Bryan Hilliard McConnelsville Millersburg Urbana
NOV/DEC
// 2024
70 Holiday Classics
Celebrate the season of togetherness and tradition by making these Ohio favorites part of your plans.
Marietta’s Clutch Collective features works by local artists, and Josh Dickerson talks the House From A Christmas Story.
Datebook
See a Picasso exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and enjoy the Broadway revival run of “Funny Girl.”
15 Calendar of Events
23 Farm & Table
Columbus’ Three Bites Bakery draws on family tradition, and Kast Iron Soda Works creates a local gathering spot.
In 1967, the White House Christmas tree for the family of Lyndon B. Johnson came from Portage County.
CONNECT
Winner
Which cover did you get? Here are the others! Each fall, we feature our Best Hometown honorees on regionally zoned covers for subscribers. Our holiday travel feature is this year’s newsstand cover. Learn more about Best Hometowns at ohiomagazine.com/besthometowns.
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NOV/DEC
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS
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4 YOUNGSTOWN
Make a holiday road trip to Mahoning County this season.
99 HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Find something for everyone on your list at these destinations.
Cincinnati, p. 12, 14
Cleveland, p. 10, 14, 25
Columbus, p. 23, 25, 89
Hilliard, p. 40
Ironton, p. 14
Kent, p. 120
Kirtland, p. 9
Marietta, p. 8
McConnelsville, p. 46
Millersburg, p. 53
Newark, p. 7
Salem, p. 24
Sandusky, p. 25
Toledo, p. 14
Urbana, p. 59
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great ohio Road Trips
Around the holidays, Youngstown and Mahoning County celebrate a rich local history at inviting destinations that make for a special place to visit this time of year.
Holiday Cheer
Olde Fashioned Christmas at the Mill returns to Lanterman’s Mill in Youngstown from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The free event in Mill Creek Park ushers in the holiday season each year as the grain mill is transformed into a bazaar where local vendors and artisans dazzle visitors with homemade artwork, home decor, holiday decorations, baked goods, candles, soaps, lotions, jewelry, pottery and blankets for sale. Live musicians entertain both inside and outdoors, while food trucks serve a mix of sweet and savory fare.
Then there is the star of the event: Santa Claus, who brings his heartiest smile and rosy-red cheeks as small children eagerly wait their turn to talk toys and whisper their Christmas wishes before posing for a picture with the jolly old elf. Among the fragrant pine garlands, wreaths, bright red bows, twinkling Christmas lights and bountiful Christmas trees, the Giving Tree stands as a beacon to treat others to the warmth of Christmas and encourages visitors to leave behind new hats, scarves and mittens to be donated to a local shelter for those in need. 1001 Canfield Rd., Youngstown 44511, 330/740-7115, millcreekmetroparks. org/lantermans-mill
Cherished Memories
The halls are decked and so are the solarium, sitting room, dining room, butler’s pantry, carriage entrance, library and reception room at Youngstown’s Arms Family Museum during Memories of Christmas Past. From Nov. 16 through Dec. 31, guests can wander through the 1905 Greystone that was once owned by Olive and Wilford P. Arms to admire mesmerizing, themed vignettes that combine local enthusiasts’ private Christmas collections with the Arms family’s love for arts and crafts. The march through time also pays homage to some of the most beloved holiday decorations from years past, such as “spinner” ornaments, bubble lights and nutcrackers. An additional showstopping, 8.5-foot-tall Christmas tree dripping with crystal prisms is sure to delight. Now in its 16th year, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society event includes a scavenger hunt and invites visitors to create their very own Christmas ornaments and cards while familiar tunes from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” soften even the toughest Grinch in the bunch. To commemorate your visit, a sled awaits with a Santa suit and toy soldier and elf costumes that allow visitors to dress up as their favorite holiday character for the perfect photo op. 648 Wick Ave., Youngstown 44502, 330/7432589, mahoninghistory.org
Night Lights
Take in the light display at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown during Winter Nights from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. Stroll the 12-acre outdoor display during this free event. Then, warm up inside the Davis Center while admiring more than 75 Christmas trees decorated by local nonprofits for the Festival of Trees, which runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, from Dec. 6 through 31 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Each year brings new surprises, and there’s no telling how groups will choose to decorate their trees, but nature-inspired themes and nods to local history are perennial favorites.
Enjoy refreshments, such as sandwiches and homemade soup, from Kravitz’s Garden Cafe, visit the Shop in the Gardens boutique for a unique gift or treat yourself with the specialty food collection at Stonewall Kitchen. Top off the day at V2 Wine Bar Trattoria on West Federal Street in Youngstown for a wood-fired pizza, a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or a charcuterie board designed to share. Just down the road, West 34 offers seafood with southern flair, entrees with a Cajun kick and cocktails that combine the fruits of the season. 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown 44509, 330/7407116, millcreekmetroparks.org
MR. DARBY’S ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE EMPORIUM
Shopping Trips
For those looking to spice up the usual Christmas decorations, visit the 16 antiques shops that dot Mahoning County. Lovers of Christmases past can peruse the treasures at Mr. Darby’s Vintage and Antiques in Boardman and bring new life to turn-of-the-century angels, nativity scenes, dishes, wreaths and menorahs that can’t be found in mainstream stores. Add a pop of sustainability to the season of perpetual hope by repurposing ornaments and stockings that are sure to spark conversations around the eggnog bowl by visiting stores like The Wizard of Odds in North Jackson.
During your explorations, shop for friends and family by picking out one-of-a-kind gifts that can only be found in these eclectic shops known for stocking interesting furniture, home decor, jewelry and other items. You are guaranteed to find gifts that are as individual as your loved ones. For timeless toys, nutcrackers and Russian Santas, stop by Terrytown Antique & Gift Shop in North Lima, where the inventory is as unique as the building’s exterior (a replica of Disneyland’s Frontierland in California). At the Joshua Tree in Boardman, splurge on a farmhouse table where you can make Christmas cookies with the grandkids or a century-old rocking chair perfect for a reading of The Polar Express For more information, visit youngstownlive.com.
For more information about these and other destinations in Mahoning County, visit youngstownlive.com.
Chairman Lute Harmon Sr. President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.
Friends & Neighbors
As our annual Best Hometowns issue arrives, we get the chance to share stories about communities across Ohio that we have gotten to know quite well during the previous several months. By the time the ink hits the page at the printer, we’ve spent countless hours exploring, photographing, researching and interviewing. There is also the writing, reviewing, fact-checking and editing process, which involves a fair amount of thought put toward what it would be like to live in the towns that we recognize, starting on page 30.
The interesting thing about working at Ohio Magazine is that we have something in common with the people we cover. We are all Ohioans and neighbors, in a broad sense. Whether we live in large cities or small towns, there is common history and often shared ideas about the places we call home and what we want them to be for our friends, our family and the future.
That common ground is the foundation upon which we build our Best Hometowns visits each summer. They follow a spring nomination process in which residents and officials from places across Ohio share reasons why their towns are prime candidates for the honor. Each year, we receive more nominations than towns we could potentially visit, so we sort through and discuss the submissions (you can get more details about what goes into that at ohiomagazine.com/besthometowns) and plan our visits to the finalist communities as summer weather hits its stride.
This year, we recognize Bryan, Hilliard, McConnelsville, Millersburg and Urbana, communities that range from a small town in Appalachia to a thriving Columbus suburb tucked along Interstate 270. Yes, the towns are often remarkably different, but the essence of what is happening at each is frequently similar. You’ll find people working to make their communities better and embracing the past while also looking to the future. They are places where strangers are welcomed with a handshake and a smile and where neighbors work side by side to make a difference for all.
While we may not be neighbors in a literal sense, we always walk away from our Best Hometowns visits with new friendships — oftentimes ones that will last for years. We can’t wait to introduce you to some of the new friends we made while visiting this year’s Best Hometown communities.
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Magazine is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited photographs, illustrations, manuscripts, books or any other material submitted for possible publication. All photographs are courtesy of the event or organization listed, unless otherwise credited.
JIM VICKERS
Natural History
Named for the hand-shaped Native American petroglyph that was once etched into the sandstone cliffs in this area, Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve offers a glimpse into central Ohio’s history and natural beauty. Spanning 775 acres in Licking County, the preserve boasts 10 miles of scenic trails — 4 of which serve as the only bike trail in Ohio’s state nature preserve system. Sadly, the petroglyph from which the preserve gets its name was lost in 1828 during the construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal, but visitors can still explore local history through the canal’s former towpaths and locks. 2200 Gratiot Rd. SE, Newark 43056, 614/799-9538, ohiodnr.gov
Creative Connections: Clutch Collective in Marietta offers a delightful selection of curated items that celebrate the creativity of artists across the region.
Faithful Founding: Explore the northeast Ohio community of Kirtland, which played a pivotal role in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Creative Connections
Sarah Arnold’s independent shop in Marietta, Clutch Collective, offers a delightful selection of curated items that celebrate the creativity of artists across the region.
For over a decade, Sarah Arnold has been celebrating artists across southeast Ohio and beyond. In March 2014, she launched Clutch MOV, an online magazine that highlighted makers, local arts and culture from the Mid-Ohio Valley — an area that encompasses Ohio’s Washington County and West Virginia’s Wood County. Two years later, Arnold’s mother, Laura Pytlik, opened Wit & Whimzy, an artisan gift boutique in downtown Marietta.
In 2021, the space next to Pytlik’s shop became available, and the mother-and-daughter duo discovered that the two storefronts had once been connected. Smashing through the drywall, they reunited the two stores, leading to the creation of Clutch Collective, a physical extension of the work Arnold was already doing with Clutch MOV.
“We had been focusing on stories from our creative community for years,” she says, “and the shop felt like a new way to do that.”
Today, Clutch Collective showcases work by over 80 artists, with roughly 40 hailing from Ohio and West Virginia. Having formed strong relationships with regional and local makers by way
of Clutch MOV, Arnold invited some to share their work when she first opened the doors of her shop.
“I started with the artists that I knew, and I was pleasantly surprised that almost all of them said yes,” Arnold recalls. “It was wonderful just knowing they trusted us with their art and they believed in the vision.”
A few of the artists highlighted at Clutch Collective include Leslie Norris of Sugar Pop Press, a screen printer from Huntington, West Virginia, whose work has been a part of Clutch Collective since the beginning; Stephanie Orr, a ceramicist who makes plates and mugs that feature plant life from her home garden in Zanesville; and Steve Weber, the former mayor of Lowell, Ohio, who makes beautiful stained glass.
“It’s been kind of a renaissance for art in downtown Marietta and the community around it,” Arnold says. “We just feel like it’s a great time for artists and for people who want to participate in artistic things.” — Kelly Powell
152 Front St., Marietta 45750, 740/525-5510, clutchcollectivemov.com
Clockwise from left: prints by Sugar Pop Press; owner Sarah Arnold in front of Clutch Collective; figurines by Stephanie Orr; mug by Eva Bennett
PHOTO CENTER: MICHELLE WATERS; OTHERS: SARAH ARNOLD
Faithful Founding
The northeast Ohio community of Kirtland played a pivotal role in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a fact that draws visitors from near and far to Lake County.
The white, Gothic-style Kirtland Temple sits atop a hill in Lake County, symbolizing the perseverance of the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The church is the centerpiece of Historic Kirtland, which encompasses nearly 30 acres and seven historic buildings, offering insight into the 19th-century community that lived here.
“For people who want to have a sense of early 1830s life in the Western Reserve of Ohio, it is a fascinating microcosm of what life was like here,” says Scott Barrick, site leader at Historic Kirtland.
In 1831, the LDS church was already established in western New York, but as membership grew in Ohio, the community relocated to Kirtland, believing that it was God’s will. Joseph Smith, the church’s founder, led the migration and arrived to find several buildings already constructed, including (as we know them today) the Newel and Ann Whitney Home, the N.K. Whitney & Co. Store and the schoolhouse.
Between 1833 and 1836, with limited skill and resources, church members constructed new buildings, such as a sawmill, Joseph and Emma Smith’s home and the Kirtland Temple, which served as a vital community space for gatherings, education and worship.
Community strife ultimately led to Smith’s departure from Kirtland in 1838, and the site operated under different ownership until March 2023, when it was transferred back to the LDS church. Today, visitors can explore the site’s key structures year-round, and guided tours of the temple are made available for groups of up to 25, allowing visitors to ascend the steep 66 steps to the third floor, where Smith’s administrative office was located.
“When I look at that building, in many respects I think it’s a miracle that it stands,” Barrick says of the temple.
The Historic Kirtland Visitors’ Center houses exhibits and artifacts that share the site’s history, including early 1900s photographs, scale models of the ashery and sawmill, a short film depicting pioneer life in the 1830s and a QR code that allows visitors to trace their ancestry to see if they have any connections to Kirtland.
“It’s certainly a source of pride that the events that transpired here influenced what is now a world religion,” Barrick says. “There are over 17 million members of the church in the world today, but it traces all its heritage here to Kirtland.” — Annie Kennedy
7800 Kirtland-Chardon Rd., Kirtland 44094, 440/256-9805, churchofjesuschrist.org
Cold, wet days make a person want to sit by the fire with a dog curled up at their feet, so it’s no surprise that dog ornaments such as this one are often associated with hearths and mantelpieces.
Brothers Frank and Charles Adcock founded The Logan Pottery in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1902, and they manufactured primarily turn-of-the-century utilitarian wares such as pitchers and butter crocks.
During the early 20th-century, however, middle-class families also sought decoration for their homes, and the Adcock brothers produced a variety of figural pieces which served as doorstops, bookends or mantel decorations.
The Logan Pottery endured challenges following Charles’ death in 1934 and into the war years. Due to changes in available materials and tastes, as well as competition from imported goods, the company, like many other regional potteries, closed in 1964.
Today, Ohio collectors have their pick of the litter, being able to seek out dog figurines such as this from several Ohio potteries. This depiction of man’s best friend made by The Logan Pottery sold in July 2024. — Hollie Davis
Hollie Davis is a co-owner of Meander Auctions in Whipple, Ohio.
DOG FIGURINE
Made by The Logan Pottery
$307.50
Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins
Holiday Home
Josh Dickerson, managing partner of the House From A Christmas Story, shares his perspective on the Cleveland home’s evolution from upstart tourist attraction to beloved holiday landmark.
Josh Dickerson has been involved with the House From A Christmas Story since the day it opened in 2006 and hundreds of people showed up to see the property renovated and redecorated to look like it did as the Parkers’ home in the 1983 classic holiday film.
Dickerson started working at the house as a volunteer before taking a job as the company’s warehouse supervisor in 2008, helping package and sell souvenirs such as “pink nightmare” bunny suits and leg lamps. The Cleveland native worked his way up, becoming the attraction’s chief operating officer and then chief executive officer. In 2024, he added another title — managing partner — after the House From A Christmas Story’s original owner, Brian Jones, began searching for a buyer.
In late November 2023, after countless conversations with potential buyers, Jones announced that Dickerson would be taking over operations. Dickerson has some ideas for changing things up, but he says there are no plans to fix what isn’t broken.
“We’ve been pretty good at what we’ve done,” he says. — Vince Guerrieri
The complex now includes a museum, gift shop, the Parker home and the Bumpuses’ house next door. Did you have any idea it would become this big?
A: None. My first wife and I worked together initially. We thought, “Let’s get the bills paid off; there’s no way this can last forever.” Our first tour guides were volunteers. Now we employ around 20 people year-round, not including seasonal staff. Usually, we bring on another dozen people at the house in November and December.
The movie is more than 40 years old. The house has been open for almost 20 years. What’s their enduring appeal?
A: There are so many scenes that resonate: helping your dad change a tire, that scene at the school with the dare, hoping for that holy grail Christmas present. And I think that’s why it has such staying power. People are so overjoyed to visit. For some people it’s even a bucket list item. In our museum, we ask people to send in fan art, and I love that people contribute.
The house and museum have an extensive collection. Is there anything you’re missing?
A: Rumor has it that a leg lamp from the movie exists. It survived and it was on eBay briefly. If we could ever have that, that would be great. Peter Billingsley has the bunny suit and the cowboy outfit, and I don’t think he’ll part with that. We were able to get the blackboard from the school that got torn down. ... Just the other day, someone found an old Little Orphan Annie decoder ring. It wasn’t from the movie, but it was period-accurate, so they sent it to us.
For more information, go to housefromachristmasstory.com.
Caitlin McGurk, CURATOR
Josh Dickerson started as a volunteer at the House From A Christmas Story. Late last year, he became managing partner.
DATEBOOK
WinterLand Tree Lighting
Nov. 30: Cleveland
Start your Christmas celebrations in Cleveland as glowing lights transform downtown’s Public Square into a wonderland of decorated trees. The annual holiday display known as WinterLand kicks off each Thanksgiving weekend with a slate full of family activities. This year, the fun begins Nov. 30 at 4 p.m., with ice skating, local food, art demonstrations and live music prior to the tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. The event wraps up with a fireworks display over the square. winterlandcle.com
Strike a Pose: “Posing Beauty in African American Culture” comes to the Taft Museum of Art with decades of photos and a goal to reimagine the standards of beauty.
Calendar of Events: Your holiday season plans start here. Check out our guide to museum exhibitions, shows and other happenings between now and the end of the year.
DATEBOOK
Omar Victor Diop’s “Jean-Baptiste Belley;”
Jamel Shabazz’s “Drama and Flava from Back in the Days”
(opposite page)
©OMAR
VICTOR DIOP, COURTESY OF GALERIE MAGNIN-A, PARIS
By Ilona Westfall
A YOUNG BLACK MAN WEARING AN OLD-FASHIONED COAT AND SCARF CASUALLY LEANS WHILE GAZING INTO THE DISTANCE. The vibrant photo, “Jean-Baptiste Belley,” is a self-portrait of contemporary photographer Omar Victor Diop, and a replication of a 1797 painting of Belley, a fellow Senegalese man who worked toward the abolition of slavery in France.
The photo is part of “Posing Beauty in African American Culture,” an exhibition of more than 100 pieces of documentary, commercial and fine art photography that highlights African American beauty and visual culture from the 1890s to present day. The touring exhibit, originally curated by Deborah Willis, is at the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati through Jan. 12.
