Clutch MOV

05/09/2023

Hi friends!👋 Did you know that you can still support Clutch MOV's mission of celebrating local culture, creativity, and community by following and supporting Clutch Collective? While the mission is met in a different way, the Collective aims to contribute to the creative culture here in the Mid-Ohio Valley by supporting local artists and musicians, bringing in new art, and hosting small scale events, including live local music and solo-exhibits.

Clutch Collective also recently revamped our monthly newsletter to include more on what's happening in our local creative community!

Follow along on Facebook: Clutch Collective
Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchcollectivemov
And sign up for our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/clutchmov/clutch-collective-sign-up

We miss you, readers, but we hope you'll still enjoy what we bring the MOV through Clutch Collective! 🧡

07/27/2022

It's been quite a ride, friends!

After 8 years, it is with full hearts we announce that Clutch MOV is ceasing operations at the end of this month. We cannot overstate how much we've enjoyed sharing your stories and celebrating this community with each and every one of you.

There are many reasons for this change, all of which are a testament to the truly amazing work we have accomplished together. Over the past 8+ years, Clutch MOV has been a source for positive local stories and local events, and when it began, it was difficult to find information about local happenings on social media. Now there are a number of organizations that amplify local events, businesses, people, and projects. In many ways, we have accomplished our goal - and while there will always be new stories to tell, we feel it is time to pass the torch to the other organizations in our community staffed to do this work.

Together, we've published thousands of stories about the wonderful people that call the Mid-Ohio Valley home, hosted community events, launched a podcast and product line, published print issues, celebrated the Best of the Mid-Ohio Valley, curated local event listings, authored a newsletter that went out to 20,000 residents each week, and brought the MOV to life on social media.

We'd like to thank the more than 100 local writers and photographers that have given their time and talent over the years to tell positive, local stories through Clutch MOV and to each and every one of you for your support and readership. Clutch MOV truly was for, by, and about this community and we could not have done it without you!

Personally, the most rewarding aspect of launching Clutch MOV has been the people I've met along the way - from our incredible contributors, to those we've interviewed and photographed, to each of you, our readers and friends. This community embraced our publication and in doing so, widened our world. I, and our team, will forever cherish these relationships.

We encourage you to keep up to date with all of the great things happening here in our region by following some of these incredible local organizations:

Greater Parkersburg CVB
Visit Marietta Ohio
Marietta Main Street
Downtown PKB
Artsbridge
Arts Collaborative of the Mid-Ohio Valley
Wood County, WV Economic Development

From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! For reading, for supporting, and for helping us cheer on the Mid-Ohio Valley.

💙💙💙 All our love,
- Sarah and the Clutch MOV Team

07/16/2022

🎵 Renegade Rebellion Music Festival premiered at the West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells on Saturday, July 9th. The festival was originally scheduled for last September but was postponed due to the pandemic. The festival provided a full day jam-packed with stellar artists.

The West Virginia Motor Speedway is located at 2 Matheny Dr in Mineral Wells, WV, and was recently reopened after closing in 2013. New manager and promoter, Cody Watson, along with support from speedway owners, PM Company in Vienna, have breathed new life into the track after a several hundred thousand dollar renovation.

Artists included local singer Jake Binegar, Arlo McKinley, The Davisson Brothers, Seaforth, Trey Lewis, Lainey Wilson, and Tracey Lawrence.

Several artists and event organizers wandered through the crowd greeting fans and guests when they weren’t busy on stage or on duty. Watson was seen upgrading a few lucky guests’ tickets to VIP or providing meet and greet opportunities between the performers and guests. The overall atmosphere of the festival was upbeat and joyful. Everyone in attendance just seemed genuinely happy to be there, from the entertainers to the guests to the staff themselves.

🙌 Read the full story: https://clutchmov.com/renegade-rebellion-country-music-festival/

✍️ Story by Miranda Brace
📸 Photography by Michelle Waters Photo

07/14/2022

This Saturday, Marietta Main Street is hosting their Christmas in July Bar Crawl! 🍻🎅 Join MMS on Saturday, July 16th from 2pm - 6pm. Downtown restaurants will be offering drink specials to participants as they spend the afternoon in beautiful Downtown Marietta. Tickets are $15 each and do not include the cost of drinks.

Participating restaurants include:
🍺 740 Social
🍺 The Original Pizza Place
🍺 Gator's Easy Wind Pub
🍺 The Galley
🍺 Riverfront Bar & Grill
🍺 Over the Moon Pub & Pizza
🍺 Town House

Get your tickets today or at the door!

Join us for our Christmas in July bar crawl. Enjoy special drinks at discounted prices in several downtown establishments.

07/09/2022

Renegade Rebellion Country Music Festival takes center stage today for a day full of chart topping country music, at the WV Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells! Check out for more info! 🙌 Photographer is on the scene, stay tuned for more!

📸 by

06/24/2022

Kiss Me Kate opens tonight at the Peoples Bank Theatre! Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate is a musical comedy set in 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. A “show within a show,” the play portrays nearly every cast member in two different roles: as an actor in a traveling vaudevillian theatre troupe, and a character performing a musical production of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

In Kiss Me, Kate, egotistical director and producer Fred Graham plays Petruchio opposite his movie-star ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, who is playing Katherine. Their constant arguments include the fact that Fred is pursuing Lois Lane, a younger actress playing Bianca. After the troupe rehearses for the evening’s opening show, we meet Bill, Lois’s boyfriend who plays Lucentio. He missed the rehearsal to gamble away a large sum of money. Lovers’ quarrels and the arrival of two gangsters looking to collect their pay ensue.

