Culture
Exploring Southeast Ohio’s Summer 2021 Activities
By: Emily Votaw
Posted on:
Just as some semblance of normalcy has begun to blossom in Southeast Ohio, so have dozens of exciting opportunities to take advantage of the region’s festive summer season. Take a moment to check them out, below.
This guide was also featured in The Columbus Dispatch, The Akron Beacon Journal, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and the Mansfield News Journal in their Sunday, June 27 editions and made available on their websites Monday, June 28.
Conservatories/Botanical gardens/Zoos
The Wilds
14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH (Muskingum County) The Wilds is a non-profit safari park and conservation center where zebras, cheetahs, camels, rhinos, giraffes, and many other exotic animals freely roam 9,154 acres of reclaimed coal mine land. Spend a day exploring the park with an open-Air Safari, or make your adventure an overnight one and stay in one of The Wilds’ various overnight accommodations, including the Cabins at Straker Lake, each of which can house up to six people. Many other activities, such as catch and release fishing, ziplining, horseback tours, and more, are also available.
Pricing: Open-Air Safari (2.5 hours): Board an open-air vehicle to enjoy a day tour experience with a wildlife guide for $35 per person; Wildside Tour (2.5 hours): Get paired up with someone on the Wilds’ animal management staff to see the inner-workings of The Wilds: $125 per person.
Open-Air Safaris are available starting in May, Wildside Tours are available starting in April. Winter at The Wilds Tours are also available.
Specialty Tour Rates: Fishing Safari: $100 per person front bank, $125 per person from boat; Horseback Safari: $30 per person;
Sunset Safari Tour: $75 per person; Sunset Horseback Safari: $75 per person;
Sunset Wildside Tour: $150 per person.
Information: TheWilds.org, 740-638-5030
Blue Bell Preserve
G0100100524.12, Athens, OH 45701 (Athens)
Made up of 230 acres adjacent to both the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway and the National Wayne Forest, Athens County’s Bluebell Preserve is famous for its dazzling array of eye-catching wildflowers. Managed by nonprofit land trust The Athens Conservancy, the Blue Bell Preserve features a popular bikeway, a collapsed coal mine, the remains of a railroad, and several Native American mounds.
Pricing: Free
Information: https://www.athensconservancy.org/bluebell-preserve/
Mission Oaks Gardens
424 Hunter Ave, Zanesville, OH 43701 (Muskingum)
Although nearly undetectable from the residential streets that surround it, the Muskingum Valley Park District’s Mission Oaks Gardens is made up of a bountiful seven acres showcasing rare and unusual plants. In addition to extensive collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias, Mission Oaks Gardens also has two waterfalls, several walking paths, a natural bog, a creek, and a widely renowned conifer garden.
Pricing: Admission is free, and the gardens are open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.
Information: https://www.missionoaksgardens.org/
Outdoor Music and Drama
Stuart’s Opera House Summer Concert Series: July 15, August 12, September 16
Robbins Crossing Historical Village, 3301 Hocking Pkwy Southeast Intersection by Loop Rd, Hocking Pkwy, Nelsonville, OH 45764 (Athens)
Throughout July, August, and September, Stuart’s Opera House is hosting free, outdoors musical performances on the grounds of Robbins Crossing Historical Village. Shows are scheduled for July 15 (Columbus rockers Dawna), August 12 (TBA), and September 16 (TBA).
Pricing: Free
Information: https://stuartsoperahouse.org/events/
Blame My Roots Country Music Festival: July 16-17
Valleyview Campground: 43263 National Rd, Belmont, OH 43718 (Belmont)
Those who may have despaired over the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Jamboree in the Hills country music festival have a reason to rejoice: the Blame My Roots County Music Festival is headed to the Jamboree’s traditional setting, the Valleyview Campground, July 16-17! The festival’s lineup includes Lee Brice, Adam Doleac, Walker Montgomery, headliner Miranda Lambert, and more.