STRIKE A POSE
“Posing Beauty in African American Culture” comes to the Taft Museum of Art with decades of photos and a goal to reimagine the standards of beauty.
Another photo matched with a piece from the museum’s permanent collection features a 1930s image of a well-dressed Black woman standing next to a sleek car by photojournalist Charles “Teenie” Harris. It is presented in a gallery of paintings showing middle-class women from England in the 1700s.
“I’m juxtaposing this image of middle-class beauty from the 1930s in America as a way to show how portraiture is something that communicates beauty and class and social status,” Muente says. “She’s wearing the height of 1930s fashion next to this incredible automobile. I love how it captures an era in a single image.”
“This show really invites comparisons with works in our permanent collection and encourages dialogue about the concept of beauty and how it’s been historically established,” says Tamera Lenz Muente, curator at the Taft Museum of Art.
That’s why Muente paired some works from “Posing Beauty” with ones in the Taft’s galleries. For example, Diop’s take on Belley’s 18th-century painting is displayed next to “Edward and William Tomkinson,” a painting by Thomas Gainsborough from around 1784 that depicts two boys dressed and posed in a similar way.
Other pieces include a compilation of 100 black-and-white and color images by Hank Willis Thomas that appeared in Jet magazine and show how beauty has evolved during the publication’s tenure, as well as photos from a 1980s series by Jamel Shabazz who documented street-style fashion in New York City.
“I hope visitors will come out with an understanding of how images in our lives construct these ideal standards and how there are people who are left out of those standards of beauty,” Muente says, “and that the show will give them some kind of inspiration to look critically at the way beauty is constructed in our society, and the willingness to maybe challenge some of those constructions.” 316 Pike St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/241-0343, taftmuseum.org
DATEBOOK
Funny Girl
Nov. 19–Dec.1: Cincinnati
Visit Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center during the Broadway revival run of this musical made popular by Barbra Streisand in 1964. Follow the story of Fanny Brice as she overcomes the odds as a Jewish woman in show business and becomes a Broadway star in her own right, as told by songs like “I Am the Greatest Star” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” which are part of the award-winning score. cincinnatiarts.org
Picasso and Paper
Dec. 8–March 23: Cleveland
The figure sits naked in one of the most intimate spaces of the home, while a second, blue-faced woman brushes her hair and a third holds a mirror in front of her. The scene radiates feminine energy, and the meticulously assembled collage is one of Pablo Picasso’s works on paper. The piece, “Women at Their Toilette,” is one of hundreds of pieces from the famed painter on display in “Picasso and Paper” at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Running Dec. 8 through March 23, the exhibition is co-organized by the Royal Academy of Arts in London and presented in partnership with the Musée National Picasso-Paris. Composed of nearly 300 works displayed in chronological order, “Picasso and Paper” spans the artist’s career.
“He was just really endlessly fascinated by the physical properties of paper and the different things he could do with it,” says Britany Salsbury, cu-
Ironton Wizardfest
Nov. 9–10: Ironton
rator of prints and drawings for the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Picasso’s interest in paper is revealed in works ranging from collages of wallpaper to sculptures made using pieces of torn and burnt paper. His 1912 piece “Violin” uses laid paper, wallpaper, newspaper, wove paper and glazed black wove paper on cardboard with pencil and charcoal to illustrate the artist’s interpretation of the instrument.
Sculpting and paper merge in “Head of a Woman,” which manipulates paper’s structure to portray delicate female features. The exhibition also presents a limited number of Picasso paintings and sculptures that are closely related in theme to the paper works.
“There have been exhibitions about his drawing, specifically about his prints,” Salsbury says. “But this exhibition is the first to really look more holistically at how he thought about the particular materiality of paper and the role it played in developing the revolutionary ideas he had about art.”
— Chloe Robertson
11150 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106, 216/421-7350, clevelandart.org
Be transported to a wizarding world in downtown Ironton during the sixth annual Wizardfest. This festival invites attendees to come in their best wizarding wear to enjoy appearances from actors in the Harry Potter film series, a costume contest, wizarding academy classes and wares from 60 craft vendors. ironton wizardfest.com
music
REO Speedwagon and Loverboy
Nov. 12: Toledo
A rock radio fixture since the 1970s, REO Speedwagon takes the stage at the Huntington Center. The group brings five decades of hits ranging from “Take It on the Run” to “Ridin’ the Storm Out” to “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” Fellow classic-rock favorite Loverboy opens the show. huntingtoncenter toledo.com
CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
Central
museums + exhibits
THRU JAN 3
All We Cannot Forget
The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery presents “All We Cannot Forget.” This exhibition, curated by Char Norman, features the work of 12 Ohio artists. Image Credit: Elham Bayati, “Birthday Night.” Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High St., Columbus, 614/644-9624. riffegallery. org. Tues.–Fri. noon–5 p.m. Free.
NOV 7
Pioneers of African American Cinema: Hell-Bound Train
Celebrate the work of groundbreaking cinematographers with this series highlighting early Black films. For this installment, view James and Eloyce Gist’s 1930 production “Hell-Bound Train.” Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., Columbus, 614/259-7182. gatewayfilmcenter. org. 7 p.m. Adults $15, children under 12, military, OSU faculty and staff, seniors and members $11.50.
MUSIC + THEATER
NOV 29–DEC 1
A Christmas Carol Presented by Mount Vernon Arts Consortium
Join the ghosts of Christmas — past, present and future — as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Knox Memorial Theater, 112 E. High St., Mount Vernon, 740/462-4278. mvac.org/ christmas-carol. 1 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $20.
NOV 29–DEC 1
The Nutcracker
See dancing snowflakes, toy soldiers and the Land of Sweets come to life with new costumes, backdrops, and choreography at this presentation of the classic Christmas tale by the Central Ohio Youth Ballet. Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/345-5483. midlandtheatre. org. Fri. 4 p.m., Sat. 6 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $15–$29.
NOV 30
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Get into the holiday spirit with this nostalgic show highlighting the talents of world-class entertainers as they perform epic feats to your favorite seasonal tunes. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/469-9850. capa.com. 8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
OTHER EVENTS
NOV 16–18
Folk Art with Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld & Marlene Robbins
Mohican State Park Lodge is the destination for an artists-in-residence series. Join long-time creative educators Mimi Chenfeld and Marlene Robbins for folk dancing, writing, storytelling and visual arts activities. Programs run Saturday through Monday from late fall through winter. ohiodnr.gov/arts-in-the-parks. Visit website for times. Free for lodge guests.
NOV 22–JAN 1
Easton’s Holiday Lights
Experience over two million lights sparkle around Easton throughout the season. Visit the Town Square daily to see a 56-foot tree transform in five minutes with vibrant colors and special shows. 160 Easton Town Center, Columbus, 614/337-2200. eastontowncenter. com. 5–11 p.m. Free.
State Regions
Because dates, times and locations are subject to change, please call ahead to confirm all details before traveling. For a more complete listing of events, visit ohiomagazine.com/events.
To submit event information, visit ohiomagazine.com/submit. Events must be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance. Include the date, time, cost, address, phone number, website and brief description of the event. (Events that do not meet our requirements may be deleted.) Print events are published on a space-available basis. Events submitted 8 weeks in advance appear on ohiomagazine.com/events.
Listings with photos are paid for by advertisers. For more information on enhanced listings, email us at adsales@ohiomagazine.com.
NOV 30
Christmas in Veterans Park
Tour the Heisey Glass Museum in beautiful downtown Newark with special extended hours during this holiday event hosted by the Licking County Historical Society. See holiday-themed displays showcasing stunning glassware, all while soaking in the magic of the season. Veterans Park, 6 N. Sixth St., Newark, 740/345-2932. heiseymuseum.org. 5–8 p.m. Free.
Northeast
festivals
NOV 16–24
31st Annual Warther’s Tree Festival
Delight in this annual fundraiser that showcases over 100 uniquely themed and decorated trees. Festivalgoers are invited to walk the museum and vote for their favorite tree. Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens, 331 Karl Ave., Dover, 330/485-3891. thewarthermuseum.com. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Adults $5, children under 12 free.
NOV 22
Main Street Wadsworth Candlelight Walk
Join Main Street Wadsworth to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. This event includes local shopping and dining, horse-drawn carriage rides, a tree lighting ceremony, luminaries, photos with Santa, Christmas music and
more. Downtown Wadsworth, 330/331-4414. mainstreetwadsworth.org. 5–9 p.m. Free.
NOV 22
Window Wonderland
Kick off the holiday season in Wooster with this magical event that brings festive activities for the whole family. Watch Santa make his grand entrance off the historic Briggs & Starr Building, and enjoy hot cocoa, holiday treats, and fun-filled activities such as horse-and-carriage rides and meeting with live reindeer. Downtown Wooster, W. Liberty St., Wooster, 330/262-6222. mainstreetwooster.org. 3–9 p.m. Free.
NOV 22–DEC 28
Hartville Winter Wonderfest
Gather in Hartville for this spectacular event featuring 500,000 Christmas lights, animated displays, activities, shopping and more. Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market, 1289 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9860. hartvillewonderfest. com. Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 5–10 p.m. Visit website for prices.
NOV 29–DEC 29 Christmas at the Fort
Fort Steuben Park transforms into a Christmas wonderland with colorful lights, singing trees, live entertainment, trolley rides, tours of the Fort and a Holiday Market with crafts, gifts and food. Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. Third St., Steubenville, 740/283-1787. oldfortsteuben.com. Fri.–Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Free.
MUSEUMS + EXHIBITS
THRU JAN 5
Picturing the Border View photographs from the United States-
Mexico border from the 1970s to present day. Works have been created by border residents and outsiders and show varied subject matter, including domestic portraits, migration narratives and political demonstrations. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216/421-7350. clevelandart.org. Tues., Thurs., Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free.
NOV 13–DEC 22
Reeves Victorian Home Museum
Visit the Reeves Victorian Home Museum this holiday season to experience the elegance of Christmas. This opulent mansion has been carefully restored and features original furnishings. Additional dates for this event: Dec. 27–30. Reeves Victorian Home Museum, 325 E. Iron Ave., Dover, 330/343-7040. doverhistory.org. Wed.–Sun. 1–7 p.m., Adults $10, seniors $6, children 6-18 $5, children 5 and under free.
NOV 16
Fall Ferroequinologist Tours
This fall, enjoy a three-hour guided tour at the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum. Explore steam locomotives, the restoration shop, turntable, machine shop and storehouse. Plus, delve into steam engineering, industrial heritage, railroad history and roundhouse architecture. Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum, 213 Smokey Lane Rd. SW, Sugarcreek, 330/852-4676. ageofsteamroundhouse.org. 9 a.m.–noon $75.
NOV 30–DEC 30
Christmas at Kingwood
Stroll through the historic estate and garden, illuminated with seven linear miles of dazzling holiday lights, and take in the splendor of Kingwood Hall, beautifully decorated in holiday grandeur. Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield, 419/522-0211. kingwoodcenter. org. 3–9 p.m. Adults $10 children 7-18 years $5, children 6 and under and Kingwood members free. Reservations are required.
MUSIC + THEATER
NOV 12–13
Dear Evan Hansen
Be swept away by this musical centering on
the life of Evan Hansen as he is mixed up in the death of fellow student Connor Murphy. Compositions from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul contribute to this tale of overcoming life’s obstacles and growing up through songs like “Waving Through a Window,” “You Will Be Found” and others. E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall , 198 Hill St., Akron, 330/972-7111. uakron.edu. Visit website for times and prices.
NOV 20
Ricardo Morales Vivero and Grace Blackford: An Afternoon of Hispanic Music ORMACO and the Medina County District Library present Ecuadorian guitarist Ricardo Morales Vivero and vocalist Grace Blackford. Vivero will perform a solo guitar set including classic boleros, Latin American rock numbers and original songs. He will accompany Blackford as she sings tunes focusing on themes of nostalgia, homesickness, grief and longing. Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, 419/853-6016. ormaco.org. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free.
NOV 30
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Matinee Concert
Join Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, gospel music’s leading quartet, for a musical journey spanning two decades. Featuring Ernie Haase, Doug Anderson, Dustin Doyle, and Paul Harkey, this group has topped southern gospel charts and performed on the Grand Ole Opry and at Oktoberfest, showcasing their innovative approach to the genre. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com. 1–2:30 p.m. $35–$67.50.
NOV 30–DEC 21
A Christmas Carol
Join Ebenezer Scrooge as he is guided by three spirits on Christmas Eve in this new musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” The show is orchestrated by Steve Parsons, with lyrics by John Popa. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Route 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. ohiostartheater. com. 1 & 7 p.m. $43.
NOV 30–DEC 22
A Christmas Story
The beloved holiday classic is back in Cleveland! This show invites audiences to follow along with the story of one boy as he tries to make his Christmas wish come true. Experience the magic of this record-breaking production, featuring all the iconic moments you remember — from the pink bunny suit to the glowing leg lamp. Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/2416000. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times. $40–$95.
OTHER EVENTS
NOV 1
Sip + Savor: Day of The Dead
Sample three pours of the expertly crafted Clase Azul icons, including the exclusive Clase Azul Ultra, paired with Mexican-themed dishes curated by Gervasi’s executive chef. Kick off the night by sipping on a handcrafted cocktail. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard. com. 6:30 p.m. $125.
NOV 6
Kinderealm: Who’s Ready for a Nap?
Take time to explore how our wildlife friends prepare for their long winter naps. This engaging program is designed for children ages 3 to 6 and will include a nature walk and a creative craft activity, perfect for sparking curiosity about the changing seasons. Registration is required. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, 330/865-8065. summitmetroparks.org. 10:30–11:30 a.m. Free.
NOV 8–9
Christmas Shop Open House
Get into the holiday spirit at Hartville Hardware! Take a photo with Santa, explore festive decorations and unique gifts, save at the Christmas Shop with a Scratch N’ Save coupon and enjoy seasonal treats and activities. Hartville Hardware, 1315 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/8773631. hartvillehardware.com. Fri. 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Free.
NOV 9
2024 Strongsville Avant-Garde
Art & Craft Show
Shop with a good cause! Get in a holiday state of mind and start your shopping early at this showcase featuring artists and crafters selling their original handmade items at a beautiful venue. A portion of proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Project Night Night. Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville. avantgardeshows.com/events. Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $3, children under 12 free.
NOV 9
First Glance’s Annual Auction
Join the LeBron James Family Foundation at this event supporting their mission to empower students with life-changing opportunities. The event promises an evening of community, celebration and diverse auction items. The theme of this year’s auction is “Opening Doors and Unlocking Potential,” highlighting a commitment to help students succeed. Sponsorships and donations for the silent auction are welcome. House Three Thirty, 532 W. Market St., Akron, 330/848-9685. firstglance.org. 6–10 p.m. $100.
NOV 21
Sip + Learn: Gervasi Spirits Craft Cocktail Class
Whether you are a curious newcomer or a seasoned aficionado, learn more about bar basics, Gervasi Spirits and the art of craft cocktails during this hands-on, educational experience.
NOV 22–24
40th
The Historic Medina Square will sparkle with charm during this annual event. Stroll through beautifully lit streets adorned with thousands of shimmering candles, creating a magical atmosphere. Medina Public Square, 330/722-6186. mainstreetmedina.com. 5 p.m. Free.
NOV 30–DEC 1
Christmas at Lanterman’s Mill
Enjoy the holiday atmosphere at Lanterman’s Mill in Mill Creek MetroParks. Life your spirits with fire-roasted chestnuts, handcrafted gifts, food trucks and entertainment. Santa will join the festivities both days. Lanterman’s Mill, Mill Creek MetroParks, 1001 Canfield Rd., Youngstown, 330/740-7115. millcreekmetroparks.org/ lantermans-mill. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
NOV 26–JAN 10, 2025
Steubenville Nutcracker Village
See over 200 unique larger-than-life Nutcrackers displayed throughout the historic downtown with lights, music, Christmas trees, art displays, hayrides and other activities. Downtown Steubenville, 155 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, 740/371-6020. steubenvillenutcrackervillage. com. Visit website for times. Free.
NOV 30
Last Chance Spree Hike
Don’t miss your chance to experience the beauty of fall in the Summit County Metro Parks. Join a naturalist for a guided hike along the scenic 1.1-mile Ledges Trail, where you’ll explore the wonders of nature and learn about the area's rich history. Liberty Park, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, 330/867-5511. summitmetroparks. org. 1–2:30 p.m. Free.
Northwest
FESTIVALS
NOV 29–DEC 20 WinterFest
Make memories with your family as you visit Kiwanis Santa’s House, shop from local vendors and the outdoor WinterFest Market around the City of Findlay Christmas Tree and enjoy more seasonal fun. Downtown Findlay, 200 W. Crawford St., Findlay, 419/422-3315. visitfindlay.com/ winterfest. 6–8 p.m. Free.
MUSEUMS + EXHIBITS
NOV 9–FEB 23
Strategic Interplay: African Art and Imagery in Black and White
Explore 64 artworks, including ceramics, textiles, paintings, photographs and sculptures, which highlight the overlapping motifs between African cultural expression and the game of chess. Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo, 419/255-8000. toledomuseum.org. Wed.–Thurs., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Free.
OTHER EVENTS
NOV 16
Country Collections Christmas Craft Show
Don’t miss this Christmas Craft Show where craft vendors from all over Ohio and the surrounding states come to show and sell their unique items. You’re sure to find gifts to surprise someone this holiday season. Allen County Fairgrounds, 2750 Harding Highway, Lima, 419/648-3747. allencofair.com. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $4.
Southeast
festivals
NOV 29–DEC 29
Portsmouth Winterfest
from charming craft vendors and delicious food trucks, and enjoy festive activities like live music, ice skating and carriage rides. Market Square Park, 202 Market St., Portsmouth, 740/3531116. friendsofportsmouth.com/winterfest. Visit website for times and prices.
MUSEUMS + EXHIBITS
THRU DEC 28
Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life & Art of Barbara Shermund
This exhibit celebrates the life and work of Barbara Shermund, one of the first female cartoonists to work for The New Yorker. Throughout her career, Shermund contributed nine covers and hundreds of cartoons to the magazine. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740/681-1423. decartsohio.org. Visit website for times and prices.
