PARKERSBURG - While much of the country celebrates the Fourth of July today, the Mid-Ohio Valley is still working to repair and restore damage and lost power from the weekend's storm.
Some Independence Day activities in the area have been cancelled, while others are still being held as planned.
Among the cancelled events are the annual North Hills Fourth of July Parade, the Little Hocking Ice Cream Social and the bell ringing on Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.
Article Photos
Photo by Wayne Towner
The American Legion Post 15 Carnival and fireworks show is continuing through Saturday with games, rides, concessions and bingo.
Blennerhassett Island will remain closed through much of this week, but could reopen for the weekend, said park spokesman Pam Salisbury. The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History is open for visitors this weekend, including for today's holiday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., she said.
At City Park in Parkersburg, the annual American Legion Post 15 Carnival and fireworks show is continuing through this week through Saturday with games, rides, concessions and bingo. The annual fireworks show will be at 10 p.m. today at City Park, with a rain date of Thursday if necessary.
The activities at Washington County Fairgrounds have also been going on as planned. A demolition derby was held Tuesday, while today's mud bog shootout and fireworks are expected to go on as scheduled, officials said.
The Southern Ohio Mud Bog Shootout, sponsored by the Washington County Fair Board, will have registration from 8:30-10:30 a.m. today and the mud bog begins at 11 a.m.
There will also be carnival rides and games. General admission is $6, which includes rides. Gates open at 8 a.m. today and the fireworks will be 10 p.m.
The Lions Club and other vendors will serve food during the show and the fireworks. There will be drawings and raffle tickets for prizes. A tractor rodeo will be held at 1 p.m., along a tractor parade during the day. Food will be available all day, beginning with a pancake breakfast at the Beverly Fire Station from 8-11 a.m. today.
The annual community fireworks display in Beverly will be presented at Cadet Field at Fort Frye High School, sponsored by American Legion Post 389, at 10 p.m. today.
Activities begin at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies, the Grand Parade at noon and will conclude at 10 p.m. with fireworks following a day-long series of live entertainment and activities. This year's entertainers 4 include: Chase Likens at 11 a.m., Texaco Country Showdown at 2 p.m., No One You Know at 6 p.m. and Davisson Brothers at 8:30 p.m.
A carnival has been set up in the Ripley Municipal Parking Lot.
The 48th annual Mountain State Arts and Crafts Fair is also still going on as scheduled, from Thursday through Saturday at Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley.
This year's event is open daily from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate and cost $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for children.
In addition to live entertainment and activities, the festival features more than 160 juried craftsmen ranging from traditional to contemporary arts and crafts. There will also be cooking demonstrations, educational classes, storytelling and other attractions. For more information, go online to www.msacf.com.