Pricing: Two-Day General Admission: $145 (concert only)
Glessner Group 2-Day VIP Admission: $329 (concert only, includes: Front Stage Access for The Bud Light Main Stage near the Beer Garden VIP Tent on the Hill (new location for 2021), Private shaded tent with tables & chairs, Separate Porta Jons from GA)
Single Day General Admission: $59 Friday, $85 Saturday (concert only)
Glessner Group Single Day VIP Admission: $139 (concert only, includes: Front Stage Access for The Bud Light Main Stage near the Beer Garden VIP Tent on the Hill (new location for 2021), Private shaded tent with tables & chairs, Separate Porta Jons from GA)
2-Day Ultimate VIP Upgrade: $495 (concert only, includes: Front Stage Access for The Bud Light Main Stage near the Beer Garden VIP Tent on the Hill (new location for 2021), Private shaded tent with tables & chairs, Separate Porta Jons from GA, swag + merch, side of stage viewer riser)
Glessner Group 2-Day Country Cabana VIP Box Upgrade: $1,100 (concert only, includes: Private “Box” for 6 VIP ticket holders, Seating for 6 provided, “Bottle” service :: Tito’s Vodka, Bacardi Spiced Rum, or Jack Daniels, with mixer of choice, Complimentary Case of Bud Light, Beer Service (by the buckets only), 6 Passes + Lanyards (Required for access), Plus all standard VIP Features, and Front Stage Access for The Bud Light Main Stage)
Camping:
Primitive: $165
Camping at West Pike: $400
Camping with Electric On-Site: $400
Information: http://www.blamefest.com/
Secrest Summer Concert Series: July 1 (McGuffey Lane); July 15 (Hotel California: A Tribute to The Eagles), July 29 (The Hillbilly Way); August 12 (The Menus)
Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick St, Zanesville, OH 43701 (Muskingum)
Throughout the summer the Secrest Auditorium in Zanesville will host a series of free, outdoors summer concerts in the auditorium’s parking lot. The series kicks off July 1 with McGuffey Lane. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Pricing: Free
Information: https://www.secrestauditorium.com/Summer-Concert-Series/
French Art Colony’s Hot Summer Nights 2021 Concert Series: July 1 (The Stringbenders); July 8 (Next Level); July 15 (Brent Patterson); July 22 (Matthew Adam Metheney); July 29 (Hard Reign); August 5 (The Stringbenders); August 12 (TBA); August 19 (Next Level)
French Art Colony, 530 1st Ave, Gallipolis, OH 45631 (Gallia)
Select evenings throughout the summer, multi-arts center the French Art Colony will open the gates to their pavilion starting at 6:30 p.m. for live music that begins at 7 p.m. This summer the series is spotlighting musicians such as Southeast Ohio songwriter Brent Patterson and acoustic act The Stringbenders. Snacks and a cash bar will be available.
Pricing: $5 General Admission and free for French Art Colony members
Information: frenchartcolony.org or 740-446-3834
Adelphia Summer Concert Series: July 30 (Paul Thorn); July 31 (Buckcherry); August 27 (The Lonely Ones and RA); August 28 (Afroman & Nappy Roots); October 1 (TBA); October 2 (Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony)
205 2nd St, Marietta, OH 45750 (Washington)
The Adelphia Summer Concert Series brings a wide variety of local, regional, and national (“national” as in hip-hop giants Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony!) acts to historic downtown Marietta.
Pricing: tickets vary by performer, but range from $30 to $50
Information: https://www.theadelphia.com/summer-concert-series/ 740-374-8278
The Living Word Outdoor Drama
6010 College Hill Rd., Cambridge, OH 43725 (Guernsey)
Kicking off their season Friday, August 6, The Living Word Outdoor Drama is Ohio’s only outdoors passion play, staging a dramatization of the life of Jesus Christ on a 400-foot set.
Pricing:
Adult Ticket (ages 13-59) $18; Child Ticket (ages 4-12) $6; Senior Ticket (ages 60+) $16
Information: livingworddrama.org
740-439-2761
Museums
Dairy Barn Arts Center
8000 Dairy Lane, Athens, OH 45701 (Athens)
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pricing: Gallery reservations made at dairybarn.org and face masks are mandatory. General Admission is $10 and $8 for students and seniors. Free for Dairy Barn members.
Information: dairybarn.org, 740-592-4981
Belmont County Heritage Museum
101 E Main St, St Clairsville, OH 43950 (Belmont)
The Belmont County Heritage Museum is located in the historic grounds of what was once the Belmont County Sheriff’s residence, showcasing the history of Belmont County with a wide range of artifacts. This summer the museum is showcasing aspects of the county’s history with their Second Saturday Speaker Series, featuring presentations from a variety of speakers with ties to Belmont County History. July 10, learn about Hendrysburg’s Hopalong Cassidy (the beloved cowboy played by William Boyd) with Laura Bates, founder of the Hopalong Cassidy museum in Cambridge. Saturday, August 14, hear attorney, author, and historian Dan Frizzi, Jr. speak on his recently published book “Just a Grocer’s Son,” which looks back on his family’s history owning regional grocery store Frizzi’s.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed for lunch 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Pricing: Free admission, Second Saturday Speakers Events are also free
Information: belmontcountyheritagemuseum.org; 740-298-7020
Stone Academy Historic Site and Museum
115 Jefferson Street, Zanesville, OH 43701 (Muskingum)
Located in Zanesville’s historic Putnam District, the Stone Academy was at the heart of abolitionist activities in the 1830s, making it also the target of mob violence. The Stone Academy was the site of the first Ohio Anti-Slavery Society convention as well as an Underground Railroad safehouse. Although no special exhibitions are planned for 2021, the museum’s permanent exhibitions include exciting highlights such as a demonstration of how a hidden trap door in the house functioned to allow formerly enslaved people safety.
