WHEELING — The annual Backyard BBQ Fest returns to Oglebay on Memorial Day weekend with three full days of live music, great food and fun for the whole family.

The fourth-annual installment of the popular Memorial Day weekend event is again presented by The Glessner Group. This year, there will be no ticketed headlining act at nearby Camp Russel as there has been during previous Backyard BBQ events. Instead, all of the live music will be free through the duration of the festival May 23-25.

Bob Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission, noted that the previous headlining events were very successful, but he indicated that prices have continued to rise for potential touring acts to serve as the headliner for a ticketed concert as part of the festival. So this year, organizers decided to focus on keeping the party going with free entertainment all weekend.

And the live musical headliners on tap this year promise to deliver.

“Our two headliners are very exciting this year,” Peckenpaugh said. “On Saturday night, we’ll have The Icons of Country playing as the end-cap to a full day of country music, and then on Sunday, local favorites The Clarks will be here to wrap up a day of rock ‘n’ roll.”

Live music kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, with performances continuing throughout the weekend. Bands take the stage beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be something for everyone, with rock ‘n’ roll bands anchoring Friday and Sunday nights, and country music highlighting Saturday night’s festivities with one of the nation’s top country music tribute acts.

The headliners on Saturday and Sunday night will take the stage at 7 p.m.

“It’s a kickoff to summertime, and it’s a free community event,” Peckenpaugh said. “There’s music Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and we’re so excited to present that to the community.”

In addition to live music, there will be an array of food trucks — including a number that promise to feature “mouthwatering barbecue,” along with plenty of drinks, pitmaster demonstrations, kid zones with play stations and activities, and more.

“Make sure that you stick around on Sunday after The Clarks — we’ll be shooting off fireworks here by the Levenson Shelter by Oglebay Park,” Peckenpaugh said. “It’ll be a great weekend.”

Peckenpaugh added that Oglebay was grateful to The Glessner Group for stepping up to sponsor the Backyard BBQ once again.

“We just thought it was a great event to kick off the summer,” said Gary Glessner, president of The Glessner Group. “We kind of got the idea from Oglebayfest — we just wanted to have something in the summer. There will be something here for everyone to enjoy. This is an opportunity for our company to give something back to the community. We encourage everyone to come out and have a fun weekend. It’s free this year, so there should be no reason to miss out.”

For more details on the fourth annual Backyard BBQ Fest at Oglebay, visit www.oglebay.com.