An Ohio Valley tradition that has captured the national spotlight will get under way Friday: the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival.

Outside of New York and Milwaukee, Wheeling is home to the third-largest Italian festival in the country. Each year, visitors are treated to a celebration of anything and everything Italian in a setting complete with music, culture, crafts and food provided by more than 100 specialty vendors.

The annual three-day festival was started in 1982 and was initially held on Market Street. In 2001, because of an increase in visitors, the festival moved to its present location at Wheeling's historic Heritage Port.

Thursday morning, city crews finished up last-minute jobs in preparation for vendors, who were expected to start arriving early in the afternoon.

Crews were trimming trees and grass, sweeping the area and fielding last-minute phone calls, but organizers said they have preparations down to a science.

Tim Birch, of the city of Wheeling, said the larger trailers and booths come in first, then the medium-sized ones, and lastly the tents.

"As long as all vendors follow our plans, it works out very well," Birch said.

The festival will kick off Friday. For more, check out the WTOV9 Community Calendar.