THRU JAN 4
Animal Inside Out
This exhibit offers visitors the unique opportunity to view animals from a rarely seen perspective. Through skeletons, muscles, organs and circulatory systems, visitors will learn more about some of the most amazing aspects of these creatures. Dr. Samuel L. Bossard Memorial Library, 7 Spruce St., Gallipolis, 740/446-7323. bossardlibrary.org. Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sun. 1–4:30 p.m. Free.
OTHER EVENTS
THRU FEB 28, 2025 Garden of Lights
Experience the enchanting world of Alice in Wonderland like never before. Walk through the longest light and music tunnel in the United States, and witness 78,000 state-of-the-art LED displays and 80 impressive 3D lanterns. The Crawford Barn, 5563 Raiders Rd., Frazeyburg, 740/455-8282. gardenoflights.com/en/ohio. 5 p.m. $19–$25.
NOV 1–DEC 12
Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt
Experience the holiday season with local shops dotting this region. Collect stamps at participating stores to be entered to win prizes, as well as
An official Hallmark Channel Hometown
Christmas Town, Portsmouth celebrates the spirit of the season with this annual event. Shop
a grand prize: a weekend in the Hocking Hills for four people. Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, 740/385-9706. explorehockinghills.com. Visit website for times. Free.
NOV 22–24
Downtown Holiday Open House
Embrace the magic of the holiday season with a festive tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Chillicothe. Experience mesmerizing Christmas light displays, carriage rides, an ice-skating rink, and holiday shopping and dining. Downtown Chillicothe, 740/702-7677. visitchillicotheohio. com. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free.
NOV 29–DEC 1
Small Business Celebration Weekend
Show your love for all things local and shop small in downtown Lancaster during Small Business Celebration Week. Get ready to take advantage of specials, deals and giveaways as you gear up for the holidays. Destination Downtown Lancaster, 128 N. Broad St., Lancaster, 740/277-6607. destinationdowntownlancaster. com. Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free.
NOV 30–JAN 2
Belpre Holiday Lights Tour
This drive-through experience at Civitan Park features over 200 handmade light displays with thousands of twinkling lights, creating an enchanting holiday atmosphere fit for all ages. Belpre Civitan Park, 1600 Blennerhasset Avenue, Belpre, 740/373-5178. facebook.com/ BelpreHolidayLights. Visit website for times. Free.
Southwest
FESTIVALS
NOV 8–10
Sugarplum Festival of the Trees
Join in on this gathering benefitting kids at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Each day brings something new, like a preview of holiday decor, craft beer and wine tastings, food trucks, an ugly sweater contest, visits with Santa Claus, facepainting and more. American Legion Post #598, 5700 Kentshire Dr., Kettering, childrensdayton. org. Visit website for times and prices.
Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 22 through Dec. 14, enjoy a delightful fusion of local shopping and family-friendly holiday activities at a new Europeaninspired outdoor market space in Canton. eventsby720.com
NOV 9–10
A Winter’s Yuletide Gathering
Start your holiday shopping early with dozens of stores offering new merchandise, including clothing, antiques, and arts and crafts. Costumed carolers and horse-drawn carriages will fill the streets, and an arrival from Santa Claus is sure to lift spirits. Downtown Tipp City, West Broadway Street, Tipp City, visittippcity.org. Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m. Free.
NOV 29
Holiday Horse Parade and Santa Homecoming
Head to Urbana’s Monument Square District the day after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season with a tree lighting in Legacy Park, carriage and trolley rides, a horse parade and Santa’s arrival to Santa Land. Plus, enjoy local shopping, dining, food trucks, street vendors and more. Downtown Urbana, 937/788-2812. monumentsquaredistrict.com. 4 p.m. Free.
MUSEUMS + EXHIBITS
THRU JAN 12
Posing Beauty in African American Culture
Explore the relationship between African American visual culture from the 1890s to the present through more than 100 works featuring commercial, documentary and fine art photography. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, 513/241-0343. taftmuseum.org. Wed.–Mon. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $12, seniors $10, members, military and children under 18 free.
MUSIC + THEATER
NOV 19–DEC 1
Funny Girl
Enjoy this classic musical popularized by Barbara Streisand. Follow Fanny Brice on her journey to stardom against all odds through songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “I am the Greatest Star.” With an iconic score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and an updated book from Harvey Fierstein, this production is a love letter to the theater. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 513/621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org. Visit website for times and prices.
NOV 21
One Christmas Night in Memphis
Follow the tale of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins as they get together to celebrate the yuletide season. Jam out to a full 90 minutes of rockabilly, country, gospel and rock ’n’ roll from the Million Dollar Quartet as you listen to hits like “White Christmas,” “Run, Run, Rudolph,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and other legendary tunes. Holland Theatre, 127 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, 937/592-9002. theholland.org. 7:30 p.m. $29–$45.
OTHER EVENTS
NOV 9
Adult Workshop: Beginning Basketry
Learn basic weaving techniques as you make a handled reed basket with guidance from experienced basket maker Carrie Ledford. All materials will be provided. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton, 513/868-8336. pyramidhill.org. 12:30–4:30 p.m. Non-members $35, members $25.
NOV 24
Ringing in the Holidays
Attend a holiday gala featuring live music, dessert, hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails to mark the start of the holiday season. Make sure to enjoy Dayton’s Most Delicious Dessert contest, a longstanding tradition at this event. Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, 937/293-2841. daytonhistory.org. 5:30–9 p.m. Non-members $95, members $85.
NOV 30–DEC 22
Holiday Lights at Lost Creek Reserve
Be transported into a winter wonderland with over 60 light displays. This 1.25-mile driving tour takes you through the woods, down charming farm lanes and past the historic, lighted Knoop Homestead. Lost Creek Reserve & Knoop Agricultural Heritage Center, 2645 E. Ste. Rt. 41, Troy, 937/335-6273. miamicountyparks.com/ holiday-lights. 6–9 p.m. Visit website for prices.
DECEMBER
Central
FESTIVALS
DEC 1
City of Hilliard Tree Lighting
Start the holidays with an evening of familyfriendly activities in the city of Hilliard, including a tree lighting, petting zoo, ice carving, trolley rides, stilt walkers, entertainment, food, visits with Santa Claus and more. Downtown Hilliard, hilliardohio.gov. 4–6:30 p.m. Free.
DEC 6–8
Columbus Winterfair
Purchase unique, handcrafted items from 375 national artists. Indulge in chocolates, dips and salsas from a gourmet marketplace and find gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 614/486-4402. winterfair.org. Fri.–Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
MUSEUMS + EXHIBITS
DEC 12
COSI After Dark
Relive the 1990s with this nostalgic celebration full of friendship-bracelet-making and classic console gaming. Plus, enjoy special science demos, custom drinks and Y2K tunes. COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/228-2674. cosi.org. Wed.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit website for times.
MUSIC + THEATER
DEC 6–8
Christmas at the Palace
This beloved local tradition offers heartwarming performances that celebrate the season. Enjoy a blend of music, dance, holiday sketches and other acts from local talent. Marion Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 740-383-2101. marionpalace.org. Fri.–Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. $13–$29.
OTHER EVENTS
DEC 1–3
Mosaic Making with Vicki Murphy
Visit Hueston Woods Lodge to participate in an artist-in-residence series with Vicki Murphy. Attendees will receive mosaic-making instruction and learn precision tool use as they create a permanent work of art for the lodge. Programs run Saturday through Tuesday from late fall through winter. ohiodnr.gov/arts-in-the-parks. Visit website for times. Free for lodge guests.
DEC 8
Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience
Meet Santa Claus in an environment created for guests with sensory needs. The atmosphere
offers reduced noise, decreased visual stimulation and controlled crowds. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell, 614/645-3400. columbuszoo.org. Noon–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.
DEC 12
Holly Hop
This December, the streets of Hilliard will be overflowing with merriment, holiday cocktails, delicious food and local shopping. Create memories with friends as you earn an exclusive event tote by shopping locally. Downtown Hilliard, 614/272-6653. destinationhilliard.org. 6–9 p.m. Free.
Northeast
festivals
DEC 7
Old Fashioned Christmas
Get into the holiday spirit at Lehman’s, where you can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their old-fashioned sleigh from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to get your picture taken. Plus, enjoy fun activities like holiday crafts, face painting and meeting Flower, the amazing balloon artist. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 800/436-5346. lehmans.com. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
DEC 7–8
Christmas in Zoar
Experience Historic Zoar Village in all its Christmas splendor. Enjoy musical entertainment and visits from Kristkind, the German Belsnickel and Santa Claus. Self-guided tours and extended shopping opportunities are available. Historic Zoar Village, 198 Main St., Zoar, 330/874-3011.
historiczoarvillage.com. Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. Adults $10, children 12 and under free.
MUSIC + THEATER
DEC 6–JAN 5
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Back by popular demand, the irresistible, familyfriendly musical centered around family returns to Lakewood’s Beck Center for the Arts. Journey through the trials and triumphs of Joseph as you experience different music stylings and vibrant costumes. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216/521-2540. beckcenter.org/professional-theater Tues.–Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2:30 p.m. Adults $38, seniors $34, students $17, children $12.
DEC 19
Cleveland Keys Dueling Pianos
Cleveland Keys Dueling Pianos will deliver an exciting, interactive matinee show at Hartville Kitchen, blending music, humor and audience participation for an unforgettable afternoon experience. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com/events. 1 p.m. $30–$62.50.
other events
DEC 5–8 & 12–15
The Polar Express
Embark on a magical journey to the North Pole as you relive the magic of “The Polar Express.” Enjoy festive activities, delicious cookies and even a special visit from Santa Claus. Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. 400 Center St., Dennison, 740/922-6776. dennisondepot.org. Visit website for times. $51–$82.
DEC 7
Holiday Wreath Making
Discover the art of creating beautiful holiday wreaths with help from a naturalist. This hands-on activity allows participants to utilize evergreens that thrive in Ohio, along with native plant materials like winterberry, dried grasses and vines. Plus, you can take your creation home and use it to decorate this holiday season.
Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, 330/487-0493. summitmetroparks. org. Visit website for times. $20.
DEC 8
720 MKT in Canton
Enjoy festive holiday shopping at the 720 Market, which features vendors at Mrs. Claus’ Gift Boutique, Santa’s Workshop and the Village of Shops all tucked inside the Center for Performance dome. Hall of Fame Village, 1901 Champions Gateway, Canton, 330/571-0367. eventsby720.com. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $5, children under 12 free.
NOV 23
The Chocolate Walk & Merry Millersburg
Experience the charm of Historic Downtown Millersburg as storefronts come alive with holiday decorations and special sales. Plus, for just $20, you can get a box to fill with handmade chocolates and a map for your sweet adventure. Historic Downtown Millersburg. 330/674-2412. historicdowntownmillersburg.com 1–7 p.m. Free.
Northwest
FESTIVALS
DEC 4–8
Christmas Tree Festival
Over 100 decorated Christmas trees from community organizations will deck the halls of the Allen County Museum in this beloved annual tradition. The Christmas Tree Festival will feature “Evergreen” the talking Christmas Tree and tours of the decorated MacDonell House. Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market St., Lima, 419/222-9426. allencountymuseum.org. Visit website for times. Free.
DEC 15
Winter Festival of Crafts
Finish your holiday shopping and peruse products made by members of the Toledo Craftsmen’s Guild, including wreaths, woodworking, fragrances, home decor and photography prints. Franciscan Theatre & Conference Center, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, 419/5718950. lourdes.edu. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
MUSIC + THEATER
DEC 8
Motown Christmas
Dance the night away to holiday hits with a Motown spin, full of distinctive choreography, pitch-perfect harmonies and soulful style. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419/381-8851. stranahantheater.com. 7:30 p.m. $48–$68.
DEC 12–15
Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
Join the famous mouse and his wide array of friends at this kid-friendly performance featuring skating, acrobatics and stunts. Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, 419/255-3300. huntingtoncentertoledo.com. Thurs.–Fri. 7 p.m., Sat. 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m., 3 p.m. Visit website for prices.
OTHER EVENTS
DEC 13
Lights of Spiegel Grove
See this presidential estate lit up for the holiday season while sipping on refreshments, listening to carolers and visiting with Kris Kringle. Plus, head to an open house on the home’s first floor, which will be decorated with historically accurate pieces. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. 6–7:30 p.m. Free.
Southeast
FESTIVALS
DEC 7 & 14
Historic Roscoe Village Christmas Candlelighting Days
Ring in the holiday season with a day of shopping, dining and family fun. The evening of festivities begins at 6 p.m. as attendees gather beneath the tree for stories, carols and the annual candle-lighting ceremony. Historic Roscoe Village, 600 N. Whitewoman St. Coshocton, 740/622-4877. visitcoshocton.com. Visit website for times. Free.
DEC 31–JAN 1
Glass Town Countdown
Ring in the new year with the annual Glass Town Countdown held in the heart of downtown Lancaster. Spend time inside local restaurants and shops, then head to Zane Square to warm up with hot chocolate and count down the final minutes of 2024. Destination Downtown Lancaster, 128 N. Broad St., Lancaster, 740/277-6607. destinationdowntownlancaster.com. Visit website for times. Free.
MUSIC + THEATER
DEC 15
Handel’s Messiah Oratorio
The Zanesville Civic Chorus and Orchestra presents its 95th annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Immerse yourself in the 80-voice choir and five soloists supported by the chamber orchestra in this beloved musical tradition. The evening’s music director is Ann Lillie Briggs, and a freewill offering will be taken and given to a local charity in the “spirit of Handel.” Central Trinity UMC, 62 S. Seventh St., Zanesville, 740/453-1210. centraltrinityumc. com. 6–8:30 p.m. Free.
DEC 16
Christmas with John Berry
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter
John Berry has announced dates for his 28th Annual Christmas Tour. The past couple years have brought many new challenges to the touring industry, but John Berry is determined to continue bringing the joy of live music and the much-needed Christmas spirit to fans in 2024. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe.net. 7:30–9 p.m. $25–$55.
OTHER EVENTS
DEC 7–8
Holidays at Adena Tour a decorated a mansion for a look at how German tenants celebrated the holiday season. Dig into traditional cookies and mulled cider, marvel at Christmas trees with handmade decorations, and spend time making a kids craft. Make sure to catch live entertainment and shop for loved ones in the gift store. Adena Mansion & Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 740/7721500. adenamansion.com. 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Adults $12, children $6.
DEC 14
Christmas in Ash Cave
Come bundled up for a lighted stroll to this Hocking Hills gem. Cozy up around an open fire as you warm up with refreshments and listen to festive holiday music playing in the background. Kids can visit with an old-fashioned Santa Claus or help decorate a Christmas tree for wildlife. Ash Cave, 26400 St. Rte. 56, South Bloomingville, 740/385-9706. explorehockinghills. com. 5–7 p.m. Free.
Southwest FESTIVALS
DEC 7
Lebanon Horse and Carriage Parade and Festival
Experience small-town charm with two horsedrawn carriage parades happening at 1 and 7 p.m. See carriages adorned with garlands, lights and ornaments. Plus, enjoy a mix of local craft and food vendors, hear live music from carolers and a traveling bell choir, and view holiday displays. Downtown Lebanon, East Silver Street, Lebanon, 513/932-1100. lebanonchamber.org. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free.
FARM & TABLE
Sweet Success
Three Bites Bakery owner Isabella Bonello draws on her family’s heritage to create the beautiful and inventive pastries she sells at her Columbus shop. »
these
Books & Brews: Visit
three independent Ohio bookstores that go beyond the printed page to offer coffee, beer, wine and more to enjoy during your visit.
Kast Iron Soda Works, Salem: Wanting to create a community gathering spot, Lesley Kline opened a Columbiana County soda bar that showcases a universe of pop possibilities.
ORANGE CARDAMOM TWIST AND CHINESE PINEAPPLE BUN
FARM & TABLE
Isabella Bonello started her Three Bites Bakery on the side while working fulltime as a baker for L Brands in Columbus. When she lost her job in 2020, she followed her own interests and began building her fledgling business.
“It started to grow as a way for me to fill time,” she says. “I was just bored and needed something to do. So, I’d make little assortment boxes and donate a portion of the sales to any cause that was important to me.”
She started popping up at local markets and selling baked goods out of her home before opening a storefront in Columbus’ King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood in 2022. Bonello was going to call her venture
Sweet Goblin, but friends suggested she choose another name.
“When I go to Italy, where my dad’s from, I love that you can get a little pastry, something small that’s like two or three bites,” Bonello says. “And then my friend Casey was like, ‘Why don’t you just call it Three Bites?’ And that was it.”
To craft her lineup of pastries, Bonello draws on her Italian and Filipino heritage. She says her most popular item is the bombolone, a sugar-frosted Italian doughnut filled with vanilla pastry cream. The baklava morning bun (another favorite) is wrapped around a mixture of pistachio, walnut and cinnamon and dunked in honey syrup. Similar pastries, all artfully prepared, feel like a trip around the globe, from Chinese pineapple buns to Filipino pandesal, a brioche bun made with ube and filled with cheese.
Bonello adds that she loves the savory selections, which include flaky mushroom, artichoke and leek croissants, and mini pizzas called pizzettes.
In 2024, Bonello moved Three Bites Bakery to a prominent corner in downtown Columbus, joining forces with Little Cat Boba, a coffee and boba tea shop, to open a storefront at Broad and High streets. While Bonello speaks highly of her former neighborhood, she says it wasn’t without its challenges.
“We survived for two and a half years in a place with almost no foot traffic,” she says. “So, I feel like that’s a testament to what we’ve been able to do and what we’ve been able to slowly build.” — Nicholas Dekker
12 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/372-5930, threebitesbakery.com
Books & Brews
Visit these three Ohio bookstores that go beyond the printed page to offer coffee, beer, wine and more.
