zNewsletter Sunday

Backyard BBQ Fest Going Country This Year

WHEELING - Oglebay’s third annual Backyard BBQ Festival, presented by The Glessner Group, is delivering a twist this year when a little country flavor is added to the mix over the Memorial Day weekend.

Officials gathered at Oglebay’s Camp Russel amphitheater area on Thursday to announce this year’s headlining act - platinum country music sensation Rodney Atkins. It's a shift in gears from the previous two years when ’90s hitmakers the Gin Blossoms and Collective Soul headlined the popular new festival.

"We’re very excited to change up the genre this year," Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission. "It seems to be quite a trend out in the world of entertainment right now. Country has really taken off, and we’re very excited to be a part of that."

Oglebay’s Backyard BBQ will take place from May 24-26 at the Levenson Shelter, located just past the Good Zoo. Three years ago, a sprawling outdoor amphitheater was created at the adjacent Camp Russel site to accommodate the festival’s headlining act.

"We brainstormed with Oglebay for several months before we came up with this idea to have a barbecue festival," said Gary Glessner of The Glessner Group, which partnered with Oglebay to develop the event and has served as its sponsor each and every year. "We had some different ideas to have something similar to OglebayFest, but we wanted it to kick off the summer and have it in late spring."

It turns out that award-winning barbecue cuisine, bourbon tasting, craft beer, a weekend chock full of entertainment at Oglebay Park and one key live musical act are a great formula to launch a season of outdoor fun.

Aside from the array of food and beverages available for purchase at the festival and the ticketed main act on Saturday night, the festivities are free all weekend. And there is plenty of fun for the entire family.

"There’s live music all weekend long - Friday through Sunday," Peckenpaugh said. "We have a kids jump zone, we’ll have food all over the place. We have barbecue vendors from all across the United States. There’s so much fun to be had."

One new event for the festival will take place on Sunday - the Grill ‘n Gears Truck Show, with high horsepower events starting at 10 a.m. Truck owners are invited to enter their vehicles for the prestigious overall Best in Show or Rev It Up (most thunderous engine) categories.

"We just think it’s a great kickoff to the summer," Glessner said. "We think it’s definitely family friendly. We’re just a very proud sponsor to make this part of the Wheeling community for three consecutive years. We hope everyone comes out and makes this a record year for us."

Another change this year has been to the grassy outdoor amphitheater itself. Peckenpaugh said the hillside was originally created in a way that made it very steep. Since last year, crews have moved some earth around to make it more accommodating to concertgoers.

"We did improve the amphitheater area here at Camp Russel," Peckenpaugh said. "There is a sharp hillside that we terraced out to make a more comfortable experience to enjoy the show."

The Rodney Atkins concert will take place on Saturday night. Tickets are priced at $45 and are on sale now at oglebay.com/backyardBBQ.

Other acts performing at the Backyard BBQ free of charge include Tammy Jo & Iron Horse, Gage Joseph, Devon Allen Johnson, Ruff Creek and more.

On Sunday night, a fireworks display will wrap up the festive holiday weekend.

"It’s one of our premier weekends here at Oglebay Park," Peckenpaugh said. "The Backyard BBQ was created as a summer kickoff - something for the community to come up and enjoy at Oglebay Park in a way that was a little bit different. We’re excited to have the third one here this Memorial Day Weekend."