Pricing: Adults: $5, Students $1 (no charge for school groups)
Hours: Wednesday through Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open year round by appointment.
Information: muskingumcountyhistory.org, 740-454-9500
Clark Gable Museum
138 Charleston St., Cadiz, OH 43907 (Harrison)
Explore the humble beginnings of one of old Hollywood’s most internationally recognized stars at the Clark Gable Museum in Cadiz, OH. Housed in Gable’s birthplace and childhood home, the museum boasts a collection of artifacts from Gable’s life, including both his boyhood wintertime sled as well as a 1954 Cadillac he purchased in the prime of his career.
Pricing:
$5.75 per person
Seniors $5.00
Children (5-16 years old) $3.50 per child
Groups of 15 or more $3.75 per person
Museum Hours
May – September
Wednesday – Saturday 10AM – 4PM
Information: clarkgablefoundation.com
Historic Jail Museum & Information Center
419 West St Caldwell, OH 43724 (Noble)
At first glance, Caldwell’s Historic Jail Museum & Information Center appears to be a snapshot of small town life in rural America some 200 years ago: a completely furnished home dating back to 1882 where the Noble County Sheriff and his family lived. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the building dates back to a time when the Sheriff was mandated to take his work home with him. There are several holes built into the walls of the home that would have allowed the Noble County jail inmates to communicate with the Sheriff whether or not the Sheriff was on the clock. The museum has a diverse collection of artifacts that are generally contemporaneous with when the Sheriff’s home was built, including fragments of the USS Shenandoah which crashed in Noble County in 1925.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Information: https://www.visitnoblecountyohio.com/historic-jail-museum-information-center 740-732-5288
Hannibal Locks and Dam
40344 State Route 7, Hannibal, Ohio, 43915 (Monroe)
The Hannibal Locks and Dam Visitor’s Center highlights the history of the Ohio River – a history that is intimately tied with the history of Monroe County. Between 1910 and 1929, several moveable wicket dams were built along the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Paducah, Kentucky in an effort to stabilize river traffic. It worked, and because of those wicket dams, boats could operate even in the summer when the water was low. A maneuver boat and wicket dam are both on display in the visitor’s center, as well as a wealth of other information about the history of the Ohio River.
Festivals and Fairs
Meigs County Fair – August 16-21
41850 Fairgrounds Lane Pomeroy, OH 45769 (Meigs)
County fairs in rural areas are a little like annual family reunions for their close-knit communities – albeit family reunions with demolition derbies and good natured competitions like the Meigs County Fair’s “Pretty Baby Contest.” The Meigs County Fair has been essential to the Meigs County community since it was started 169 years ago in 1851 by the Meigs County Agricultural Society, and it’s likely it will remain popular for the next 169 years.
Pricing: General Admission
Admission will be charged at the gates starting at 7 a.m. each day of the Fair.
$8 Mon-Sat. (Includes Rides)
Season Tickets $18
Membership Tickets $20
Senior Citizen Day: Thursday – All senior citizens admitted free until 2pm with Golden Buckeye Card
Kid’s Day: Wednesday – All kids 12 under admitted free until noon. Hand Stamp to ride all day $5
Children under 2 years admitted FREE at gates. Must pay to ride.
Parking Autos and Vehicles……………………….FREE
Ohio Brew Week – July 9 – 17
Athens, OH 45701 (Athens)
[Photograph by Joel Prince]
Information: https://ohiobrewweek.com/
Gallipolis River Recreation Festival July 2—3
16 State St, Gallipolis, OH 45631 (Gallia)
Gallipolis’ River Recreation Festival celebrates one of Gallia County’s greatest assets: the Ohio River. This Fourth of July adjacent festival has everything one could ask of a small town summer celebration: a community talent show, free inflatables, and, most importantly, fireworks.
Information: https://www.gallipolisriverrec.com/ (740) 446-0596
Jackson Apple Festival – September 21 – 25
254 E. Main Street, Jackson, OH 45640 (Jackson)
After a cancelled 2020 Jackson Apple Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved celebration of all things apple related returns to downtown Jackson, OH. The festival will include square dancing, Blizzard eating contests, baby stroller races, and more! The festival is also the home of the biggest lighted parade in the state.
Information: jacksonapplefestival.org
Breweries/Wineries
Twisted Vine Family Vineyard
1712 Jackson Pike Gallipolis, Ohio 4563 (Gallia)
This family founded and run winery in Gallia County crafts a number of sweet and dry wines in house. They also serve cheeses and other snacks sourced from Ohio businesses to enjoy alongside their wines to customers who stop by in person for a glass of wine.