Sandusky Book Bar
Janie Ahner turned a former YMCA into Sandusky Book Bar in late 2023. “We didn’t have anything that kind of combines beer, books, wine and coffee and all that good stuff in one space,” she says. The shop houses a few thousand curated used books, and the menu spans coffee drinks, teas and cocktails to pair with meat and cheese boards, bagels and baked goods. 2101 W. Perkins Ave., Sandusky 44870, 419/2856543, sanduskybookbar.com
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters began as an independent book publisher before owner Eric Obenauf turned the Columbus business into a restaurant and bookstore in 2017. ”We wanted to have a footprint in our community where people could gather to engage around books and literary culture,” he says. The shop almost exclusively features titles from indie publishers, and the 100-percent-vegan food menu is complemented by a lineup of cocktails. 1124 Parsons Ave., Columbus 43206, 614/7251505, twodollarradiohq.com
Visible Voice Books
Dave Ferrante opened Cleveland’s Visible Voice Books in 2007, eventually branching out to sell beer and wine. “A lot of bookstores make money selling puzzles or kids gifts … So, I thought, why don’t I get an alcohol permit and add that to complement the book selling,” he says. The store stocks around 40,000 new and used titles, and the drink menu spans wines, beers and an assortment of fountain drinks. Conveniently, there’s also a pizza shop located downstairs. 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland 44113, 216/9610084, visiblevoicebooks.com — Chloe Robertson
Isabella Bonello (above) opened her shop in 2022 before moving to downtown Columbus in 2024. Her artfully prepared pastries offer a trip around the globe (below).
Kast Iron Soda Works, Salem
Wanting to create a family-friendly community gathering spot, Lesley Kline opened a Columbiana County soda bar that showcases a universe of pop possibilities.
Lesley Kline saw a need in her hometown of Salem — one that became even clearer as she watched a crowd disperse one night from a performance at the Salem Community Theater downtown, get in their cars and drive away.
“I wanted a place downtown where people could hang out,” Kline says. “There was no place to sit and chill.”
She wanted a spot where teens could congregate, so not a bar. And she wanted a place with a coffee shop vibe, but open evenings. When her husband Wil told her, “You have to sell something,” she hit on the idea of pop, and Kast Iron Soda Works was born.
The cafe, which opened in 2021 a couple doors down from Columbiana County’s Salem Community Theater, offers a space for people to gather, chat and play board games — there are shelves full of them to use — and the menu of soft drinks stretches the limits of imagination.
The more than 550 bottles behind the bar demonstrate the variety of the store’s inventory, from pops with famous faces on their labels to American regional classics like Nehi, Moxie and Cheerwine to really off-the-wall offerings like mustard-flavored soda.
“That’s not the worst one we have,” Kline says. “The same company makes ranch dressing pop.”
A candy counter offers retro fare like Necco Wafers and Beemans gum, and the soda fountain serves drinks ranging from milkshakes (Kast Iron Soda Works makes its own ice cream) to flavored colas to phosphates (proto sodas made with flavored syrup, soda water and acid phosphate).
Nostalgia may be the aim, but Kast Iron Soda Works uses modern technology to do it. The soda fountain quadruple-filters city water, then mineralizes it, enabling the shop to offer either sparkling or slightly alkaline mineral water as the base for its drinks.
Kast Iron Soda Works’ home-brewed root beer is now available in bottles to go, and Kline has also branched into mocktail-inspired drinks, tapping into tipplers who enjoy cocktails but don’t want the alcohol.
“People tell us we’ve ruined pop for them,” Kline says. “They can’t just go to the gas station or McDonald’s anymore.”
— Vince Guerrieri
420 E. State St., Salem 44460, 234/320-4013, kastironsoda.com
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OHIO, published monthly except February, October and December, at 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44115, as filed October 1, 2024. The general business offices of the publisher are located at 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44115. The names and addresses of the Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor are: Publisher, Lute Harmon Jr., 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44115; Editor, Jim Vickers, 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio 44115; Managing Editor, Jim Vickers, 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio 44115. The owner is Great Lakes Publishing Company, 1422 Euclid Ave, Ste 730, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. The names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of stock are: Lute H. Harmon Sr., 1422 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115; Sue Harmon, 1422 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115; George Sedlak, 1422 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115; Lute Harmon Jr, 1422 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities are: None. The average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months are: a) Total Number of Copies (Net press run): 30,270. b) Paid Circulation 1). Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions: 20,630. 2) Mailed In-County
Holiday Gift Guide
Esther Price Candies
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Esther Price Candies has you covered with their milk chocolate-covered potato chips, which are sure to satisfy sweet, salty and crunchy cravings all in one delicious treat. 800-782-0326 | estherprice.com
Lehman’s
Celebrate a merry and bright holiday this year at Lehman’s in Kidron, your one-stop-shop for both practical and pretty gifts to suit everyone on your list.
800-438-5346 | lehmans.com
Welcome Home to Tuscarawas County
Give the gift of experiences with tickets, passes and overnight stays. Explore museum shops and downtown boutiques across Tuscarawas County that are filled with perfect gifts for everyone on your list! 800-527-3387 | traveltusc.com
Experience Hartville
Visit Experience Hartville for holiday shopping and dining. Explore over 50 shops, personalized ornaments, unique gifts and homestyle meals on a charming 200-acre campus. 330-877-9353 | experiencehartville.com
Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa
Give the gift of Gervasi Vineyard this holiday season. Unforgettable experiences, exquisite wines, fine dining, luxurious stays and relaxation at The Spa await! 330-497-1000 | gervasivineyard.com
Holmes County
Give the gift of adventure in Ohio Amish Country. Shop, savor and discover the charm and beauty of Holmes County. Book your stay today! 330-674-3975 | visitamishcountry.com
Wayne County
Toyrifix offers a variety of toys, puzzles and games for children (and adults) of all ages. Shop brands such as Lego and Playmobil, and browse a selection of stuffed animals, puppets, costumes and much more. 330-669-3737 | toyrifix.com
Holiday Gift Guide
Carlisle Gifts Walnut Creek
Savor your time browsing and choosing beautiful, carefully curated gifts. Complete the experience with a complimentary gift wrapping and dinner at Der Dutchman across the street.
330-893-2535 | dhgroup.com/shops/ carlisle-gifts-walnut-creek
Dutch Valley Gifts Sugarcreek
With three floors to explore, Dutch Valley Gifts in Sugarcreek offers a delightful shopping experience that ends with a complimentary gift wrapping. Visitors are encouraged to explore the entire Dutch Valley campus during a trip, including the inn, restaurant and theater. 330-852-4926 | dhgroup.com/shops/dutch-valley-gifts-sugarcreek
The Common Ground
Shop this two-day Christmas pop-up in Medina on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy holiday cheer, themed vendors, workshops, gift-wrapping stations and Christmas-themed cocktails! 330-439-0215 | thecommongroundwhs.com
Dennison Railroad Depot Museum
All aboard! Ride in a decorated vintage stagecoach as you relive the magic of “The Polar Express” at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. Be sure to grab your very own conductor hat! 740-922-6776 | dennisondepot.org
Akron/Summit
The Northside Marketplace in Akron offers a vibrant hub filled with many different local artisans, boutiques and delicious eateries, all wrapped up in a welcoming atmosphere.
234-542-6627 | northsidemarketplace.com
Visit Canton
Gift a Visit Canton Museum Pass to the football, art and history lovers in your life! The Visit Canton Museum Pass provides access to multiple museums and national historic sites across Canton, all through one digital pass. The pass is conveniently sent via text and email, making it an easy holiday gift to deliver. 800-552-6051 | visitcanton.com
Millersburg
Urbana
Clockwise from above: Holmes County Courthouse; Dum Dums water tower in Bryan; splash pad in Hilliard; historic buildings in McConnelsville; public art in Urbana
Bryan Hilliard
BEST HOMETOWNS McConnelsville
Each fall, we celebrate communities across the state that embody the best of small-town living and what makes life in Ohio so special. This year, we honor Bryan, Hilliard, McConnelsville Millersburg and Urbana.
An effort to fill vacant buildings revived this city’s downtown, illustrating the sense of pride and spirit of collaboration in this community about 64 miles west of Toledo.
Bryan
By Erin Finan
The Williams County Courthouse stands 160 feet tall, with towering turrets and a central clocktower rising through its center, reflecting the French Baroque and Romanesque Revival influences that shaped American architecture at the time it was completed in 1890.
A climb to the top is more ladder than stairway, but the effort pays off with a peek through narrow windows that gaze out across the roughly 5.5 square miles of Bryan. Strands of colored lights spiderweb out from the top of the courthouse, connecting to lampposts along the sidewalks of the city’s square. The lights stay up year-round but are lit at Christmastime as the city’s Christkindl Market sets up shop below. The annual event, which runs for 11 evenings in late
Reinvestment in Bryan’s historic downtown was a community focus that transformed the city.
November and December, routinely draws 7,000 people to its opening night alone.
The courthouse serves as a distant beacon for those driving across the expansive and flat Williams County countryside, about an hour west of Toledo. So does the Spangler Candy Co. water tower, which appears to stand upon the legs of eight 65-foot-tall Dum Dums lollipops. The water tower was painted in 2022 and rises next to Spangler’s factory, which employs 575 locals. The company opened here in 1906, when it made and sold baking powder in Bryan’s downtown, later producing and selling chocolates and cocoanut balls. Today, the company is the caretaker of a lineup of legendary candy brands, making Dum Dums, Bit-O-Honey, Sweethearts, Circus Peanuts and a variety of candy canes in Bryan.
“If you look at the products that the company has made over the years, that’s evolved. It didn’t make Dum Dums or candy canes for the first 40 or 50 years,” says Kirk Vashaw, CEO of Spangler Candy Co. “And then you think, ‘What will the future be?’ It continues to evolve. And the community will evolve.”
At the end of 2023, Spangler Candy World opened along South Main Street. The more than 5,000-square-foot entertainment
The Williams County Courthouse stands as the centerpiece of downtown Bryan (above). Spangler Candy World offers a space for imagination and play for kids of all ages (below).
Experience the beauty and excitement of the Great Miami Riverway, a regional destination in southwest Ohio. Enjoy passes and certificates to eat, paddle, play and explore in this vibrant area. With over 99 miles of paved trails and connected communities, the Riverway offers endless opportunities for adventure. Paddle the river, cycle the scenic bike trail and immerse yourself in the rich aviation heritage. MAKE HOLIDAY MEMORIES IN MEDINA COUNTY!
Enter to win an unforgettable holiday weekend in Medina County, with a stay at the Holiday Inn Express, dinner in a private igloo at Blue Heron Brewery and four tickets to Castle Noel, America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas entertainment attraction.
*Prize package is valid between Dec. 1, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025*
25. Destination Hilliard
26. Destination Mansfield - Richland County
27. Destination Toledo
28. Dos Eppi’s
29. Dutchman Hospitality Group
30. Easton
31. Endless Creations
32. Esther Price Candies
33. Experience Columbus
34. Experience Hartville
35. Fayette County Travel & Tourism Bureau
36. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa
37. Grand Lake Region
38. Historic Downtown Millersburg
39. Hocking Hills Tourism Association
40. Homestead Furniture
41. Kingwood Center Gardens
42. Knox County CVB
43. Lehman’s
44. Marietta CVB
45. Maxwell’s
46. Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau
47. Miami Conservancy District
48. Miami County VCB
49. Miba Energy Holding LLC
50. Miller’s Creamery
51. Millersburg Brewing Company
52. Morgan County Tourism & Visitors Center
53. New Towne Gallery
54. Ohio Amish County | Holmes County Chamber & Tourism Bureau
55. Ohio Gas
56. Ohio Grape Industries
57. Parkview Health Advertising
58. Pomerene Hospital
59. Portsmouth & Scioto County Visitors Bureau
60. Riffe Gallery
61. Ross Chillicothe CVB
62. Shop Downtown Urbana c/o Champaign County Chamber
63. Shores & Islands Ohio
64. Silver + Vine
65. Spangler Candy Company
66. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
67. StayInAkron.com
68. Steubenville Visitor Center
69. Stockport Mill Inn
70. Stoney Ridge Winery
71. Sunny Slope Winery
72. The 720 Market
73. The Inns at 8th & Main
74. The Mascot Syndicate
75. The Victorian House Museum
76. Thiel Construction Company, Inc.
77. Travel Butler County, OH
78. Troyer’s Sweet Shoppe
79. Trumbull County Tourism Bureau
80. Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau
81. Urban Farmgirl
82. Village Antique Emporium
83. Village of Millersburg
84. Visit Bowling Green (OH)
85. Visit Canton
86. Visit Cincy
87. Visit Dublin Ohio
88. Visit Findlay (Hancock County CVB)
89. Visit Greater Lima
90. Visit Grove City (Grove City Area CVB)
91. Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau
92. Western Kentucky Bourbon Trail
93. Youngstown Live | Mahoning County CVB
94. Zanesville/Muskingum County CVB
95. Zazarac’s
space features interactive touch screens, a movie theater and more. It was one of the recent changes in a downtown that has seen a lot of them since 2019, when 10% of the buildings were vacant, including key pieces of real estate surrounding the town square.
“We were at a point where we were going to become a ghost town, or we were going to have what I call ‘pumpkin teeth’ in the downtown, where buildings were going to have to be removed,” says Mayor Carrie Schlade, who took office in 2018. “And that’s not what Bryan wanted as a community.”
In 2019, the Bryan Area Chamber of Commerce director approached city council to propose a downtown ordinance that would fine business owners up to $1,600 annually for owning vacant buildings in town. The proposal was followed by a meeting organized by Bryan Development president Russ Davies to facilitate a discussion between the city and building owners. As owners decided to either rent or sell their properties, Bryan eventually saw a 7% reduction in the downtown’s vacancy.
Then, in 2021, the Bryan Area Foundation stepped in to help identify and address community needs. After a consultation with Small Nation, an Ohio company that helps support redevelopment efforts in small towns, the Bryan Area Foundation started a project fund, which allowed them to provide $1.1 million in grants from Bryan Develop-
A mail carrier walks past the marquee of the Bryan Theatre (below). Bryan is known as The Fountain City thanks to underground springs that benefited early settlers (bottom).
ment to fund improvements to buildings on the square. This went on to spur a great deal of private investment. The Bryan Area Foundation also helped award grants that allocated an additional $60,000 to help fund 21 projects through a match program.
“The city, the foundation, the chamber, we were all invested in this. We were all going to be a part of it,” says Dan Yahraus, executive director of the Bryan Area Chamber of Com-
merce. “… We don’t care who gets the credit. We just care that it’s getting done.”
Today, Bryan’s downtown is at just 3% vacancy, and businesses include boutiques, restaurants, cafes and other shops. In addition to its downtown scene, Bryan also has a wealth of multigenerational businesses that contribute to the city’s economic stability.
One such business is Bard Manufacturing, which has been in town for over 100
years and employs 300 people locally. Allied Moulded, which employs 350 people, has been around since it started in a garage in 1958. Ohio Art is another heritage company in town, having brought a factory to Bryan in 1912 that specialized in metal lithography. The company is best known for making the Etch A Sketch, which it did for over 50 years before selling the licensing rights in 2016.
“How many places, especially in a town
Fearfully Made Boutique is one of Bryan’s downtown businesses (left). Third Rail Saloon is a barbecue joint located in an artfullly decorated and historic 1867 train station (right).
The historic Bryan Theatre features first-run films in three cinemas with luxury seating, digital projection and sound. Kick back with a flick as you enjoy fresh popcorn and cold drinks. 844-383-0000 | 140 S. Lynn St. bryantheatre.com
Located in the heart of downtown Bryan, Dos Eppi’s offers a blend of Puerto Rican, southern Texan and Mexican-style cuisine in a variety of house-made dishes that are fresh and full of flavor.
419-519-3044 | 118 W. High St. facebook.com/doseppisbryan
Silver + Vine is a sister-owned business that creates handmade sterling silver jewelry and provides in-house flower preservation. The shop also offers an array of apparel and gifts.
419-799-1502 | 125 S. Beech St. silverandvine.com
Stoney Ridge Winery is located in the beautiful countryside of Bryan. Enjoy live music every weekend, along with wine, beer, cocktails and flatbread pizzas. The winery is open year-round with seasonal hours Wednesday through Saturday. 419-636-3500 | 7144 County Rd. 16 stoneyridgewinery.com
Zazarac’s Bar & Eatery features a tapas-style menu that is thoughtfully paired with distinctive cocktails and zero-proof drink options in a posh, modern setting.
419-212-9299 | 116 W. High St. zazaracs.com
Endless Creations
Support local artisans at this unique retail space that features 70 talented creators selling handmade foods, soaps, fun jewelry, clothing, cards, beautiful home decor and more. 419-519-9260 110 South Lynn St.
Bryan Theatre
Silver + Vine
Zazarac’s Bar & Eatery
Dos Eppi’s
Stoney Ridge Winery
Endless Creations
of 8,600 people, do you find that many companies that have been here for that many generations?” Schlade says. “I think that makes us really special.”
The community’s schools are centered on a 72.6-acre main campus near the intersection of Center Street and William County Road 13, just 2 miles southwest of downtown. All 2,000 Bryan City School District students in grades K-12 attend either the renovated elementary school building, which was completed in 2017, or the joint middle school and high school, which was completed in 2016. All of it was made possible from a bond issue the city passed in 2013 that will raise $57.4 million over a 28-year period.
Bryan’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by the support of local organizations and businesses. With the help of donations and athletic boosters, the district upgraded its high school football stadium with new turf, new lights and a new scoreboard in 2024.
“I have rarely seen an initiative fail when we partner between the schools and the community,” says Mark Rairigh, superintendent of the Bryan City School District.
In 2023, the Bryan Area Foundation worked with the city’s Parks & Recreation Department and the Bryan community to raise more than $730,000 in less than a year to fund the construction of an inclusive play-
The Williams County Public Library is a place of learning and gathering (above). The community raised $730,000 for a playground suited to kids of different abilities (opposite page).
ground called Lincoln Park, where children of different ability levels can play. Other community improvements have included a new amphitheater at Recreation Park.
On High Street, you’ll find Dos Eppi’s, a Puerto Rican restaurant, and Zazarac’s Bar & Eatery. Beside them, a staircase leads to the upper floors and into a former ballroom. The space is now exposed and dusty, but still hints at a past grandeur. Both the ballroom and the street-level spaces are part of the Long Building, a late 1880s structure that has seen more than a century of change in Bryan — changes which haven’t stopped yet.
