You are viewing the "2015 Summer Activities Guide" Archives

Ohio Pawpaw Festival Returns this Weekend
By: Kelly Fisher
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This weekend, pawpaw lovers (and anyone interested in a fun time) will converge on Lake Snowden for the 17th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival, jam-packed with exhibits, food and beer, live music and just about everything to do with Ohio’s native state fruit: growing, cooking, genetics, medical use, sustainability and more. According to festival founder Chris… Read More

“Labor’s Crossroads” Tour Spotlights Region’s History
The role of Ohio coal miners in the nation’s early labor movement will come to life on Sept. 12 as the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council hosts a day-long guided tour that travels the path of early labor pioneers from the canal and railroad eras. Led by interpretive guides, the tour will explore the… Read More

Southeast Ohio Ceramics Featured in New Art Trail
A collective of Southeast Ohio arts organizations have collaborated to form the Southeast Ohio Contemporary Ceramic Trail Celebration, opening this September. The trail, a regional celebration of Southeast Ohio’s ceramic heritage, embraces the artistic expression of contemporary ceramics, featuring ceramic exhibitions in Athens, Nelsonville and Zanesville while also providing travelers with stops at events, shops… Read More

Celebrate New Concord to Close Out Season with Jazz Concert
Celebrate New Concord’s 2015 season finale will feature an evening of jazz favorites with the Muskingum Jazz Group on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in Village Park. The members of the Muskingum Jazz Group reflect strong musical backgrounds and include: Len Thomas, keyboards; Dave Jacobs, electric bass; the newest member of the group, Bryan… Read More

Nelsonville Set for a Funky Final Friday
Stuart’s Opera House continues its Free Summer Concert Series this Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. with funk/soul band MojoFlo, along with a special indoor exhibit and beer garden. Hailing from Columbus, the Toledo Blade says “MojoFlo mixes funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop and reggae in an intoxicating brew that sounds a bit like a more… Read More

Renovated Theater in Jackson Opens for Live Performances
After nearly 20 years of work and $2 million, the 1930 Art Deco former movie house in downtown Jackson, Ohio is ready to present live performances. The public is invited to drop by for the Grand Opening of the Markay Cultural Arts Center (269 East Main Street, Jackson) anytime between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m…. Read More

OVST’s “Mary Poppins” Takes Flight July 16-Aug. 2
Ohio Valley Summer Theater (OVST) is continuing its 64-year tradition of providing family entertainment with Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, opening tonight and continuing through Aug. 2 at Ohio University’s Elizabeth Evans Baker Theater. The musical, based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, was updated in 2006 with additional… Read More

Stuart’s Summer Wine Express Returns Friday
In what has become a July tradition, Stuart’s Opera House will present the Summer Wine Express on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway this Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. The event, which is a fundraiser for Stuart’s Opera House, includes wine, cheese and other treats, served during a train ride through the Hocking Valley. The… Read More

At a Glance: Ohio Brew Week 2015
Craft beer lovers, mark your calendars. Starting tonight, Athens is celebrating the 10th annual Ohio Brew Week (OBW). From July 10 through July 18, uptown Athens bars and restaurants will feature more than 250 unique brews from 45 Ohio craft breweries. As in past years, it’ll be a packed week of beer, food and music…. Read More

Marietta Riverfront Roar to Offer Boat Racing, Music
By: Bryan Gibson
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Marietta will welcome some of the world’s top powerboat racers this weekend for the annual Riverfront Roar, kicking off Friday evening and continuing through Sunday afternoon. Held the second weekend in July, the free event features superleague powerboat racing and live music, plus attendees can check out the boats up-close and meet the drivers and… Read More

Athens Fabulous Fourth Activities Announced
Independence Day is just around the corner. Here’s the rundown of the 2015 Athens Fabulous Fourth activities: FRIDAY, JULY 3 12-7 p.m. Athens City Pool is open. Free admission July 3-4; donations for Friends of the Shelter Dogs Project will be welcome. 4:30 p.m. Fabulous 4th Senior Queen (55 and older) Judging, inside Athens Community… Read More

A Columbus Festival for Every Summer Weekend
By: Joe Vargo | Experience Columbus
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Columbus has a great festival in store for you every single weekend this summer. So pick your favorite weekend and take that trip – no excuses. June 27-28: ComFest, Goodale Park/Victorian Village A celebration of peace, togetherness and live local music. Tips here. June 28: German Village Haus und Garten Tour, German Village Explore this… Read More

