With the approach of Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a number of local events and activities are planned to celebrate the holiday.
Some of the events being held throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley include:
In Marietta, The Castle will hold its annual Victorian Valentines Workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at 418 Fourth St.
The cost is $10 a person with all materials included. Pre-registration is required due to limited seating by calling 373-4180.
Participants will watch a short presentation on the history of valentines and learn a few Victorian tricks on how to make Valentine's Day meaningful. They can model their projects on an antique card and tweak it, or create something truly unique. Everyone will be able to take home at least one completed card.
The Betsey Mills Club in Marietta will celebrate Valentine's Day with a wine and dessert tasting at 7 p.m. Saturday at the club at Fourth and Putnam streets in downtown Marietta.
The cost is $20. The Betsey will feature several fine dessert wines paired with designer desserts. Wine specialist Larry McDaniel will be the host and raconteur for the evening, which will take place in the Betsey's dining room.
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended by calling 373-4981.
The Just By Chance Barbershop Quartet is planning two days of singing valentines on Monday and Tuesday in Parkersburg and Marietta.
The quartet has been booked to sing love songs and present more than 200 fresh roses to four groups and several individuals this year.
Quartet baritone Lew Yeager, of Marietta, said an individual Singing Valentine consists of two or three love songs plus a fresh rose for the loved one, presented in the home or office of the recipient. The cost is $35 and the contact via email is lyeager44@gmail.com.
Yeager said for the first time the quartet has been engaged to sing valentines for four groups, ranging from 20 ladies in a local plant and 40 women in a medical office, to hospital lunchrooms where they will sing to dozens of men and women as they enjoy their noon meal.
The other three members of the quartet are tenor Greg Sutton of Spencer, lead Will Wilburn of Pullman and bass Larry Tarrant of Parkersburg.
In Parkersburg, the Knights of Columbus will host a sweetheart dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday at 1010 Market St. in downtown Parkersburg.
The dance is open to the public and the cost is $10 per person. The KOC will provide snacks but participants can also bring their own.
The Parkersburg Moose Lodge, located in south Parkersburg on West Virginia 95, behind Napoli's, is sponsoring a Seniors/Valentine's Dinner and Dance on Saturday.
A dinner buffet will be served from 6 to 8 p.m. and the cost is $7 per person. Entertainment will be provided by Gary Cunningham from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event is open to all seniors.
For information, contact the Parkersburg Moose Lodge at 304-422-3506.
On Sunday, the Parkersburg Choral Society will present a concert celebrating the role of music in the annual commemoration of love featuring music from many genres, including classical, pop, folk and jazz.
Led by conductor Luke Zyla, the concert will be at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. The choral society will be joined by an instrumental combo including John Schlabach on trumpet, Randy Brannon on clarinet and saxophone, trombonist Sheila Wiseman, Marge Hamperian, the accompanist for the society on piano, guitarist Chris Craig, Rocky Wiseman on electric bass and Jeff Edman on drums.
The concert is made possible through the donations received at the door from audience members, annual donors and the support of Artsbridge. A reception will follow the concert and there will be door prizes.