Dave Swanson is heading up this transformation, with plans to convert the second floor into offices and the third into a space to host weddings and other events.
Swanson, who moved to Bryan nearly 50 years ago and founded the medical device company Daavlin before selling it in 2022, has long been invested in the community. He also purchased neighboring buildings on High Street, with a vision to transform the upper floors into a 14-room boutique hotel that will connect with his existing businesses on the block.
“I have no idea whether that money’s ever going to come back or not,” Swanson says of his investment. “I’m 77 years old, and I figured if it never comes back, it’s just a gift to Bryan. This building will be ready for another 150 years. It will be well taken care of when I get done with it, and maybe that’s enough.”
This Columbus suburb offers a rich history and a smalltown atmosphere, while its location along Interstate 270 has made it a destination for development.
Hilliard
By Gracie Metz
The scent of sawdust seems to hang in the air within the train depot, as though the lumber company that once operated across the street from it was still going strong. Although it moved from its original location in town, the depot dates to Hilliard’s 1853 beginnings as a stop along the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad. Next to it sits a bright red caboose that served as sleeping quarters for a conductor, a brakeman and a flagman. The interior still has bunk beds and an ice box once used to store food during travel.
The depot is just one of the 11 different elements in the re-created “town” preserved by the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society’s Village & Museum. There is also a 1/6-scale replica of a lattice truss covered bridge from
Firefly Winery opened in Old Hilliard in October 2024.
the 1800s, a historically accurate re-creation of an 1850s family log cabin and the Colwell Chapel, which originally stood in the Ohio countryside about 3 miles from where it does today.
“[The chapel] was catty-corner from my farm, and my grandfather was the superintendent to close the church back in 1964 on the last service,” says Tim Woodruff, a volunteer docent and president emeritus at the historical society. “It sat empty for about 19 years.” He notes that a local farmer bought the chapel and donated it to the organization.
Inside the historical society’s museum, vignettes of a general store, barbershop and other businesses allow visitors a look at everyday life in the 1800s. Display cases are filled with uniforms, weaponry and artifacts donated by the families of local veterans.
The community of Hilliard was originally known as Hilliard’s Station, named for John Reed Hilliard, who worked for the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad — the tracks for which cut across 10 acres of land he purchased here in 1852. The town’s name was simplified to Hilliard in 1854, and the village became a city in 1960 thanks to steady population growth.
Although Hilliard remains tied to its agricultural roots (the Franklin County Fair has been hosted at the fairgrounds in town for more than a century) reminders that the 14.27-square-mile city of 38,000 residents along Interstate 270 is a thriving Columbus suburb are plentiful. For one, the Hilliard City School District employs 1,921 people at 24 schools, including three high schools and three middle schools, 16 elementary
schools and one online academy, all serving more than 16,000 students over 60 square miles across Hilliard, Columbus and Dublin. The school district partners with local businesses (such as Amazon Web Services, which has three data center campuses in Hilliard that employ more than 200 people) to teach middle school and high school students STEM concepts from a real company right in their hometown.
Advance Drainage Systems, which makes plastic piping, is Hilliard’s largest corporate employer with 465 workers, followed by the family-owned Rich Products Corp., which produces consumer food products for brands such as Farm Rich and F’real and has 341 employees.
Innovation also has a home here thanks to Hilliard City Lab, a partnership between
Clockwise from opposite page: Main Street in Old Hilliard; Chesapeake & Ohio caboose at the Hilliard Historical Village; inside of Center Street Market; Heritage Rail Trail entrance
Spend a day in Hillard and see for yourself why the city has earned the title of Best Hometown. Stroll through the local shops and delicious eateries of Downtown Hilliard, and experience events in the heart of Hilliard throughout the year. Whatever your age and interests you are sure to feel welcome by “Everyone’s” Hometown.
Conveniently located close to all of Central Ohio’s favorites
BearsBagels
Rise & Dine
Craving the perfect start? Whether it’s a fresh-baked bagel with all of the toppings at Bears Bagels, classic comfort at Abner’s, or a flavorful bite at Louie’s, breakfast in Hilliard is sure to warm your heart & fill your belly.
Abner’sCasualDining
Midday Meal
The flavors of the Caribbean and signature tea fusions of TeasYourSpiritsare a wonderful choice for a laid-back midday meal.
TeasYourSpirits
Raise a Glass
A Cup of Community
Hilliard’s coffee shops provide more than a good cup of coffee, they are a place to connect and gather. Whether you choose Coffee Connections on Main, REV Coffeehouse, New Grounds, or one of the other roast options, you will feel the warm vibes of the community.
Local Finds
Explore the Shoppes by Westwood including MAKHome Furnishings,UrbanMarketand BirchTreeHomefor local home decor and boutique treasures. For unique finds, visit Packrat Comics, The Happy Closet Boutique and Brewing Intuition at Lattimer Square.
Planyourafternoonescapewithahappyhourofcraftcocktailorbrews atCrookedCanorHillgarten—gooddrinks,greattimes!
BakesbyLo
Satisfy your Sweet Tooth
Indulge in the ultimate dessert experience with a visit to Bakes by Lo, The Cheesecake Girl or Hilliard Station Baking Company. Better yet, sample a treat from all three!
the city and 40 high-tech area private businesses to develop new technologies, and Forsee Power, which creates batteries for electric vehicles and is currently establishing a U.S. headquarters and production facility in Hilliard that will employ 152 people when completed.
Development in the city continues with new housing and recreational opportunities such as TruePointe’s headquarters, a large, mixed-use project being built near Interstate 270. The project from real estate developer Equity, which has an office in Hilliard,
will include 250,000 square feet of office space, more than 350 apartments, restaurants, retail, walking trails and green space. The first phase is scheduled to be completed by mid 2025, with a hotel coming in 2026.
Over the course of her term, which began in 2020, Hilliard’s first city manager Michelle Crandall and the city council have also made creating places for recreation in Hilliard a priority, including the construction of a $110-million recreation and wellness center set to open in 2025.
“We went to our residents and asked for an additional half-percent income tax to be dedicated solely to recreation and parks, and part of that promise was that we would build a new recreation and wellness campus and new community center,” Crandall says of the vote that took place in November 2021. “That passed overwhelmingly with great support and trust of our community.”
For those who haven’t been to the city, Old Hilliard is a good place to start. The district, which serves as the city’s downtown and main hub, stretches about six blocks along Main Street, with the historic village located along its northeast edge. From there, Main Street passes through neighborhoods and then commercial shopping areas as it nears I-270.
Hilliard’s Station Park sits in the center of Old Hilliard. Built on the site where the train depot once stood, the splash pad there is a draw for kids and families each summer. Directly across Main Street, First Responders Park memorializes the nearly 2,800 individuals who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Their names are inscribed on shiny slabs of black marble displayed among two fountains and displayed pieces of steel retrieved from Ground Zero.
Located behind Hilliard’s Station Park, Firefly Winery (owned by Jenny and Joe Hollabaugh) is one of the city’s newest hangouts from the Westwood Collective, a local real estate development group. Opened in October 2024, the winery offers a full kitchen as well as charcuterie plates to accompany wine pairings. The modern interior boasts an industrial yet comfortable feel with exposed beams, brown leather bar
A comic book display at Packrat Comics (above) Children play in the splash pad at Hilliard's Station Park, which is located in the center of Old Hilliard (below).
stools and glowing Edison bulb lighting.
The portion of Main Street that runs through Old Hilliard is home to Coffee Connections and Hilliard Station Baking Co., which makes a rotating lineup of gourmet cupcakes. On the corner of Center and Wayne streets, the Center Street Market offers a food hall with 10 vendors serving fare ranging from Asian dumplings to Greek cuisine. On Thursday evenings in the summer, the Celebration at the Station event is held at Station Park. It features live music and beer from Hilliard’s Crooked Can Brewing Co., a cornerstone of Center Street Market.
Local retail also has a home in Old Hilliard at Main Street spots like Urban Market, where Lauren McKinnis sells clothes for men and women, as well as jewelry (by appointment only) and fragrances; and MAK Home Furnishings, where Ohio-made artisan goods like candles and custom furniture fill the space. Around the corner on Old Hilliard’s historic Norwich Street, Gretchen Miceli is behind the counter at Birch Tree Home, making her dream of small-business
ownership a reality.
Open since September 2022, Miceli’s shop sells home decor items that rotate seasonally, including wall art, kitchen items, artificial florals, small gifts and more. Old Hilliard’s walkability makes local businesses accessible, and Hilliard’s flourishing population and economy bring small-business owners to town looking for opportunity, much like those who arrived by train to a town known as Hilliard’s Station all those years ago.
“I can’t say [it’s] a small town, it’s really not that small, but it has that feel,” Miceli says. “… It’s collaborating with other businesses, it’s the friendliness of everyone, I think, that makes us so comfortable.”
Friends enjoy wine at Firefly Winery, a new addition to Hilliard (top); assortment of cupcakes at Hilliard Station Baking Co., one of the town’s many shops (above).
This historic river town offers a picturesque setting, a charming downtown and deep ties to the coalmining heritage that shaped this part of Ohio.
By Gracie Metz
TMcConnelsville
he Stone House and the G.P. Morris House have stood side by side for almost as long as the village of McConnelsville has existed. The former began as a stagecoach and tavern house in 1835 before private owners turned it into a family home over a century later. The Morris House was built in 1844 for its namesake family, whose hardware store is still open in the center of town, just a short walk down Main Street.
Today, the two historic homes are collectively known as The Inns at 8th and Main, a five-room bed-and-breakfast that owners Amy and Dan Smith opened in 2020. Each morning in The Stone House kitchen, the couple prepares a morning menu such as pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar, bacon, scrambled eggs and fresh fruit.
With a population of 1,800, McConnelsville offers visitors a slice of small-town living.
McConnelsville sits along the Muskingum River, just across from the Morgan County village of Malta (above). Book a stay at The Stone House at The Inns at 8th and Main (below)
“We use old China and real napkins, and we have flowers on the table,” Amy says. “You don’t do it for yourself every day. We want to make sure that we do it here.”
Some patrons who stay at the inn are passing through McConnelsville on a trip to enjoy southeast Ohio’s natural landscape, but many are in town to do business with companies based in the area and need a place to touch down for an overnight or extended stay.
A village of around 1,800 residents, McConnelsville has long been a draw for the industrious. Founded in 1810, the community sits along the Muskingum River in the Appalachian foothills, with Zanesville to the north, Athens to the southwest and Marietta to the east. Just across the river, the small village of Malta (population 556) shares McConnelsville’s resources and the region’s history as a stronghold of surface mining for coal during the 20th century.
Mining became a regionwide industry under Central Ohio Coal Co., a subsidiary of AEP. After getting its start in the 1960s, it was one of the largest mining operations east of the Mississippi until 1999 when Central Ohio Coal Co. ceased operations in the area. After it closed, AEP contributed heavily to grounds restoration in Morgan County, including the planting of some grasses and trees for The Wilds, which occupies over 10,000 acres across Morgan County and the neighboring Guernsey, Noble and Muskingum counties. These restoration efforts also included planting trees and meadow grasses on the 3,000 acres that would become Jesse Owens State Park, located a 10-minute drive outside the village limits. The state park is home to Miner’s Memorial Park, which honors the region’s bygone industry and the workers who were part of it. It houses the Miner’s Hall of Fame, as well as Big Muskie’s Bucket, the last remaining piece of the world’s largest-ever dragline excavator, which worked in the area.
Many in town recall those mining days, including John W. Finley, who has lived in McConnelsville his entire life. He not only serves as the fire chief of the local volunteer fire department but also McConnelsville’s mayor, a position he says he never expected to take. His father served in city government, including two stints as mayor, for
McConnelsville
The Blue Bell Diner is a McConnelsville favorite for breakfast and lunch. It was most recently remodeled and reopened in 2022 and now offers a walk-up coffee window.
over 30 years, and his un cle, Galen Finley, was also a mayor and councilman, and is currently an 85-yearold pastor in town at Church of the Gospel Ministry. Since October 2011, Finley has served as mayor with the same goal of those before him: maintaining the town’s safety and riverside charm.
“The mayors before me all cared for the village, they all have their heart in the vil lage,” Finley says. “And I want to continue that tradition.”
Spanning 1.8 square miles, McConnels ville has an active town center comprised of mainly local businesses with larger manufac turing businesses located a few miles away.
This community shaped by river trans portation, farming and mining is now home to manufacturers such as Germany’s Mahle Engine Components USA, as well as the Austrian-based Miba Sinter U.S. (a maker of highly precise components for the North American automotive industry) and Miba Bearings. Together, the Miba companies employ 449 people, while Mahle has over 50 workers. All three companies are located
A Boutique Bed & Breakfast Where History
& Luxury Meet
You will be surrounded by two bespoke historic properties with the finest amenities in the heart of downtown.
& Fall Inn Love with Historic McConnelsville, Ohio
steps away,
Step off the Front Porch to the Great Outdoors in Morgan County and embark on your next adventure!
Morgan County, The Front Porch to the Great Outdoors, is one of Ohio’s hidden gems. Situated along the scenic Appalachian Byway of Ohio and tucked into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it’s one of Southeastern Ohio’s premier outdoor destinations.
EXPLORE
Over 60,000 acres of public land, in three state parks & two wildlife areas.
Meandering country roads will lead you to four charming historical villages with unique lodging, delicious dining, and quaint shops. Historic sites, covered bridges, and the beautiful countryside will ease away the stress of your daily life, leaving you relaxed and recharged.
VISIT
Four unique historical villages with shopping, food, and live entertainment.
Three state parks and three wildlife areas will satisfy outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts with hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, and camping opportunities. Rolling hills, green forests, and flowing waterways will lead you to an adventure around every corner, where memories to last a lifetime will be made.
STAY
Book your stay at Burr Oak Lodge, a historical inn, or one of many charming short-term rentals.
McConnelsville
along state Route 60, about 3 miles north of the downtown, and are some of the larger manufacturing employers in Morgan County, along with EZG Manufacturing which is across the river, about 2 miles south of Malta. McConnelsville is also home to three of the five schools in Morgan County, includ-
ing its only high school. With approximately 1,700 students in the district’s kindergarten through 12 grade, the Morgan Local School District is also a leading employer, with 295 staff members.
Finley says he has also noticed a trend of people who grew up in McConnelsville
returning to the area after retirement.
“They’re always drawn back home,” he says, “and I think it’s for the slower life or the less hustle and bustle of the cities.”
That slower life includes local favorites like Home + Brew by Misdiy, a coffee and home goods concept run by Misty Bragg that sells items such as wall decor, throw pillows and dish towels. Jamie McNabb’s Townsquare Collectibles offers a spot for local makers to showcase and sell goods such as clothes, jewelry, fresh-cut flowers, baby accessories, candles and more. Visitors can also meet the shop dogs, Daisy and Holly, who love to lounge in the store’s front window. A large blue and white sign along the sidewalk guides hungry guests to the Blue Bell Diner. Housed in the J.C. Bolen building constructed in 1884, this classic diner had been around for decades, but was most recently remodeled and reopened in 2022, becoming a local favorite for breakfast and lunch.
Standing in the center of town, Twin City Opera House is one of the most attention-getting buildings in McConnelsville. Shortly after its opening in 1892, the opera house began hosting traveling stage plays
Pizza &
Indulge in delicious, handcrafted pizzas made with dough prepared fresh daily. But the real star is the rooftop patio, where you can savor handcrafted cocktails while enjoying breathtaking views of the Muskingum River. (maxwellspizza.com)
River Valley Social: Next door to Maxwells, this isn’t your average bowling alley! 11,000 square feet of pure entertainment awaits, with bowling lanes, virtual golf, arcade games, and more. Refuel with mouthwatering smash burgers and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. (rivervalleysocial.com)
Blue Bell Diner: A McConnelsville tradition for decades, this charming diner on the historic square offers delicious home-cooked meals, a full bakery, and a coffee bar. It’s the perfect spot to fuel up for a day of exploring.
(Find them on Facebook: Bluebelldiner)
Hunting & Fishing: Don’t let the storefront fool you! This expansive shop stretches an
and is
equipment from all the top brands, boots, fishing gear, camping supplies, and
with everything an outdoor enthusiast could dream of. Browse over 400
Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect gear for your next adventure. (Find them on Facebook: Maxwellshuntingandfishing)
Maxwells
Rooftop Patio:
Maxwells
entire block
packed
guns, archery
more.
Town Square Collectibles sells a variety of goods from home decor to accessories and clothing (left). Home + Brew by Misdiy serves up coffee and baked goods (right).
SHOP. EAT. STAY.
Stockport Mill Inn
Discover the historic Stockport Mill Inn, the last mill on the Muskingum River, now a charming inn and restaurant. Enjoy 14 unique guest rooms with private balconies and the original restored hydroelectric turbines that power your stay. Explore Morgan County, shop local treasures, and experience a one-of-a-kind getaway.
1995 Broadway St. Stockport, OH 43787
740.559.2822 mill@stockportmill.com
Three Sisters Sunset Inn
Escape to the Three Sisters Sunset Inn, a cozy, privately owned hotel located in the Historic Village of McConnelsville, Ohio. Overlooking the scenic Muskingum River, 12 freshly decorated rooms offer comfort at an affordable price. Enjoy local shops, eateries, and over 60,000 acres of public lands for outdoor adventures, all just minutes away.
3840 N. St. Rt. 60 McConnelsville, OH 43756
740.962.3141 threesissuninn3@gmail.com
McConnelsville
and musicals, and in 1913, it became a spot for silent films as well, with the best seats in the house costing just 20 cents.
Today, the opera house is still part movie theater. Each week, Friday through Monday, the opera house shows new-release movies as well as older films, but it is also a home for live music. Traveling cover bands and solo musicians are among the lineup that comes through, and for 24 years, it was home to the Ohio Valley Opry. The beloved musical variety show got its start here in 2000, and will move to Belpre, Ohio, after one final show in McConnelsville on Dec. 7.