Big Turnout Expected for Boogie on the Bricks
By: Bryan Gibson
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Boogie on the Bricks, Athens’ free community music and arts festival, returns this Saturday to Court Street, featuring more than dozen local, regional and national bands, artist vendors, a beer garden and more. It’s also an opportunity for thousands of people to let their hair down and enjoy an event that’s uniquely Athens, according to… Read More

Take Me to the River: Pomeroy Concert Series Kicks Off June 19
By: Mark Hellenberg
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Pomeroy’s annual Rhythm on the River concert series returns this Friday with Detroit soul band Laura Rain and The Caesars. This year’s free weekly series, which takes place at the Riverside Amphitheater, is featuring a mix of blues, soul and Americana from national and local acts. WOUB’s Mark Hellenberg caught up with Jackie Welker, Rhythm… Read More

“Beat the Heat” Summer Movie Series Returns
On a hot summer day, a movie theater can provide a cool respite for the whole family. This Saturday, the “Beat the Heat $2 Days” summer movie series will return to the Athena Cinema. In 2013, the Athena started the series as a way to offer local, low cost entertainment to area kids and their… Read More

Mozart-Inspired Music Series Returns to Athens
For six nights in June, music lovers looking to complement their warm weather activities will have the option of taking in classical music at a variety of venues around Athens. The Mozart on the Green festival, which gets under way Monday, June 15, is a week-long series of chamber music concerts, all of which are… Read More

Pickaway Park Offers Respite from Everyday Life
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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Go Ohio Valley is a free app produced by Adams Publishing Group of Ohio and presents an avenue to explore numerous categories and activities in the region. This week’s featured listing features the A.W. Marion State Park in Pickaway County. With camping season in full swing, those who love the outdoors are looking for hideaways… Read More

Lancaster Festival to Celebrate Music, Arts
The 31st annual Lancaster Festival, central Ohio’s summer salute to the arts, launches Thursday, July 23, featuring 10 days of concerts, musicals, family activities, an art walk and more. Here are some highlights of this year’s festival: Opening Night Concert with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra (July 23, St. Mary Church, 8 p.m.) Made up of… Read More

Wide Range of Events Planned for OU-Hosted Space Program
NASA astronaut and astronomer Jeff Hoffman will visit Ohio University on June 11 for a lecture about his experience as a space telescope “repair man” for the Hubble Space Telescope. It’s the first of many public events held as part of International Space University’s (ISU) 2015 Space Studies Program (SSP15), hosted by OU this summer…. Read More

Country’s Biggest Stars Coming to Ohio Stadium
By: Joe Vargo | Experience Columbus
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To complement Columbus’ dynamic local music scene, the city hosts a variety of large-scale music festivals throughout the year. This summer, Buckeye Country Superfest will take over the mammoth Ohio Stadium June 20-21, hosting nearly a dozen big country music names, including Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Columbus natives Rascal Flatts. Ohio State… Read More

Washboard Music Festival Set for 15th Iteration
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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Go Ohio Valley is a free app produced by Adams Publishing Group of Ohio and presents an avenue to explore numerous categories and activities in the region. This week’s featured listing features the Washboard Music Festival in Hocking County. The streets of downtown Logan, located in the heart of the Hocking Hills, will come alive… Read More

Riffe Gallery Hosting “All Play, No Work” Exhibit
The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery in Columbus is hosting the exhibit All Play, No Work through July 5. Curated by Massillon Museum Director Alex Coon, the exhibition displays artwork by 13 Ohio artists, exposing the nature of their private lives through an introspective look at time spent away from daily routines in various leisure… Read More

OU to Kick Off “Under the Elms” Concert Series
“Under the Elms,” the long-running outdoor concert series on Ohio University’s College Green, will open its season the first week of June. The free concert series will be held at Wilhelm Amphitheater for five evenings — all Wednesdays — throughout the summer, beginning June 3. The concerts, which last for about an hour, start at… Read More

A Novel Idea: 7 Books for Your Summer Reading List
By: James Hill
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As acquisitions librarian for Athens County Public Libraries, I see a lot of books, scan a lot of reviews and ultimately decide what goes on the shelves. That also means I get to read a lot of good books (I don’t finish books I’m not enjoying). Here are a handful of titles you may have… Read More

Pike County Bicentennial Celebrations Continue
By: Stephanie Stanley | The Athens Messenger
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Go Ohio Valley is a free app produced by Adams Publishing Group of Ohio and presents an avenue to explore numerous categories and activities in the region. This week’s featured listing features the celebration of 200 years for Pike County. Pike County is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2015 with a series of bicentennial events… Read More