You have five chances to see this outstanding production, beginning with tonight's show at 8:00 pm. You won’t want to miss it! Grab your tickets at www.peoplesbanktheatre.com

📸 🙌 Photography by Michelle Waters Photo

06/16/2022

As they say in the forest, “free yourself of humduggery” and join the cast of Robin Hood at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players opening Friday June 17 at 7:00 pm. Your adventure includes a romp through Sherwood Forest, a night at the Blue Boar Tavern, and visits to the castle while you are immersed in the action as the cast uses the entire theater to bring this classic play to life. Directed by Amber Smrek with assistance from Angela Shrader and Sherri Knapp, the Players bring to life the adventures of a merry band of thieves under the direction of Robin Hood (or perhaps the beguiling Maid Marian) who steal from the rich and give to the poor all while thwarting the evil Sheriff.

But don’t let the idea of “classic” dissuade you from attending. This version of Robin Hood is hysterical with lots of biting sarcasm and action and even some drunken revelry. Ms. Smrek and her team choreographed an abundance of fight scenes. The cast fights with everything: long swords, short swords, large sticks, swords in one hand, swords in both hands. If they can fight with it, they do, with enthusiasm!

Read more: https://clutchmov.com/movp-presents-robinhood/

✍️📸 Story and photos by Cheryl Stahle

06/11/2022

Last night kicked off the first Black Diamond Music & Arts Festival at Hocking College! 🙌 Friday night’s lineup included stellar performances by The Steel Woods, Marty Stuart, and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, to name a few.

Today, you can catch Nathan Whit, Sunny Sweeney, the Late Nite Drivers and more, with performances starting at 1:00pm.

Clutch MOV writer and photographer Olivia Reeder captured these photos from Day 1! Stay tuned for more coverage!

📸 by Olivia Reeder

06/08/2022

Parkersburg Pride is pleased to host their 4th annual family-friendly PrideFest in the area around the Band Shell at Parkersburg City Park on Saturday, June 11 from noon to 4:00 pm. This event is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate Pride Month, which has been observed since 1970.

Jacob Collins, who performs as Lucy Lipps & serves as the VP of Parkersburg Pride (a 501c3 non-profit), said the group has been hard at work to bring this year’s PrideFest back. “Parkersburg Pride is committed to building community and providing the area with fun and inclusive events that allow residents of the MOV and beyond a chance to celebrate the beauty of diversity.”

Parkersburg Pride is pleased to host their 4th annual family-friendly PrideFest in the area around the Band Shell at Parkersburg City Park on Saturday, June 11 from noon to 4:00 pm. This event is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate Pride Month, which has been observed sin...

06/06/2022

This summer, Hello June's schedule is full of shows in the Mid-Atlantic/SouthEast part of the United States. They will return to cities like Columbus (OH), Huntington (WV), Ashland (KY), and Marietta (OH) as well as visit new territory along the way. The band is excited to kick off the summer, beginning with their return to Marietta, Ohio at the Town House with Sockdolager and Roy F. Bush on June 11th, 2022. The band’s last Marietta show was at The Adelphia Music Hall with Angela Perley in 2019 for her album release, so they are eager to return.

Hello June first came onto the national scene in 2017 with their first EP, Spruce. From that EP, “Dance” was featured by NPR Music’s Heavy Rotation, putting Hello June into the airwaves of many across the United States. In 2018, Hello June was featured as an NPR Slingshot Artist, alongside Pho...

06/06/2022

This morning, Putnam Chocolate announced it would be closing effective July 30, 2022 after 27 years in business.

"It has been an incredible journey and [Shane] wants to thank all the people who have supported him since the beginning and all the friends he has made through the years. Being a part of the Marietta downtown business community has been a truly wonderful experience and he will remember each and every person who made his business a great success. It has been so rewarding to know that everyone that came into his business left with a smile and some sweets. Thank you all!" the Facebook post shared.

Thank YOU, Shane, for serving the community and making life in the Mid-Ohio Valley that much sweeter! ❤️❤️

📸 Photos by Knobel Photography

06/03/2022

🍀 The Camp Hervida Board and its Planning Committee invite past, present, and future campers to come to Camp Hervida for an event designed to celebrate 100 years of camping tradition on this beautiful property located at 1260 Camp Hervida Road in Waterford, Ohio. The celebration takes place Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 3rd. Most activities throughout the weekend are free for everyone to enjoy.

There is something for everyone. Some of the activities include: browsing through photos, crafts, guided hikes, guided creek walks, swimming, meals in the dining hall, an ice cream social, flag-raising/lowering, a vespers program, campfire, and camp dances! A full schedule is available at www.camphervida.org.

The Camp Hervida Board and its Planning Committee invite past, present, and future campers to come to Camp Hervida for an event designed to celebrate 100 years of camping tradition on this beautiful property located at 1260 Camp Hervida Road in Waterford, Ohio. The celebration takes place Saturday,....