Two blocks east on Main Street at the Morgan County Historical Society, a panoramic photo of McConnelsville dated 1909 offers further evidence that the village center has remained largely and remarkably unchanged over the years. The view of Main Street and the town square shows that while buildings have been repurposed over the generations, the downtown architecture looks largely as it did in the 19th century.
One such example is Morris Hardware, which bills itself as the oldest continually operating, family-owned hardware store in
the state. Opening in 1845, the Morris family’s original storefront has expanded, changing with the times to now accommodate a range of needs, while retaining its historic charm.
“It is that old-fashioned hardware store. Unfortunately, we’re losing them all over the country, so we work really hard to preserve that,” says Morris Hardware co-owner Shayna Roberts. “You walk in the door, you’re greeted by somebody that [is] friendly and knowledgeable about the products we offer and also the kind of projects you’re going to get involved in.”
Roberts has always lived in Morgan County, growing up in Malta and falling in love with Morris Hardware when she started working there in 2017. She helped the business with event coordination during a previous experience working with the Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Now as co-owner, alongside Tom Schanken, six times great grandson of the store’s founder, Roberts has the opportunity to help ready the business for the future.
“The Main Street community has grown so much lately,” she says. “There was a big turnover in new management and new businesses. … We just made an effort to get to know each other and support each other’s services. That has just grown beautifully.”
Morris Hardware (above) opened in McConnelsville in the mid-19th century and is still family owned today. A mini pancake flight is among the breakfast options at Blue Bell Diner (left).
This historic village in Holmes County offers a destination of its own as a well as a taste of the slower way of life practiced in the surrounding Amish and Mennonite communities.
Millersburg
By Kelly Powell
Standing in the lobby of Hotel Millersburg — believed to be the third-longest-operating hotel in the state of Ohio — it is clear to see how the village it calls home sits at the intersection of old and new. Much of the present building was erected by merchandiser Sampson Bever in 1847 under the name Central Hotel. To the left of the entrance, Queen Victoria’s Parlor pays homage to the building’s beginnings with crystal lamps and candleholders and a camelback sofa next to an elegant fireplace. Down the hallway, the newly reopened The Tavern Food & Spirits gleams with modern cylindrical light fixtures and historic photos hanging above every booth.
On the sidewalk just outside the hotel, we meet up with Mayor Kelly Hoffee, a mail
The Holmes County Trail accommodates in-line skates, bikes and buggies.
carrier by day who grew up in neighboring Wayne County. She moved away from Ohio during her husband’s service in the Marine Corps and relocated to Holmes County in 2000, settling in Millersburg four years later. Her enthusiasm for her town is infectious as she discusses the wealth of stores lining Jackson Street, which doubles as state Route 39 and serves as the main artery through town.
“There are so many little nooks and crannies in Ohio, just like Millersburg, that … if you just go once, you’re going to be hooked,” Hoffee says. “We slow down, and that’s the biggest thing I hear from tourists: Everything is just slower there.’’
According to the most recent census data, Millersburg’s population stands around 3,200 residents and the village covers just 2.5 square miles. It not only has high visibility as the county seat of Holmes County, but also the fact that destinations in the surrounding countryside often bear a Millersburg address for travelers using a GPS.
Walk Jackson Street and one finds historically significant buildings, thriving small
Shops along Jackson Street (above); Holmes County Courthouse hitching post (left); Mayor Kelly Hoffee (right); Opposite Page: Cottonwood Shanty (top) Hotel Millersburg (bottom)
businesses and a strong sense of community pride. American Hall exemplifies all three traits: Completed in 1874, it has been home to various ventures over the years, including a boot and leather shop, a restaurant and saloon, a harness and saddle shop, and most notably, a dance hall. In 2021, local couple Dylan and Jackie Kaufman bought the building and got to work, installing an elevator, converting the middle floor to host suites, adding a kitchen and a bathroom to the upper floor and bringing the structure up to code. Today, American Hall houses Troyer’s Sweet Shoppe and Three Feathers Pewter on its first floor, Airbnb-style rentals on its second level and an event venue on its third. The work was completed in March 2024.
“It wasn’t a project that was just going to be, ‘Let’s cover up some things and go from there.’ A lot needed to be done to be restored to what it is,’” Jackie says. “But the amazing thing is, it was built in the 1800s and it is such a phenomenal, strong structure.”
Other downtown improvements in recent years have included changes to outfit the hotel with sound-reducing storm window inserts and the gallery with a new front entry and flooring. This was made possible by a $155,000 historic revitilization grant from the National Park Service. In 2024, the Ohio Arts Council funded the painting of a Historic Downtown Millersburg mural on the side of a downtown building.
Walk Jackson Street for any length of time and its diverse mix of businesses becomes apparent. Cottonwood Shanty, which curates elegant home goods, sits next door to The Cider Press, a farm-to-table restaurant and cider bar that leans on what’s fresh from purveyors in the surrounding countryside and throughout the region to shape its menu.
Miller’s Creamery is known throughout the area for its excellent ice cream, soups and sandwiches, while the mother-and-daughterowned boutique Urban Farmgirl specializes in bohemian- and Western-style women’s clothing and jewelry, including turquoise pieces made by artisans in New Mexico.
“[I love] being able to cater a little more to the agricultural community,” says McKena Van Keuren, co-owner of Urban Farmgirl. “They [don’t have] to drive super far to get a fun outfit for a country concert or something for church.”
School-age children in Millersburg attend West Holmes School District, which is comprised of Killbuck, Lakeville, Millersburg and Nashville Elementary Schools, West Holmes
The Heartbeat of Ohio’s Amish Country
American Hall is a newly renovated event and lodging venue in the heart of Amish Country. The spacious suites offer modern amenities with historical charm, and the elegant event space can comfortably seat over 200 guests. americanhallvenue.com
Experience the elegance of a historic Christmas at The Victorian House Museum. Enjoy mansion tours starting Nov. 16 and running through Dec. 31. Tour times are Sunday through Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 1 to 8 p.m. victorianhouse.org
The Mascot Syndicate
Childhood nostalgia comes to life at this charming shop. Peruse a selection of retro art, stationery, books, toys, tees and housewares that will delight old-school film fans and vintage enthusiasts alike. themascotsyndicate.com
Millersburg Brewing Company
Located in downtown Millersburg, just across from the courthouse, this spot has been serving up awardwinning brews since 2013. Enjoy 20 house-made beers on tap, as well as a full-service bar and incredible dining. millersburgbrewing.com
New Towne Gallery
Find pieces that speak to you at this fine art gallery in Historic Downtown Millersburg. Items are specially curated and focus on exploring the past and showcasing the present through contemporary art forms. newtownegallery.com
Troyer’s Sweet Shoppe
Enjoy delicious chocolates that are handmade on-site using three generations of family recipes. Whichever flavor or texture you prefer — crunchy, gooey, creamy, sweet or salty — there is something for everyone. troyerssweetshoppe.com
American Hall
The Mascot Syndicate
New Towne Gallery
The Victorian House Museum Millersburg Brewing Company
Troyer’s Sweet Shoppe
Village Antique Emporium
Urban Farmgirl brings a western and boho feel to Historic Downtown Millersburg. Shop clothing, leather goods, footwear, genuine turquoise jewelry and much more. @urbanfarmgirl.boutique
Village Antique Emporium Located in Millersburg, the Village Antique Emporium boasts over 11,000 square feet of space filled with one-of-a-kind antiques, charming vintage gifts and much more. The shop is open seven days a week, giving you plenty of time to explore. Search for: Village Antique Emporium on Facebook
Indulge in old-fashioned treats at Miller’s Creamery in Millersburg, from hand-dipped ice cream and sundaes to fresh-made puffels — bubble waffles filled with ice cream and toppings — all with a view of the historic downtown. millerscreamery.com
Amish Country Soap Co.
Discover beautiful, handcrafted products at Amish Country Soap Co. in Holmes County. Each product is made with pure, natural ingredients for soothing, gentle care. Pamper your skin naturally! amishcountrysoapco.com
Slope Winery
We’re ready to pour you a good time at Sunny Slope Winery! Sip, relax and enjoy live music and food trucks every weekend. Winery hours are Monday through Thursday from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. sunnyslopewinery.com
Cottonwood Shanty
Explore this rustic yet refined Europeaninspired home decor and curated gift boutique, specializing in beautifully crafted calligraphy paper scrolls for every season. cottonwoodshanty.com
Urban Farmgirl
Miller’s Creamery
Sunny Slope Winery
Amish Country Soap Co.
Cottonwood Shanty
Sunny
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Millersburg
Middle School and West Holmes High School. The district has a total enrollment of 1,749 students for the 2024-25 school year.
West Holmes Local Schools is one of the village of Millersburg’s largest employers, with 293 employees making up the district. Other big community businesses include Pomerene Hospital and Medical Group, which employs approximately 400 people, and Amish Wedding Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of traditional preserves, jams, jellies, butters and pickles, which employs approximately 100 people.
Though Holmes County has the highest concentration of Amish and Mennonite residents in the world, a significant portion of the practicing community lives in the countryside to have enough acreage for farming purposes. Holmes County, which was established in 1824, and Millersburg, which was founded the following year, have been and will continue to celebrate both bicentennials with a year-long slate of programming, which began in summer 2024 and will run through summer 2025.
“We’re Amish Country, but we’re not what you think of when you think of Amish Country”, says Taylor Sigler, executive director at Historic Downtown Millersburg.
The proximity to that slower way of life provides a certain charm. In 2015, the made-for-television movie “Love Finds You in Valentine” used Holmes County destinations as filming locations, including Hotel Millersburg, the Victorian House Museum and Millersburg First Presbyterian Church.
A variety of those who live throughout the area, as well as travelers, use the Holmes County Railsto-Trails Coalition’s paved pathway, which accommodates bicycles and e-bikes alongside horses and buggies. The trail is currently the only companion buggy trail in the United States. It not only connects Millersburg residents with surrounding communities, including Fredericksburg, Holmesville and Killbuck, but it also provides access to other parts of Ohio by connecting with Knox County’s Mohican Valley Trail and the 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail.
“We have no interstates. We have no public transportation,” Sigler says. “But everybody still wants to come and visit.”
Millersburg Glass & Collectibles along Clay Street (top); interior of a room at the Hotel Millersburg, believed to be the state's third-longestoperating hotel. (above)
RACHAEL JIROUSEK
Downtown redevelopment has made this Champaign County community a regional destination for those seeking fresh flavors and interesting finds.
Urbana
By Erin Finan
The red, yellow and blue of the Venezuelan flag leap from the sign above the front door of Abuela’s Kitchen. If those vibrant colors and the cartoon depiction of a smiling grandmother don’t draw you in, the menu here certainly will.
Owner Liz Davis, who grew up in Venezuela and moved to Ohio in 2018, serves classic dishes such as empanadas and burritos alongside traditional Venezuelan fare like cachapas and arepas using recipes she learned from her own grandmother.
Photographs of landmarks from Venezuela line the walls, and the red, yellow and blue color scheme carries through to the restaurant’s interior, from the metal chairs to the light fixtures. Davis and her husband, Matt, opened the place in April 2022, at a time
A wealth of new businesses have opened in downtown Urbana in recent years.
when downtown Urbana was undergoing a transformation with new investment on the city’s Monument Square, a busy roundabout where U.S. routes 68 and 36 meet.
“There are people coming here from Columbus, Marysville, Springfield, Dayton, Sidney, and they’re here all weekend,” Matt says about the influx of travelers. “They’re visiting all of these new places, all the shops, all the eateries, because it’s all different.”
Across the street from Abuela’s Kitchen, you’ll find Urbana Brewing Co., which also opened in 2022. On another corner sits Pequeños Tapas & Wine Bar, specializing in Portuguese and Spanish cuisine.
All three businesses occupy prime spots in Urbana’s Monument Square District, a swath of downtown (spanning two blocks on North Main Street, a block west on Miami Street and a block south on Scioto Street) named for the statue at its center that depicts a man dressed in a Civil War-era cavalry uniform. The monument, which was erected in 1872, honors 578 soldiers from Champaign County who died fighting to preserve the Union.
The city’s history goes back much further though. Urbana was founded in 1805, and it played a role in early American history. A plaque on a building that once housed Doolittle’s Tavern notes that the watering hole served as Gov. Return J. Meigs’ headquarters as Gen. William Hull quartered troops in the city during the War of 1812.
The past is never far below the surface in Urbana, be it distant American history or its
Historic architecture in downtown Urbana (top); Abuela’s Kitchen on Monument Square (above); Bundy Baking Solutions moved to Urbana in 2020 (right).
decades as a manufacturing town, which helped shape the city’s economic landscape. Urbana’s most well-known business, Honeywell, employs around 1,000 people, operating out of the former Grimes Manufacturing Co. plant that it bought in the 1990s.
Inventor Warren Grimes moved to Urbana in 1930 and established his business there. His invention of the airplane light — a product Honeywell still makes — spurred the federal government to fund construction of a plant in town during World War II. (Grimes is immortalized at Urbana’s Grimes Municipal Airport, home to the Champaign Aviation Museum, where the restoration of a B-17 bomber to flying shape is ongoing.)
In addition to Honeywell, other major employers include Rittal, a German-owned electrical systems manufacturer, and Orbis, a Wisconsin-based plastics maker. Each employ about 300 people. Sutphen, a firetruck maker, brought a new 185,000-square-foot factory to Urbana in 2021 that now employs more than 200 people.
In 2020, the headquarters of Bundy Baking Solutions relocated to Urbana. The company employs around 200 people locally and produces roughly 80% of all commercial baking pans in the United States, supplying to chains like McDonald’s and Subway.
“Manufacturers are the lifeblood of our town,” says Mayor Bill Bean, who was first elected to the office in 2011 after years of
owning a local insurance business. “Sure, that hasn’t changed all that much, other than the manufacturers themselves.”
Urbana’s revitalization has all occurred since the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, a time when unemployment rates in the city reached as high as 13% and it lost several major manufacturers. Bean notes that the need for market-rate housing in Urbana is still a priority for the city of 11,300 residents. One step toward this goal is The Highlands development project, which is planning to build 513 dwellings (consisting of single-family homes, patio homes, town homes and apartments) on 93 acres behind the Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 36. A groundbreaking is scheduled for April 2025.
The Johnny Appleseed Museum is in an 1880 home (above). Volunteers at the Champaign Aviation Museum work on the ongoing restoration of a B-17 bomber (below).
Home for the Holidays
BY SYDNEY ROSENSAFT
As we gather with our loved ones for Thanksgiving and the holidays, visit these family wineries to find a homey feeling.
Discover Kosicek Vineyards in Harpersfield, where Tony Kosicek and his family’s grape farming legacy began in 1929. Make sure to pick up a bottle of their Rhapsody, a Pinot Noir and Riesling blend with strawberry and cranberry notes perfect for your holiday celebrations.
Bring your entire family along to celebrate GR8 Vines Winery in St. Marys that’s even named after their family of eight. Their wine names reflect a saying, fact or rank from the Marine Corps, where co-owner Andy Liming served. Try their Concord/Delaware semi-sweet wine named 1775, the year that the marine corps was established.
L’uva Bella Winery, located in Lowellville, had its beginnings in 2006, when Frank Sergi made winemaking juices in his garage. Relax and sip on their Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon, a red with notes of vanilla, baking spice, and brown sugar.
Enjoy views of the Na zdravie Vineyard and Winery in Kingston, where owners Jack and Cindy Mergo invite you to relax with a glass of wine from grapes grown by their family. Try their Seyval Blanc wine made from estate grown grapes, or Wild Apple fruit wine made from estate grown apples.
Visit Manchester Hill Winery in Circleville, where the McGrath family produces wines from estate grown grapes and locally sourced fruit. Stroll through their vineyards, and you might catch sight of the family tending personally to the vines. Try their specialty spiced Concord wine, a warm holiday mulled wine, which makes the perfect glass for these cozier months.
Manchester Hill Winery
GR8 Vines Winery
One of the most visible development projects in Urbana these days is the remaking of the former Willman Furniture building along North Main Street into a coworking space called WillWork and nine residential apartments called Willman Lofts.
Developer Jamon Sellman and architect Sarah Mackert are leading the project. The duo has collaborated to restore several buildings in Urbana’s downtown, creating Urbana Brewing Co. and Urbana Lofts, a collection of nine luxury apartments on the square. Mackert, an Urbana native, moved back to her hometown from Columbus after founding her architectural firm there.
“I started my own practice in 2018, and I thought as an architect that I would always work in big cities,” she says. “Pretty quickly, instead of having 90% of my work in Columbus and big cities, it just went the other way.”
Built prior to 1885, the Willman Furniture Building once housed a tobacconist, a baker and a cobbler, the latter of which eventually came to own the building. He sold it to the Willman Furniture Co., which took over the space in 1956 and occupied it for nearly 70 years before it was sold in 2022.
Just a quarter mile down the street, on the opposite side of the Monument Square District, is the Gloria Theatre, which opened in 1904. In 2014, the GrandWorks Foundation restored the property to a one-screen theater with a stage for live performances. The theater hosts screenings of new films, traveling shows and concerts, and theater programs for local students.
When it comes to schools, Urbana enrolls around 1,700 students from the nearly 8-square-mile community at two adjoining K-8 buildings and a high school building,
which all underwent renovations that were completed in 2018 following the passage of a school levy four years earlier.
Education has deep roots in the city, evident by Urbana University, which was founded in 1850 by Rev. James Parke Stuart, a member of the Swedenborgian Church, a religious society that was formed in Europe in the late 1780s. (The school closed in 2020 due to low enrollment after the pandemic.)
Another famous Swedenborgian with ties to the college is John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. His memory is preserved by way of a museum dedicated to his life and legacy. When the university closed, the museum was moved into a historic home off campus. Today, the kid-friendly space honors the efforts of John Chapman, not just as the folklore legend he has become but also as a real-life Swedenborgian missionary. Like many destinations in Urbana, the Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum ties together the town’s spirited history with the excitement of something new.
“I’m just so thrilled that people are actively interested in us and our reopening,” says museum director and curator Mikaela Prescott. “It never fails to amaze me how excited people are that we’re here.”
Clockwise from top left: Small businesses in The Merchant Shops, florist Bells & Flowers, the Gloria Theatre, artist Mike Major’s art gallery and Carmazzi’s candy store.
