More than 100 area residents participated in last year's Steubenville-Weirton Community Night at PNC Park. Tickets are on sale for this year's event, which has been scheduled for July 8, when the Pirates take on Atlanta. (Photo by Warren Scott)

STEUBENVILLE — Having just experienced a brutal stretch of winter that saw temperatures fail to reach freezing for many days and left several inches of snow on the ground for three weeks, no one could blame residents of the Tri-State Area if they weren’t beginning to think about the coming spring and summer seasons.

There are always plenty of activities to look forward to — whether it’s a special Mother’s Day or Father’s Day dinner, a wedding, a graduation party or the cookouts that are a part of Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

Count among those traditions the annual Steubenville-Weirton Community Night at PNC Park. This year’s event is scheduled for July 8, when the Pirates host Atlanta in a 6:40 p.m. start.

“Our annual trip to see the Pirates is something area residents look forward to every year,” said John Hale, publisher of the newspapers.

It’s become a regular part of summer on the calendars of area residents for the better part of two decades.

“There’s always a lot of anticipation about the event,” Hale explained. “It’s not unusual for us to receive questions about the following year’s event before Thanksgiving. We’ve also received numerous phone calls into our office asking about the status of the game.”

One of the drawing points for the game is its affordability — it’s $65 a person. That includes a ticket to the game — which is loaded with $10 in added value, money that can be spent with vendors in the stadium — and round-trip transportation between the parking lot at the Herald-Star building and PNC Park.

“That’s an incredible deal,” Hale said. “You don’t have to fight traffic or find a parking space. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride and the company of your friends and neighbors.”

That price remains affordable thanks to the continued support of sponsors, including Local 246 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, M&M True Value Hardware on Sunset Boulevard and Lenzner Travel.

As always, the annual event is about promoting community spirit. That’s why Kevan Brown, business manager of Local 246, and Scott Campbell, the longtime owner of M&M Hardware who runs the business alongside his daughter, Annie Campbell Johnston, and son, Sean, have said they are happy to be a part of the event.

Their continued support ensures community night will remain a part of the region’s must-attend summer events.

Tickets are on sale now, and are available by calling (740) 283-4711, extension 213. You can also purchase tickets at the Herald-Star office, 401 Herald Square, Steubenville, during regular business hours.

“As always, we hope everyone who is interested will purchase their tickets early,” Hale said. “The trip has always sold out very quickly, and there’s no reason to think that won’t be the case this year. Early interest has been strong — if you are planning to attend, get your tickets now, to avoid disappointment.”

For information, call Hale at (740) 284-7327.