Hours: Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Information: https://www.twistedvinefamilyvineyard.com/ (740) 446-3990
West End Ciderworks and Distillery
234 W Washington St, Athens, OH 45701 (Athens)
Athens’ West End Ciderworks and Distillery crafts preservative free and unfiltered cider from Ohio grown apples and mixes up some of the most sophisticated cocktails in the region with craft spirits from their sister company, West End Distillery. The comfy and classy bar also features a number of tasty, locally sourced snacks to enjoy alongside your beverage.
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4-8:00pm | Friday: 4-10:00pm | Saturday: 2-10:00pm
Sunday/Monday: closed
Information: https://athenswestend.com/ciderhouse/, 740-590-5364
Wooly Pig Farm Brewery
23631 Township Rd 167, Fresno, OH 43824 (Coshocton)
Occupying a converted barn on the grounds of a 150-year-old farm, the Wooly Pig Farm Brewery showcases brewmaster Kevin Ely’s exploration of the German tradition of teaming beer. Ely was trained in this art by traveling throughout Bavaria and visiting brewhouses, which is also where he admired the region’s curly haired pigs from whom the brewery gets its name. Now, wooly pigs live on the farm, consuming the brewery’s spent grain as a part of the brewery’s dedication to sustainable farming practices.
Hours:
Wednesday 1-9
Thursday 1-9
Friday 1-9pm
Saturday 12-9pm
Sunday 12-6pm
Mon-Tues closed
Information: https://www.woolypigfarmbrewery.com/ (740) 693-5050
Vinberige Vineyards
5400 OH-204, Glenford, OH 43739 (Perry)
Perry County’s Vinberige Vineyards promises “a wine for every palate” that can be enjoyed (sometimes with the accompaniment of live music) on their patio or in their tasting room.
Hours:
Thursday 12-9
Friday 12-9
Saturday 12-9
Sunday 12-7
Information: 740-605-4499, https://www.vinberigevineyards.com/
Outdoor Adventures
Salt Fork State Park
14755 Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH 43755 (Guernsey)
Salt Fork State Park is made up of thousands of acres of open meadows, woody hills, winding trail systems for hikers, and more. The park features two marinas, eight launch ramps, and even a top tier 18-hole golf course!
Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/salt-fork-state-park
The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park
19852 OH-664 Logan, OH (Hocking)
The awe-inspiring caves spread throughout Hocking Hills State Park were carved thousands of years ago when the Wisconsin Glacier began to thaw and shrink, its water running across what would someday be Hocking Hills State Park and carving out rock shelters into the pliable sediment. The resulting caves are enormous – the Rock House cave alone has a 25 foot tall ceiling! Even after the glacier, the region had an intriguing history, reflected in the names of the caves. The enormously popular Old Man’s Cave got its name from a hermit who alledgedly lived in the over 400 years ago. When colonists first explored the region, they found piles of ash in the cave now known as Ash Cave.
Hours: The park is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information: www.hockinghills.com
Baileys Trail System
8389 W Bailey Rd, Millfield, OH 45761 (Athens)
The Baileys Trail System in Wayne National Forest is an ambitious and exciting project managed by the Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia that connects Chauncey to Doanville, and in the future will connect Buchtel to Nelsonville, via a series of hiking trails. The trails are organized and compiled on the Baileys Trail System website by difficulty, terrain, distance, and status.
Hours: the Baileys Trail System is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hiking at night with a light is allowed.
Information: https://baileystrailsystem.org/trails/ 740-517-8445
Moonville Rail Trail
Township Highway 18, McArthur, Ohio, 45651 (Vinton)
Hiking enthusiasts and paranormal thrill seekers alike have long been aware of the Moonville Tunnel, one of the only reminders of the small mining town that once existed nearby, as well as one of the most proportedly haunted locations in the region. Currently a 16-mile trail that winds through the Zaleski State Forest, Lake Hope State Park, the Moonville Tunnel and the nearby King’s Hollow Tunnel is in the works.
Information: https://vintoncountytravel.com/parks-and-recreation/moonville-rail-trail/
Conotton Creek Trail
Trail ends: Broadway St. at OH 151/Boyce Dr. (Bowerston) and Cadiz St. at Water St. (Jewett) (Harrison)
The paved multi-use Conotton Creek Trail runs from Bowerston to Jewett in northern Harrison County that’s perfect for biking, unicycling, roller-blading, wheel chairing, jogging and walking. Featuring six bridges and 40 birdhouses, the trail is particularly pleasant for the hiking enthusiasts.
Information: https://www.harrisoncountyohio.org/trails