WHO WAS Johnny Appleseed?
Two hundred and fifty years after his birth, John Chapman still holds a place in our history that often contains as much lore as it does fact. An ardent proponent of conservation and agriculture, here is how Chapman shaped Ohio through his work.
Story by Vince Guerrieri | Illustration by Bailey Watro
As the 20th century dawned, it was already unclear where the life of John Chapman ended and the legend of Johnny Appleseed began. There were still people alive in the Midwest who had encountered Chapman in his travels, but their numbers were waning.
Chapman was born in 1774 in Massachusetts. As a young man, he made his way to the Northwest Territory, an area of land that would later become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Legend has it that Chapman sat on the shore in Vermilion and listened to the cannon fire during the Battle of Lake Erie. A white man granted safe passage through the wilderness by local Native Americans, Chapman became known during his lifetime as an itinerant wanderer. He would help families work farms and planted seeds for apple trees that could still be seen throughout Ohio in the years following his death.
In 1900, a memorial was dedicated to Chapman in Mansfield. His trees lived on, but the people who remembered the man himself were starting to die out. (In fact, early 20th-century accounts credited Jesuit missionaries with Chapman’s work, prompting a Bellefontaine woman, Maria Rathmell, to offer a spirited defense of the man, who planted trees on her family’s property.)
The monument, built in Mansfield’s Middle Park, was a sandstone obelisk bearing the words, “In memory of John Chapman best known as Johnny Appleseed, Pioneer, Apple Nurseryman of Richland County from 1810 to 1830.” (The monument was replaced in 1953 by one of similar design and is now located in the city’s South Park.)
“To the pioneers of Ohio, he was an unselfish benefactor, and we are here today to aid in transmitting to coming generations our grateful memory of his deeds,” said park commissioner Roeliff Brinkerhoff — also one of the founders of what is now the Ohio History Connection — in remarks delivered the day of the monument’s dedication.
But even then, grateful memories included myths, and a lot of those myths have overtaken fact in Johnny Appleseed’s story.
John Chapman was born September 26, 1774, in Leominster, Massachusetts. The Bay State was one of the 13 colonies fighting for its independence, and war was all around. Chapman’s father, Nathaniel, was a Minuteman fighting for the colonies. The American Revolution shaped Chapman’s viewpoint as a child, leading him on the road to conservationism, says Louis Andres, chairperson of Ohio’s Johnny Appleseed Historic Byway Committee.
“He saw how soldiers would devastate everything,” Andres says. “They’d fish all the rivers and kill all the deer.”
Growing up in Massachusetts also helped young Chapman realize the importance of apples — not necessarily as a food, but for drinking. Within a decade of the pilgrims landing in Plymouth in 1620, they had planted apple trees to make cider. It was a simple beverage to make — in its most basic form, it’s the liquid that comes from squeezing ground or cut apples in a press — and it was usually safer than drinking local water. Sometimes, cider was fermented to make an alcoholic beverage, hard cider, and then further distilled into applejack. (Cider was also turned into vinegar, an important ingredient in pickling, a key method of food preservation at the time.) Cider was the most popular beverage in early America and even into the late 19th century, before a temperance movement started to take hold.
Cider inspired Chapman, but not in Massachusetts. He went west, toward the great frontier, into Pennsylvania. He lived for a time in Venango County and crossed paths with John Young, a noted follower of the Swedenborgian church, an interpretation of Christianity based on the writings of Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. Chapman ended up in Pittsburgh, with a home on Grant’s Hill, where he tended to a nearby orchard.
Eventually, Chapman took seeds from a cider mill in Pittsburgh and set off into Ohio, carrying seeds by the thousands in a leather sack (cloth sacks could get caught on bushes and rip). The idea of Chapman as Johnny Appleseed is that he scattered seeds throughout the Midwest, but Andres notes that his process was more selective, planting nurseries in areas near water and paying farmers to tend to them, bartering or selling trees to settlers coming into Ohio.
“He really was an astute businessman,” Andres says.
The apple variety most credited to Chapman isn’t a variety at all, but rather apples that were typically fed to livestock instead of being eaten by humans.
“They were spitters,” says Mikaela Prescott, director and curator of the Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum in Urbana. “If you ate them, you’d probably spit them out.”
She adds that the apples served as good sustenance for pigs, the primary meat animal of the era and region.
“You weren’t concerned about taste,” Prescott says. “You just wanted something hardy that you knew would return every year.”
Chapman walked throughout Ohio, Indiana and Illinois barefoot and with attire described as a coffee bean sack. Rosella Rice, a woman who knew him in Ashland County, said, “He was such a good, kind, generous man that he thought it was wrong to expend money on clothes to be worn just for the fine appearance; he thought if he was comfortably clad and [dressed] in attire that suited the weather, it was sufficient.”
Chapman himself never married, but he was warm to children, telling stories and jokes. Even during his lifetime, he’d become known as Johnny Appleseed for his devotion to the fruit.
“I think every Indian, every settler, every trader in all that Ohio country must have known him well,” said Ohio-based, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Louis Bromfield, whose grandparents and their siblings knew the man himself.
Andres says Chapman would spend winters in northeast Ohio, where he had friends and family, including a half-sister, Persis Chapman Broome, who lived in Perrysville. He considered himself a missionary, carrying literature of the Swedenborgian church, but was likened to a Catholic saint, Francis of Assisi, for his attunement with nature and concern for it. He became a vegetarian, and at least one story about him states that he put out a campfire one night so as not to disturb bugs.
“He’d be eccentric by our standards, but he was a devout environmentalist,” Andres says. “He cared very deeply for life in general and the environment.”
John Chapman died March 18, 1845, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His land holdings were estimated at more than 2,000 acres at his death, “yet he denied himself almost the common necessities of life,” the Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel wrote in his death notice. “His death was quite sudden. We saw him in our streets only a day or two previous.”
Johnny Appleseed never wore a pot on his head. It has long been accepted as fact — one more piece of evidence toward Chapman’s harmless eccentricity — but it’s just not true.
“There was a cloth then called tin cloth,” Andres says. “It was a very sturdy fabric, and it looked like tin. Somewhere down the
Seeds of History
Evidence of John Chapman’s presence can be found throughout Ohio, including at these locations that hold history related to the legend of Johnny Appleseed.
1. Hartford, Allen County: South Defiance Trail, half a mile north of Spencerville Road:
A historical marker here commemorates an apple nursery that Chapman planted “900 feet east of here” in 1829, noting he did so “on a half acre of Jacob Harter’s land leased for 40 years in exchange for 40 apple trees delivered in 1835.”
line, that became the idea that he wore a tin pot.”
Prescott attributes the myth to the idea that at some point, he might have put a pot on his head to entertain some children, and it became a part of the Appleseed legend, one of dozens of stories of that spread far and wide in the generations after Chapman’s death.
Ironically, in modern times, the legend of Johnny Appleseed needed something of an image rehabilitation. The temperance movement that supplanted cider as America’s most popular drink culminated in Prohibition from 1920 until 1933. It’s rumored that many apple orchards, including some planted by Chapman, were cut down to deter illegal cider production. This, however, is most likely a myth.
In 1948, Walt Disney released “Melody Time,” a movie made up of seven vignettes, one of which was “The Legend of Johnny Appleseed.” It got most of the basic points right, but it cemented a narrative that was already prevalent in American folklore.
“Disney took this character and made it animated and probably undertook some creative storytelling to make him an interesting character,” Andres says. “But he already was interesting.”
By the 1950s, Johnny Appleseed had become a national legend.
“There were stories in California and Texas that he planted apple trees there,” Prescott says.
Even though he was born in Massachusetts and found a final resting place in Indiana, Chapman remains most closely associated with Ohio, the state where he lived most of his life. As The New York Times wrote in an editorial on the anniversary of his birth in 1979, “He belongs to Ohio, as Davey Crockett belongs to Tennessee and Daniel Boone belongs to Kentucky.”
2. Canton, Stark County: Fourth Street Southwest and Court Avenue Southwest:
A marker on the side of the U.S. Post Office here notes that Chapman came to Canton in 1809, establishing an orchard where the post office’s parking lot is today. Settlers were required by law to plant 50 apple trees, and Chapman’s orchards helped them fulfill that obligation.
3. Mount Vernon, Knox County: Phillips Street and Main Street: A marker identifies the site of Chapman’s earliest known land holdings. He arrived here and bought Mount Vernon town lot 147 (where the marker stands today) and lot 145 (located just across the road) from Joseph Walker on Sept. 14, 1809.
4. Dexter City, Noble County: 38345 Marietta Road: Chapman’s family owned a homestead located a quarter mile south of Dexter City. Chapman visited often, although he never lived here. This small, roadside memorial is made from rocks donated by people along the route Chapman traveled during his time in the area. His last known visit was in 1842.
5. Mansfield, Richland County: Brinkeroff Avenue and Summit Street: This marker at the entrance to Mansfield’s Central Park (there is also a marker at South Park) celebrates the city’s ties to Chapman, noting that the pioneering nurseryman “lived in and around Mansfield for 20 years” from 1810 to 1830. The Johnny Appleseed Historic Byway also highlights Chapman’s ties to this area of Ohio.
H
STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS
Classics
Ohio is filled with destinations that embrace the spirit, tradition and magic of the season. From enchanting historic estates to elaborate light displays, these cherished traditions are perfect for making new memories together.
By Jason Brill, Annie Kennedy and Gracie Metz
Enchanting Estate
Each year, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron invites visitors to experience the holidays as the Seiberling family did when they lived here.
Every year since 1996, Akron’s 70-acre Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens has decorated the former estate of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. co-founder F.A. Seiberling with 1.5 million lights for its annual Deck the Hall event.
The holiday-season happening invites visitors to tour the grounds, see 20 decorated rooms of the Manor House, visit the conservatory and take part in holiday activities.
For many years, the decorations inside the manor house followed a central theme. But when the curatorial team met in February, they opted for an approach last seen in 2023, when each of the decorated rooms had an individual theme.
“We’re letting the Manor House speak for itself,” says Tom McKenzie, tour services manager at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. “The rooms will be like small vignettes.”
There are depictions of a snowman’s birthday party, “The Nutcracker” and a Lego-brick-inspired room, McKenzie says. Stan Hywet enlisted seven professional decorators, including florists and interior designers, as well as nine groups of estate staff and volunteers, to transform the 20 rooms on the first and second floors of the
four-floor Manor House. An unveiling is set for Nov. 29. (Deck the Hall runs on select dates through Dec. 30.)
McKenzie says the Music Room and the central Great Hall are two must-see spaces. While the 2,700-square-foot Music Room will be decorated in Christmas hues, the centerpiece is a vintage Seiberling Rubber Co. (Seiberling founded the company after leaving Goodyear in 1921) advertisement featuring Santa Claus. The Great Hall, a space with cathedral-like ceilings that the Seiberlings used as a family room, will feature traditional decor.
“As cheesy as it might sound, you can step back in time to when the Seiberling family lived here and imagine that might be what Christmas Eve or Christmas night looked like for them,” McKenzie says.
While the estate and gardens are lit up each year, the dazzling decor and the enchanting atmosphere of the Manor House is easy to get swept up in. Christmas was a big deal for the Seiberlings, and they’d often invite dozens of family members to the house for the festivities. That aspect of togetherness is at the core of Deck the Hall for Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens president and executive director Jennifer Highfield.
“We’re a home. And we want it to still feel like a vibrant home,” she says. “We want people to feel that because that’s what the holidays are about, being with loved ones and friends and family.” 714 N. Portage Path, Akron 44303, 330/836-5533, stanhywet.org
A Presidential Christmas
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum’s holiday events step into history.
Being home for the holidays takes on new meaning during the Hayes Home Holidays tours offered at Fremont’s Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums Dec. 20 and 21. The theme for this year’s tours of the former president’s home focuses on Christmastime furloughs for Civil War soldiers. Hayes was a Union Army officer from 1861 to 1865 before becoming our nation’s 19th president in 1877.
The tours are part of the site’s A Presidential Christmas, a series of events that start Nov. 29 and run through the end of the year. They include a large holiday-themed model train display, trackless train rides through the 25-acre estate and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
For Hayes Home Holidays, trained Civil War reenactors will be stationed throughout the house, sharing stories about what life was like in the war camps and how they celebrated Christmas if they weren’t given furlough. Guests will be served wassail — a Victorian-era hot spiced cider — and a surprise treat.
“During our brainstorming sessions earlier this year, we pulled in the reenactors to talk about what we can do to make this realistic and interesting and new for the guests,” says Josh Dubbert, a historian at the library and museum. “It’s a magical experience to be led through the house by these professionally trained people who are able to contextualize the era and give you this feeling of stepping back in time.” Tickets required for some events; Spiegel Grove, Fremont 43420, 419/332-2081, rbhayes.org
HOLIDAY HOMES
These historic properties embrace the season by decorating in colorful and unique ways.
Reeves Victorian Home ◊ Dover
Industrialist Jeremiah Reeves bought this Queen Anne style home in 1898, and it stayed in his family for years before it was passed to the Dover Historical Society in the 1970s. From Nov. 13 through Dec. 30, take a guided tour of the 17-room home (offered Wednesday through Sunday) to see it decorated for the holidays. doverhistory.org
Arms Family Museum ◊ Youngstown
Olive and Wilford P. Arms were ahead of their time when they built this Arts and Crafts-style mansion in 1905, equipping the home with running water, electricity and gas. Since 2007, Memories of Christmas Past (Nov. 16 through Dec. 31) has offered self-guided, holiday-season tours of the mansion’s decorated rooms. mahoninghistory.org
Victorian House Museum ◊ Millersburg
Get in the holiday spirit by taking in the Elegance of Christmas Past at the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg, Nov. 16 through 31. This home will be transformed for the holidays, and visitors can tour at their own leisure, after picking up information at the front desk about the home’s history and notable features. holmeshistory.com/museum
Hower House Museum ◊ Akron
This Second Empire Italianate mansion (built in 1871) was home to Akron industrialist John Henry Hower. Today, it is part of the University of Akron campus. From Nov. 7 to Dec. 29, the house is decorated in the theme “A Magnificent Menagerie: Creatures Great and Small,” with visitors invited to embark on self-guided tours Thursday through Sunday. uakron.edu/howerhousemuseum
Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum ◊ Barnesville
B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUMS
This Romanesque Revival mansion was built between 1888 and 1893 by John and Sarah Bradfield. Their daughter, Pearl, owned the home before the Belmont County Historical Society bought it in the 1960s. From Nov. 1 through Dec. 22, the home’s 26 rooms will be decorated for The Magic of Christmas Mansion Tours. belmontcountymuseum.com
REEVES VICTORIAN HOME
RUTHERFORD
Gallipolis in Lights
A community effort became a local tradition along the Ohio River.
Gallipolis in Lights, a festive, 5-acre light display along the banks of the Ohio River, embodies the plot of a feel-good Christmas movie come to life. After a night spent looking at holiday lights in neighboring towns, Gallipolis teacher Shari Rocchi and her family were driving by their darkened city park when she began imagining it lit up for the season. She got home, put out a call on social media and spent the next year raising money from local businesses to pay for it all.
“When we first started, we had a couple businesses in Gallipolis give us $100 each, and they challenged all the other local businesses to do the same,” she says. “Now, so many businesses take a lot of pride in what we do. They call me to give $500 or $1,000 for the lights.”
Since 2013, the lights have become an annual tradition with a lighting ceremony taking place the night before Thanksgiving with live music, free hot chocolate and cookies, actual reindeer and a fireworks show. The work starts in October, when an all-volunteer team of about 20 organize and begin working. Rocchi has a front-row seat to all of it. Her balcony overlooks the park, letting her take in the joy she helped spread.
“I can look out and see the hustle and bustle, the joy and families and unity,” she says.
“It makes my heart very full when people talk about how much pride it has brought to our town.”
334 Second Ave., Gallipolis 45361, 740/7091677, facebook.com/ gallipolisinlights
ZOO LIGHTS
These destinations go wild with their elaborate and enchanting displays.
Wild Winter Lights ◊ Cleveland
Visitors in vehicles and on foot can experience the glow of over 1.5 million lights in the shapes of animals, larger-than-life Christmas bulbs and more at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Nov. 14 through Dec. 30). Inside, guests can also see Santa’s workshop, enjoy ice-carving demonstrations and model train displays, and purchase hot cocoa and a treat from Jack Frost Donuts. clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo
PNC Festival of Lights ◊ Cincinnati
See your favorite animals in a new light this season at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Nov. 21 through Jan. 5), where 4 million lights dazzle in the form of 30 lighted displays, an animated light show over Swan Lake and 50 giant animal lanterns. that bear likeness of famous residents like Fiona the hippo. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and check out the Madcap Puppet show. cincinnatizoo.org
Lights Before Christmas ◊ Toledo
From over 200 illuminated animal displays to two different animated light shows, the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium’s Lights Before
Christmas (Nov. 22 through Dec. 31) has been brightening the holiday season in the Glass City since 1986. Walk among the lights, check out the Winter Village for hot cocoa and roasted s’mores, and pay a visit to the live reindeer in the barn. Be sure to take a trip down the ice slide set up on the slope of the zoo’s historic amphitheater. toledozoo.org
Wildlights 2024 ◊ Columbus
This time of year, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is known for Wildlights (Nov. 22 through Jan. 5), its Christmas display featuring 3 million dazzling lights and seasonal family festivities. Take a ride on the train or a spin on the carousel, and then snap a photo with Santa, as well as Rudolph and his friends. Visitors can keep an eye out for indoor animals after dark, including sea otters and manatees. columbuszoo.org
Wild Lights ◊ Akron
The Akron Zoo’s Wild Lights (Nov. 29 through Dec. 30) is getting an update for the 2024 holiday season. Guests will be treated to fresh light displays in new colors and patterns synched up to holiday music. Throughout the zoo, visitors can spy active animals, such as the snow leopard and red panda, and visit with both Santa Claus and The Grinch while enjoying s’mores and hot cocoa. akronzoo.org
TOLEDO ZOO & AQUARIUM
Illuminating History
The beginnings of Clifton Mill stretch back to 1802, but for decades now, the landmark has been a focal point for holiday wonder and whimsy.
involved compared to when the tradition started.
