As the nation prepares to celebrate its 248th birthday, the Ohio County Commission and Quaker Steak & Lube at The Highlands have partnered to present a fun-filled Independence Day Celebration this Wednesday evening at The Highlands.
Live music with Miller-Smith-Mazure will begin at The Lube at 6 p.m., and the eatery will offer bounce houses, face painting, and a foam party for the children in attendance. The Wheeling Miners will be on hand at Quaker Steak for a “Meet & Greet,” and at dusk, the region’s most impressive fireworks display will be presented by the Ohio County Commission.
“It’s going to be a wonderful family event thanks to our partnership with the folks at Quaker Steak, and that’s what Independence Day in our country is all about,” said Ohio County Commission President Don Nickerson. “We always offer one of the best fireworks displays in the Upper Ohio Valley, and there’s really no better place than The Highlands to watch this kind of celebration.
“It’s always so much fun to see how excited the kids are at such a great event,” the Commissioner explained. “And once the fireworks begin, everyone’s face just lights up in amazement, and that’s the biggest reason why we, as the commissioners, are so excited to be a part of the event every year. It’s about our country, absolutely, but it’s also about the people who choose to live right here in Ohio County.”
Christine Thomas, the marketing director for The Lube for more than a decade, said this year’s event is expected to be bigger and better than in years past.
“We’re excited because we’ve added some new things to this year’s event because the fireworks at The Highlands always are the best in the valley thanks to the Commission,” she said. “‘MSM’ is one of the best bands in the valley, and the kids have always loved all of the activities we have here for our special events like this one.
“Along with the bounce houses and all of the different activities for the kids, we’re also going to have a number of vendors that will be set up in the parking lot,” she explained. “We’ll also food and beverage specials inside the restaurant and we’ll have a beer tent outside, too.”
Quaker Steak & Lube at The Highlands stages several special events throughout each year, including live concerts, fundraisers for local causes, and also a number of special functions during the holiday seasons.
“We’ve always made it about our community here at The Lube, and we feel like our local residents don’t really look at us like a chain or franchise restaurant because of what we try to do for the people here,” Thomas said. “We love our community and want to be a part of it, and that’s why our management team is all local, too.
“Plus, if you haven’t been here at The Highlands for our fireworks displays, you’re missing the best one in the area because the skies are so huge up here,” she insisted. “This is going to be a great way to kick off the Fourth of July weekend, that’s for sure, and we hope everyone comes up early, takes advantage of all of the free parking, and celebrates our country’s birthday with us.”
