HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- As we slowly approach mid-summer 2008, Your Weekend Ahead jumps from the frying pan to the fire.

And that fire is put to good use Saturday. You can sing praises to the Weeny Man at Pullman Square when the 4th Annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival fires up the grills. It starts with a bun run or bun walk at 8 a.m. There’s a hot dog eating contest, wiener dog races, live music and much more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Charleston keeps with the meat-to-flame theme. Kanawha Boulevard near Shoney's is the place for the 10th Annual Ribfest. Illusionist Josh Knotts performs Saturday and Sunday, plus there's live music, fireworks, a carnival and, of course, ribs Thursday through Sunday.

If you need to cool down a little after ribbing, Grease is the word. The Charleston Light Opera Guild performs the musical Grease at the Clay Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Additional performances are scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, as well as at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.

Keeping with an indoor theme, the Funny Bone in Huntington welcomes back comedian J. Medicine Hat. The hypno-comic performs Thursday through Sunday at the club at Pullman Square. And the Comedy Zone in Charleston celebrates the "Fest of Ale" at 7 p.m. Friday. Comedians Tim Statum and Jon D. Miller perform at the "Fest of Ale" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as at 10:15 p.m. Saturday at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in South Charleston.

The Kentucky Music Trail leads to Ashland when music legends The Oak Ridge Boys pay a visit to the Paramount Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Friday.

Three county fairs are underway across the region. Milton hosts the Cabell County Fair, which runs through Saturday night. McArthur, Ohio, hosts the Vinton County Fair through Saturday, as well. And the Jackson County Fair is up and running in Cottageville, W.Va., through Saturday night.

Charleston's Empty Glass on Elizabeth Street has live music through Sunday with Bud Carroll and Southern Souls Friday, three bands including the Whiskey Daredevils on Saturday, and a post mountain stage jam on Sunday.

And, yes, Mountain Stage returns live at the cultural center featuring Amos Lee and several other acts. That show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday.

And brewers from 19 states converge at St. Cloud Commons in West Huntington for the 11th Annual Mountain Brewer Open Home Brewers Contest. Twenty-eight styles of the hop beverage will be sampled. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is free.

That's just a few things happening this weekend. Go out and have a great one.