Blab Music
Steubenville Celebrates 30th Dean Martin Hometown Festival with Music, History and Community Events
Steubenville’s streets buzzed as the 30th‑annual Dean Martin Hometown Festival kicked off Thursday, June 18, 2026, and will run through Saturday, June 20. The three‑day event honors the entertainer born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, who died on December 25, 1995, and features live music, historical tours, a 5‑k run, a karaoke contest, and a series of tribute events that highlight Martin’s legacy as a singer, actor, comedian and television host.
Thursday’s lineup began with a meet‑and‑greet at 7 Ranges in the Fort Steuben Mall, followed by a special edition of the weekly concert at the Berkman Amphitheater and a karaoke contest at the Spot Bar. Organizers noted that the day also included a talk on the 80th anniversary of Martin’s partnership with Jerry Lewis, a session on movie restoration by Bob Furmanek, and a screening of the Martin‑Lewis film At War with the Army.
Attendees from across the region highlighted the enduring appeal of Martin’s music. Nigel Brown, who has traveled from Lexington, Kentucky, five times for the festival, said Martin’s songs “will live forever” because they “resonate with everybody.” Brown’s wife, Gloria, joined him for the fifth trip. Michelle DellaFave, a former member of Martin’s Golddiggers and Ding‑a‑Ling Girls, recalled working with the singer in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She said, “He was unpredictable, but he was always in a fun mood. He called himself the fifth Ding‑a‑Ling.”
Local fans also shared personal connections. Jimmy Rzepecki, who has attended the festival every year since 1996, noted that his grandfather grew up listening to Martin. Rzepecki said the singer’s “pure, raw talent” and “lyrics that you could understand and connect with” make the music multigenerational. He pointed out that a 17‑year‑old participant in the karaoke contest sang Martin’s song with “incredible” delivery.
Other festival participants echoed these sentiments. Jack Hanson of Phoenix said the music represents a “time of glamour in America.” Nick Scott of Steubenville compared Martin’s work to that of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, calling it “timeless.” Mike Wiggins of Lansing, Michigan, praised Martin’s “smooth” delivery and noted that “nobody can sing like Dean.”
Friday’s program added a golf tournament at the Steubenville Country Club, a presentation at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, a car cruise at Historic Fort Steuben, an event at Chesterton and Co. Cigars, supper‑club‑themed evenings at Pastaio’s and Scaffidi’s, and a performance by Joe Scalissi at the Spot Bar.
Saturday’s schedule includes a 5‑k run starting at 9 a.m. in Historic Beatty Park, the Honor Flight Columbus Tribute with special guest Michelle DellaFave at the Berkman Amphitheater, a show by Joe Scalissi in Weirton, performances by The Cugines and Dave Salera at the Spot Bar, an MDA Benefit at the Sycamore Youth Center, a 1917 Supper Club event with Michelle DellaFave at Froehlich’s Classic Corner, and a late‑night set by Tom Stevens and Friends at the Spot Bar.
The Jefferson County Historical Museum will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Historic Fort Steuben will offer tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival’s organizers say the event serves as both a tribute to Martin’s hometown legacy and a platform to support charitable causes that reflect his history of philanthropy.
The Dean Martin Hometown Festival is organized by the Dean Martin Association of America and is scheduled to run through June 20. The event’s full program is available on the association’s website and on the festival’s Facebook page.
The festival’s focus on Martin’s music, combined with its historical programming and community‑oriented events, underscores the enduring relevance of the entertainer’s work and the continued interest in his legacy among fans of all ages.
Thursday’s lineup began with a meet‑and‑greet at 7 Ranges in the Fort Steuben Mall, followed by a special edition of the weekly concert at the Berkman Amphitheater and a karaoke contest at the Spot Bar. Organizers noted that the day also included a talk on the 80th anniversary of Martin’s partnership with Jerry Lewis, a session on movie restoration by Bob Furmanek, and a screening of the Martin‑Lewis film At War with the Army.
Attendees from across the region highlighted the enduring appeal of Martin’s music. Nigel Brown, who has traveled from Lexington, Kentucky, five times for the festival, said Martin’s songs “will live forever” because they “resonate with everybody.” Brown’s wife, Gloria, joined him for the fifth trip. Michelle DellaFave, a former member of Martin’s Golddiggers and Ding‑a‑Ling Girls, recalled working with the singer in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She said, “He was unpredictable, but he was always in a fun mood. He called himself the fifth Ding‑a‑Ling.”
Local fans also shared personal connections. Jimmy Rzepecki, who has attended the festival every year since 1996, noted that his grandfather grew up listening to Martin. Rzepecki said the singer’s “pure, raw talent” and “lyrics that you could understand and connect with” make the music multigenerational. He pointed out that a 17‑year‑old participant in the karaoke contest sang Martin’s song with “incredible” delivery.
Other festival participants echoed these sentiments. Jack Hanson of Phoenix said the music represents a “time of glamour in America.” Nick Scott of Steubenville compared Martin’s work to that of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, calling it “timeless.” Mike Wiggins of Lansing, Michigan, praised Martin’s “smooth” delivery and noted that “nobody can sing like Dean.”
Friday’s program added a golf tournament at the Steubenville Country Club, a presentation at the Jefferson County Historical Museum, a car cruise at Historic Fort Steuben, an event at Chesterton and Co. Cigars, supper‑club‑themed evenings at Pastaio’s and Scaffidi’s, and a performance by Joe Scalissi at the Spot Bar.
Saturday’s schedule includes a 5‑k run starting at 9 a.m. in Historic Beatty Park, the Honor Flight Columbus Tribute with special guest Michelle DellaFave at the Berkman Amphitheater, a show by Joe Scalissi in Weirton, performances by The Cugines and Dave Salera at the Spot Bar, an MDA Benefit at the Sycamore Youth Center, a 1917 Supper Club event with Michelle DellaFave at Froehlich’s Classic Corner, and a late‑night set by Tom Stevens and Friends at the Spot Bar.
The Jefferson County Historical Museum will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Historic Fort Steuben will offer tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival’s organizers say the event serves as both a tribute to Martin’s hometown legacy and a platform to support charitable causes that reflect his history of philanthropy.
The Dean Martin Hometown Festival is organized by the Dean Martin Association of America and is scheduled to run through June 20. The event’s full program is available on the association’s website and on the festival’s Facebook page.
The festival’s focus on Martin’s music, combined with its historical programming and community‑oriented events, underscores the enduring relevance of the entertainer’s work and the continued interest in his legacy among fans of all ages.
