Though somewhat downsized, Bridgeport’s Benedum Festival will take place July 10 and 11 at Bridgeport City Park. Festival Director Jason McCall said highlights of the annual festival which honors Michael Late Benedum - a major benefactor to the city and many of its amenities - will remain the same. Included are the live music series, a car show, pet parade, 5K, games and inflatable attractions, food and merchandise vendors, an on-site oil and gas expo and the always-popular Saturday night fireworks display. 

The festival gets underway 5 p.m. Friday, July 10 with vendors, games and attractions. From 6-8 p.m. will be live music, performers including “Prowler,” a rock band covering classics by Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, the Stones and Eric Clapton, among other artists. Other musical acts will be featured on opening night, including a jazz band, McCall said. 

Additional music planned for the weekend, but dates and times yet to be determined, include Lauren Starkey and Johnny Bryan and ”Bullets and Bracelets,” a band which includes Hannah, Brooke and Erica Cottrill. Confirmed for Saturday, July 11 and preceding the 9:30 p.m. fireworks show is the Greg Harrison Band. 

The morning of Saturday, July 11 will kick off with the 8:30 a.m. 5K run/walk sponsored by Bridgeport Physical Therapy. Organizer Jack Spatafore said all registered runners will receive a T-shirt and trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers for men and women overall, as well as the top three finishers in all nine age groups, including the new 9 & under age division. Refreshments will follow the race. There will also be a kids’ dash on the football field for youngest competitors. For more information and to register for the 5K, visit 

http://www.bridgeportbenedumfestival.com/5k.php.

A 10 a.m. pet parade will take place July 11 at Bridgeport City Park. Food vendors, carnival-style games and inflatables will open and be available throughout the day, McCall said. 

“We’ll have a bouncy house, bull rides and the big boxing ring,” McCall said. “What we won’t have this year are carnival rides. Some of the things we thought we had to do to bring in people really didn’t and it seems the things people ultimately want to see are neighbors and friends they don’t often see, listen to the music and see the fireworks.” 

Organized by the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Women’s Club, the NURU Bucket Walk will take place at 10 a.m on Saturday, July 11. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The Kiwanis Club Fishing Derby at Deegan Lake will also take place that morning, as will the Bridgeport Lions Club Chicken Roast at the Bridgeport High School parking lot. Chickens will be available for purchase beginning at 10 a.m. 

“Some of these events coincide with the festival, but they are held and organized by the civic organizations,” McCall said. “Our festival promotes all of these organizations and the work they do.” 

Always a big draw is the car show sponsored by Glotfelty Tire Center and administered by West Virginia Cruisers. Organized by Jim Carvelli, that event will take place 4-8 p.m. Saturday, July 11. For more information or enter your vehicle for the judging, contact Carvelli at 304-677-9918. 

Just added during the last couple of years, the oil and gas expo will be in full swing at this year’s festival, McCall said. That event will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11. 

“Right now, we have about 10 companies confirmed, but we expect to have 25 to 30 before it’s all said and done,” McCall said. “These companies want to promote their businesses and recruit, as well. We’ve always marketed that as a job fair so companies will be accepting resumes. Companies like EQT and Antero Resources wanted to come back. They look at it as not only promoting their companies and the oil and gas expo, but also the festival.” 

Throughout the festival, food, craft and merchandise vendors will be on site and to date, include everything from Zul's frozen lemonade, Audia’s steak sandwiches and Mario and Angela Oliverio’s hot-dogs and funnel cakes to various craft and merchandise vendors and local healthcare businesses, such as Dr. Mike Mason’s Chiropractic Care Center. Also on board are Big Frank’s Barbecue, Ritzy Lunch, CTI of North Central West Virginia, American Income Life and “Hold On” featuring a rock wall and gemstone panning activity. Organizing the vendors is Tom Closson of Mountain-Ear Kettle Korn. He will, of course, have a booth set up, as well. To join this year’s vendors, call Closson at 304-669-0268. 

Oil and gas companies who wish to participate in the expo can call McCall at 304-669-2062. Non-profit organizations that would like to set up a booth and distribute information can do so by calling McCall. Booth fees will be waived for non-profits, McCall said. 

There is no admission to enter the festival and enjoy the music and fireworks. 

Preceding the July 10-11 festival will be the Thursday, July 9 Benedum Fellows Banquet at Bridgeport Conference Center. Keynote speakers will be George Daugherty, who portrays Michael Benedum, and Joe Deegan, son of former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Deegan. 

Ruth Allen of the Benedum Fellows committee said the pair of speakers are ideal to kick off the festival. 

“The history of Bridgeport, and of course, the contributions of Michael Benedum is part of the reason why the festival started years ago. We wanted to keep his story and memory alive,” Allen said. 

Tickets for the Benedum Fellows Banquet are $25 each and will be available for purchase soon at Benedum Civic Center. Social time will begin at 6 a.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. 

Other preliminary events include the children’s and queen’s pageants, to be held June 20 and 21 respectively at Benedum Civic Center. The winner in the queen’s division will reign over the festival. Winners in all age categories will make various special appearances throughout the festival.

Editor's Note: Photos from last year's festival were taken by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography.