever. It's going to be a lot of fun - especially for the kids this year,'' Seals said.
Also at 5 p.m., awards presentations will be made including for the African American of the Year - the Rev. Marcia Allen, a Martins Ferry resident and executive director of Laughlin Memorial Chapel in Wheeling.
The 2012 Role Model Honorees are Pamela Paige Dudley, a special educator and collaborative teacher for Brooke County Schools, and John Moore Jr., executive vice president of human resources for WesBanco. And the 2012 Special Honor of Thanks will go to Sean Geery who has worked as the sound technician for the festival since its inception.
Seals noted the Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi are the festival's headliners. They are scheduled to perform from 7-8 p.m.
''That's one group you don't want to miss. They're national recording artists,'' Seals said of the Blind Boys.
Other acts slated to perform include: 2:30 p.m., Diamonds in the Rough; 2:45 p.m., Pamela Braught; 3 p.m., Highly Favored; 3:20 p.m., Shiloh Temple Choir; 3:40 p.m., Vivian Lamb and Edwina Lamb-Freeman; 4 p.m., Temple of Praise Baptist Church Choir; 4:20 p.m., Joyful Noise; 4:40 p.m., Lynn Seals; 5:35 p.m., Stevie J; 5:50 p.m., Ed and Kristy Moore; 6:10 p.m., Rev. Michael Toliver; 6:25 p.m., Macedonia Church Choir; 6:45 p.m., Roxanne Lazasz; 8 p.m., closing comments and prayer by Seals.
