Oglebayfest, Ohio County Country Fair Kick Off Fall Fun
Brian Herold of Herold’s Kettlekorn dumps a fresh batch of the treat at Oglebayfest on Friday. Shown with him is his wife Natalie Herold. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Shelley Hanson
Photo by Shelley Hanson Don Schnegg of Beallsville sits on his antique John Deere tractor at the Ohio County Country Fair at Site 1 at Oglebay Park on Friday. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Artist Lisa McGinty of Cambridge, Ohio, poses with her many paintings for sale at Oglebayfest on Friday. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson People browse arts and crafts for sale at Oglebayfest on Friday. It and the Ohio County Country Fair run through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson City of Wheeling Wastewater Treatment Plant employees Sean Tolon, operator, and Brian Masters, plant operator, on Friday stand with a display at the Ohio County County Fair used to show children and adults how the wastewater system works in the city.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Brandon Gebhardt, owner of Runway Farms, located near the Ohio County Airport, holds a 3-week-old pig that is a cross between a Yorkshire and Hampshire pig. His farms breeds pigs sold to children who raise them for 4-H projects.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission, smiles at the podium while waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony to begin at Oglebayfest on Friday. It and the Ohio County Country Fair run through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Tony Martinelli, center, COO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open Oglebayfest on Friday at Oglebay Park. Also on hand for the event are, front row, from left, Danielle McCracken, president of Oglebay Institute; Martinelli; Deacon Paul Lim, vice president of mission integration at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital; Rick Morgan, director of the Stifel Fine Arts Center; Mike Ortiz, vice president for support services at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memo
Brian Herold of Herold’s Kettlekorn dumps a fresh batch of the treat at Oglebayfest on Friday. Shown with him is his wife Natalie Herold. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Shelley Hanson
Photo by Shelley Hanson Don Schnegg of Beallsville sits on his antique John Deere tractor at the Ohio County Country Fair at Site 1 at Oglebay Park on Friday. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Artist Lisa McGinty of Cambridge, Ohio, poses with her many paintings for sale at Oglebayfest on Friday. The event runs through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson People browse arts and crafts for sale at Oglebayfest on Friday. It and the Ohio County Country Fair run through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson City of Wheeling Wastewater Treatment Plant employees Sean Tolon, operator, and Brian Masters, plant operator, on Friday stand with a display at the Ohio County County Fair used to show children and adults how the wastewater system works in the city.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Brandon Gebhardt, owner of Runway Farms, located near the Ohio County Airport, holds a 3-week-old pig that is a cross between a Yorkshire and Hampshire pig. His farms breeds pigs sold to children who raise them for 4-H projects.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission, smiles at the podium while waiting for the ribbon cutting ceremony to begin at Oglebayfest on Friday. It and the Ohio County Country Fair run through Sunday at Oglebay Park.
Photo by Shelley Hanson Tony Martinelli, center, COO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open Oglebayfest on Friday at Oglebay Park. Also on hand for the event are, front row, from left, Danielle McCracken, president of Oglebay Institute; Martinelli; Deacon Paul Lim, vice president of mission integration at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital; Rick Morgan, director of the Stifel Fine Arts Center; Mike Ortiz, vice president for support services at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memo
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WHEELING - Oglebayfest, a three-day fall celebration full of art and crafts, food, music and more, kicked off Friday at Oglebay Park.
The event now in its 45th year was started as a thank you to all who visit the park and enjoy its amenities including Wilson Lodge and the Good Zoo.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the entrance of the Phil Maxwell Artists' & Gourmet Market beside Oglebay Mansion Museum. This year's sponsors of the event are WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital.
Tony Martinelli, COO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, was given the honor of cutting the ribbon with a giant pair of scissors.
Also on hand for the opening was Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission; Eriks Janelsins, president and CEO of the Oglebay Foundation; Danielle McCracken, president of Oglebay Institute; Rick Morgan, director of the Stifel Fine Arts Center; Bernie Twigg, chairman of the boards at both WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and Reynolds Memorial Hospital; Mike Ortiz, vice president for support services at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital; John Pastorius, vice president for support services at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital; and Deacon Paul Lim, vice president of mission integration at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.
In addition to the markets, the Rathskeller also is set up again at the park's Hess Shelter. It features German-style food and beer.
Oglebayfest coincides with the Ohio County Country Fair also held at Site 1 inside the park near the Good Zoo. It features 4-H displays, contests, farm equipment displays such as antique tractors, farm animals, food and more. The fair's annual parade takes place at 9:30 a.m. today
"Oglebayfest started in 1978 and has grown into the Ohio Valley's largest fall festival. The entire Ohio Valley really comes and supports this event. We really appreciate that," Peckenpaugh said. "It serves two purposes: it's a celebration of fall and it's also a token of our appreciation to everyone who lives in the greater Ohio Valley and comes out and utilizes our parks on a regular basis."
Before the ribbon was cut many people were already beginning to file into the market area, browsing the arts and crafts made by the dozens of artists with their tents set up on site. Food vendors were selling their dishes and a line was already forming for the beloved kettle corn sold by Herold's Kettle Korn. Brian Herold rang a bell to let festivalgoers know a fresh new batch was ready to buy and eat.
Artist Linda McGinty of Cambridge, Ohio, was among the many vendors selling their wares at the festival. She said she enjoys the people she meets at Oglebayfest, adding they are "friendly and supportive."
"I love to hear their responses to my work," she said. "That's why I returned this year. The people around me made it a fun experience. There are wonderful artists who really know their craft - you don't get that everywhere you go."
At the Ohio County Country Fair, Beallsville resident Don Schnegg had his antique John Deere tractor on site for adults and children to see. He said he planned to drive it in the parade. He purchased the 1958 diesel tractor a couple of years ago. It was already restored though he did have to purchase one important piece of equipment for it that cost about $4,000 - that price included $90 per hour in labor costs, he added.
"We enjoy it and getting out," he said of Oglebayfest and other fairs and festivals.
The air was brisk adding to that fall feeling on Friday. Though the skies were gray the rain appeared to be holding off allowing people to enjoy the festivities. Today's weather forecast calls for a high temperature of 55 degrees with mostly sunny skies. Sunday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 59 degrees.
People can ride the Oglebay trolley for free between the market, Rathskeller and country fair sites, if they do not want to drive themselves, or walk.