“I have pages and pages of notes,” he says. “But most of the plans and ideas are in my head.”
Like any good Christmas project, the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill snowballed into something much grander than its humble beginnings. In 1987, Anthony Satariano Jr.’s family purchased the water-powered grist mill, which has origins dating to 1802, and quickly hatched a plan to decorate the site with about 100,000 Christmas lights.
“My family, my father in particular, was extremely into the holidays,” Satariano says. “My parents went out of their way when I was growing up with Christmas. We own this beautiful, historic, charming piece of property; let’s decorate it.”
While the family bought the site to continue operating it as a working mill, the light show began to draw passersby enchanted by the lights adorning the bright red mill. (“We had an ‘Aha!’ moment, and it just became a thing,” Satariano says.)
The mill also features a country store gift shop and restaurant, and its surroundings are decked out with almost 5 million lights every year from the day after Thanksgiving through Dec. 30. While setup starts in late September, Satariano says there is a lot more work
The lights have spread beyond just the mill. Red lights cascade along the gorge the mill sits above, and across the Little Miami River, the ground is blanketed in lights, including a swath of white lights that appear to carve through the red, cascading down toward the river, mirroring the actual waterfall on the other side of the ravine.
A visit also includes the chance to explore the miniaturized Christmas village and the mill’s Santa museum with more than 3,000 vintage Santas. Every 30 minutes, the lights across the property go dark and Satariano or another member of the Clifton Mill staff flips a switch to start a short, synchronized light show set to music.
New for this year, Satariano is adding a synchronized scene near the covered bridge (which is, naturally, covered in thousands of lights) depicting a pair of grazing deer that then bound off into the night to kick off each light show.
“We keep adding things year after year, and that’s why we keep doing it,” says Satariano, whose father, Anthony Satariano Sr., passed away in 2008. “It’s my father’s legacy, and we like the idea that we are part of other families’ Christmas traditions.” 75 Water St., Clifton 45316, 937/767-5501, cliftonmill.com
CLIFTON MILL
Holidays at the Taft
This historic home turned art museum offers a look at Christmases past.
Unwrapping the history of the Taft Museum of Art is like peeling away the wrapping paper on a Christmas present. The house it occupies was built around 1820 for Cincinnati businessman Martin Baum. Years later, it was home to David Sinton and his daughter Anna, who later lived there with her husband Charles Phelps Taft. In 1908, Taft’s half-brother William Howard Taft accepted the Republican nomination for president standing in front of the home’s portico.
Charles and Anna Taft were art collectors and bequeathed their home and collection, which includes works from artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Rembrandt van
Rijn, to the people of Cincinnati in 1927. The home opened as the Taft Museum of Art in 1932.
“The house is the story of the people who lived here,” says Ellen Roberts, director of curatorial affairs at the Taft Museum of Art.
Holidays at the Taft is one of those stories. From Nov. 13 through Jan. 6, 2025, the museum gets festive with era-appropriate decorations, holiday displays, art activities for kids, a gift store for shopping and more.
CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
From Ralphie to Scrooge, these inspired destinations bring magic to the season.
Castle Noel ◊ Medina
Christmas lasts much longer than a day at Castle Noel in Medina, where Mark Klaus has created a nostalgia wonderland that is open 11 months of the year. Step into an immersive world featuring New York City holiday department store windows, props and wardrobe from favorite holiday movies and the chance to ride down a giant red slide like Ralphie did in “A Christmas Story.” New in 2024, guests can sing along with an animatronic Rudolph and see the Gingerbread Theatre Show. castlenoel.com
House from A Christmas Story ◊ Cleveland
Take a guided tour of the Cleveland home featured in the classic 1983 holiday film “A Christmas Story” restored to its on-screen appearance. Knowledgeable and entertaining guides share filming anecdotes and insight while leaving plenty of time for photo ops throughout the home and the backyard where Ralphie nearly shot his eye out. Across the street, a museum has exhibits with movie artifacts such as one of the Red Ryder BB Guns used during production. housefromachristmasstory.com
For the “Holiday Traditions Old & New” installation, the staff sets up the dining room to look like it might have more than 100 years ago when the Taft’s hosted New Year’s Day tea.
“The holidays are the time when you can really lean into the fact that this is a house where people used to live that is decorated with these amazing masterpieces of art,” Roberts says. 316 Pike St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/241-0343, taftmuseum.org
Dickens Victorian Village ◊ Cambridge
Step into 19th-century England in downtown Cambridge as the city’s annual Christmas display returns Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. More than 95 vignettes featuring 169 mannequins depict the holiday season during the time of A Christmas Carol author Charles Dickens. Once the sun sets, the Guernsey County Courthouse comes alive with a musical light show that repeats throughout the evening. dickensvictorianvillage.com
Holiday Junction Featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains ◊ Cincinnati
Since 2011, the Duke Energy Trains have been the centerpiece of Holiday Junction at the Cincinnati Museum Center (Nov. 9 through Jan. 6.). Housed in a historic train station, the museum is the perfect home for these displays, including Lionel trains from the 1930s and 1960s. The largest display features 300 railcars and 50 locomotives, all of which roll throughout a decorated holiday landscape. cincymuseum.org
Yuletide Village ◊ Waynesville
Want a Christmas landscape that feels as if it’s been plucked from another world? Waynesville’s Yuletide Village delivers (Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 29 through Dec. 21). Following the Ohio Renaissance Festival each fall, this immersive holiday experience delivers enchantment with Santa’s workshop in the center of the village, Christmas carolers and live music. Krampus also roams the alleys. yuletidevillage.com
HOUSE FROM A CHRISTMAS STORY
YULETIDE VILLAGE
TAFT MUSEUM OF ART
Timeless Traditions
Dayton’s A Carillon Christmas illuminates one of the city’s most famous landmarks and celebrates the holidays with a hearty dose of history.
It’s hard to miss Carillon Historical Park’s towering Deeds Carillon any time of the year. But for each holiday season since 2015, the 151-foot-tall bell tower built in 1940 becomes an illuminated beacon as it is transformed into the 200-foot-tall conical Tree of Light.
“One of the amazing things about the carillon is that the very first concert played on it was Christmas Eve 1941,” says Brady Kress, president and CEO at Dayton History, which owns and operates Carillon Historical Park. “The limestone on the carillon kind of glows under the strands of lights. It’s just really amazing.”
Transforming the Deeds Carillon into the Tree of Light was something Kress dreamed of since returning to his hometown in 2003 to lead Dayton History. After debuting the attraction in 2015, the park went all in on the holly jolly, introducing A Carillon Christmas, which runs Nov. 26 through Dec. 30 this year. The event is held on the 65acre Carillon Historical Society campus, home to museum exhibits that share the scope of Dayton’s tradition of innovation.
Evening activities include visits with Santa Claus and a puppet show interpretation of The Tailor Gloucester, a children’s Christmas book published in 1903, a few months before Dayton’s own Wright brothers took flight Dec. 17 of that year in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. (“We tie those two stories together,” Kress says.)
Inside the 1815-built William Morris house, the Morris & Hetzel Bakery offers traditional gingerbread cookies and roasted chestnuts.
“You hear about roasting chestnuts your entire life,” Kress says. “This is an opportunity to experience what they taste like.”
The park is lit up for the holidays, with Christmas lights in trees and other fixtures along the walking paths. The new Carillon Park Railroad, a full-size train with two open-air passenger cars, ferries guests along a 1-mile loop around the park.
“Christmas is the only time we run the train at night,” Kress says. “The park really does take on a whole different persona at nighttime during the holidays.” 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 45409, 937/293-2841, daytonhistory.org
CARILLON PARK
Bright Lights
These displays and events invite visitors to explore Christmas in the city
AKRON
Lock 3 in downtown Akron is a social hub for the community all year, but it gets the holiday treatment with an ice rink, toasty outdoor igloos and other fun diversions as Christmas nears. The fun begins Nov. 29, and this year’s installment brings a first look at Lock 3’s reimagining, a project that began in summer 2023. 166 S. High St., Akron 44308, 330/375-2311, akronohio.gov/ departments/lock_3
CINCINNATI
Downtown Dazzle returns to Cincinnati’s Fountain Square for another season of family-focused holiday festivities. Each Saturday between Nov. 30 and Dec. 21, enjoy hot cocoa and ice skating during the day (check website for ice rink opening date) before a night of holiday
lights and visits with Santa. 520 Vine St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/6214400, myfountainsquare.com
COLUMBUS
Our capital city is aglow in the dazzling colors of over 500,000 lights during Columbus
Commons Holiday Lights. Visitors can check out the display that includes lighted walkthrough archways and a 40-foot Christmas tree from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. This year, the lights stretch to the Scioto Mile. 160 S. High St., Columbus 43215, 614/545-4701, columbuscommons.org COLUMBUS
It’s time to get cozy in Shores & Islands Ohio . Experience winter festivals and events, make memorable getaways, and enjoy delicious cuisine and beverages by the fireside to get you through the colder months.
While you’re out for holiday happenings and shopping, make our Cheers Trail part of your next adventure! Download our free Cheers Trail pass, then visit, check-in, sample locally-made craft drinks and wines, and earn points for prizes year-round.
Find your Lake Erie Love at SHORESandISLANDS.com
CLEVELAND
Kick off the holidays on downtown Cleveland’s Public Square Nov. 30 with the WinterLand Tree Lighting Ceremony. During the day, enjoy ice skating as well as live music and an ice show. Once the sun goes down, the lights are switched on for the season and a fireworks display caps off the event. 50 Public Square, Cleveland 44113, 216/736-7799, winterlandcle.com
DAYTON
The Dayton Holiday Festival returns to Courthouse Square Nov. 29 with the Grande Illumination of the downtown Christmas tree and the lighted, nighttime Dayton Children’s Parade featuring 100,000 lights. A downtown tradition since 1972, the festival runs throughout the month of December. 23 N. Main St., Dayton 45402, 937/224-1518, downtowndayton.org
TOLEDO
Enjoy a festive holiday celebration in the streets during The Blade Holiday Parade.
On Nov. 16, Toledo’s Distinguished Clown Corps hosts a parade featuring marching bands, floats, firetrucks, giant balloons and, of course, Santa’s first appearance of the season in the Glass City. Parade Steps off on the corner of North Summit and Jefferson streets, Toledo 43604, 419/724-6280, theblade. com/holidayparade
Village Happenings
These annual events bring the holiday spirit to Ohio’s history-focused destinations.
CHRISTMAS IN ZOAR
Take a self-guided tour of Historic Zoar Village Dec. 7 and 8 as it’s decked out for the holidays, complete with Santa and carolers. The Christmas at Zoar event also includes extended hours at the Zoar Store, Bakery, Bimeler Museum, Gartenhaus Shop and The Stars of Zoar Co-Op. 198 Main St., Zoar 44697, 330/874-3011, historiczoarvillage.com/events/christmas
CHRISTMAS IN ZOAR
Find the magic of the season ! where hearts find
You will enjoy Ohio’s only Polar Express train ride, ice skating, Christmas in Zoar, and the Reeves mansion dressed to the nines! Holiday shopping is easy at unique boutiques; experience an abundance of seasonal concerts and performances. Savor the delightful flavors at local restaurants, cafes, wineries, and breweries. Enjoy sugar plum dreams at cozy lodging, too!
Experience the elegance of Christmas by visiting the Reeves Victorian Home and Carriage House Museum. This opulent mansion, topped by a third-floor ballroom, has been carefully restored and features original furniture and antiques owned by the Reeves family.
Tours: Nov 13 - Dec 22, Wednesdays - Sundays, 1-7pm Dec 27-30, 1-7pm
Adults $10, Seniors 60+ $9, kids 6-18 $5, Under 5 no charge 330-343-7040 | DoverHistory.org
Christmas in Zoar
Saturday, Dec. 7 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 | 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Experience Historic Zoar Village in all its Christmas splendor!
Visitors can enjoy:
Holiday village tours
Live, festive music entertainment
Visits from Kristkind, the German Belsnickel and Santa Shopping opportunities at the Zoar Store and other shops
Tickets are $10/adult and free for children 12 and under (330)-874-3011 | historiczoarvillage.com
ROSCOE VILLAGE’S CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHTING CEREMONY
Coshocton’s re-creation of an Ohio canal town welcomes visitors to its annual Christmas event Dec. 7 and 14. Gather around the tree to hear carolers sing Christmas favorites as the glow of candles spreads through the crowd. Stay after to enjoy shopping or dinner in the village. 600 N. Whitewoman St., Coshocton 43812, 740/622-7644, roscoevillage.com
SAUDER VILLAGE’S MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY NIGHTS
SAUDER VILLAGE’S MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY NIGHTS
Enjoy this one-night celebration at Sauder Village in Archbold on Dec. 7. Walk under the bright lights of 1920s Main Street and enjoy activities like trolley and train rides, listen to live music, take part in craft-making, enjoy treats at the soda fountain and save time for a visit with Santa. 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold 43502, 419/446-254, saudervillage.org
On Stage
These enduring shows promise to deliver a dose of holiday magic.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN CLEVELAND | NOV. 23–DEC. 22
Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater has brought Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to the stage for decades, telling it through the frame of a mother recounting the timeless tale to her children. The family-favorite production takes the stage at Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio
Theatre and is of a length that is suited to younger theatergoers. 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44115, 216/241-6000, greatlakestheater.org
A CHRISTMAS CAROL AT OHIO STAR THEATER | NOV. 30–DEC. 21
This theater next to Sugarcreek’s Dutch Valley Restaurant stages a new musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale of holiday redemption. A Broadwaystyle score by Steve Parsons and lyrics by John Popa brings new energy to the story of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. 1387 Old Route 39 NE, Sugarcreek 44681, 855/344-7547, dhgroup com
EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) | DEC. 13–29
The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company quickly departs from the classic retelling of A Christmas Carol and detours into a PG-13 show that touches on bits and pieces of many Christmas classics, from Charlie Brown to Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. 1195 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/381-2273, cincyshakes.com
Make 2024 Holiday Memories in
JIM BRICKMAN COMFORT & JOY TOUR
DEC. 21 & 22
Renowned pianist Jim Brickman brings his holiday show to Cleveland’s Playhouse Square for two nights. Grab a seat at the Hanna Theatre to hear Christmas classics and original Brickman compositions with an appearance by special guest Anne Cochran. 2067 E.14th St., Cleveland 44115, 216/2416000, jimbrickman.com
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN COLUMBUS
NOV. 29 & DEC. 1
You won’t leave this performance of the Charles Dickens classic proclaiming, “Bah humbug!” Debuting in 2023, this locally created version of the holiday tale has been reimagined for its second season with more dance numbers and beloved carols and it is suitable for all ages. 39 E. State St., Columbus 43215, 614/229-4860, capa.com
BALLETMET’S THE NUTCRACKER
DEC. 12–28
Columbus’ ballet company has been bringing this tale of pure imagination with a classic Tchaikovsky score to the stage for more than four decades, creating a beloved holiday tradition for families across the city and beyond. The two-act show is also of a good length for young ballet fans. 39 E. State St., Columbus 43215, 614/229-4860, balletmet.org
Pop-Up Markets
These holiday-shopping experiences are as fun as they are temporary.
CHRISTKINDL MARKET OF BRYAN
SELECT NIGHTS, NOV. 29–DEC. 21
Each winter, the city of Bryan’s Courthouse Square sets up a European-style Christmas market brimming with local goods. The square is filled with little wooden “chalets” where local artisans sell handmade goods. Activities include visits with Santa, wagon rides and more. 1 Courthouse Square, Bryan 43506, bryandevelopment.org/market
StayIn Akron . com
Celebrate the magic of winter and the holidays by making Greater Akron hotel & lodging destinations part of your plans.
Your mobile resource for all that is great about hotel & lodging in Akron. Find, explore and book your adventure, learn about local partner experiences and take part in events. Find out more information about lodging options in Akron and Summit County online at StayInAkron.com.
JENNIFER
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Spend the holidays in Cuyahoga Valley National Park with a stay at the historic Stanford House. Book now to receive a seasonal discount.
forcvnp.org/stanfordhouse
Cuyahoga Falls
From walking through the historic downtown to experiencing outdoor adventures in the Summit Metro Parks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Falls is the place to create magical holiday memories.
cityofcf.com
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad offers a heritage rail experience that connects people with history, community, nature, family and friends, all within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
cvsr.org
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is the place to be during the holiday season. On select dates between Nov. 29 and Dec. 30, the estate is illuminated with 1.4 million lights, the Manor House interiors are decorated in beautiful holiday fashion and Santa is here! stanhywet.org
Deck The Hall, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN LAKEWOOD | NOV. 2–DEC. 27
Returning to Lakewood for its ninth year, this show pops up in a new spot each holiday season and features creations by more than 45 local makers. Check out the wide variety of products available, ranging from hand-lettered goods and jewelry to small-batch foods and coffees. 17106 Detroit Ave., Lakewood 44107, 216/6337097, homefortheholidayslakewood.com
SANDUSKY CHRISTMAS MARKET WEEKENDS, NOV. 29–DEC. 14
Making its debut in 2024, the Sandusky Christmas Market brings together food, shopping and fun at Mylander Plaza in downtown Sandusky for three consecutive weekends. Shop a variety of local makers and pick up handmade holiday gifts for family and friends. 108 W. Shoreline Dr., Sandusky 44870, 419/627-5844, sanduskychristmasmarket.com
DUBLIN CHRISTMAS MARKET DEC. 15
Visit Cameron Mitchell’s The Exchange at Bridge Park in Dublin for this festive holiday market that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 60 vendors sell baked goods, locally made art and much more. Admission is free and attendees can sip as they shop thanks to a full bar. 6520 Riverside Dr., Dublin 43017, 614/937-7177
Winter Gardens
Harvest season has passed, but these destinations are full of light and life.
SOLSTICE GLOW | NOV. 9–JAN. 5
For nearly a century, the Khron Conservatory in Cincinnati has been delighting visitors with a glowing holiday show that offers dazzling additions to year-round displays and 3,000 poinsettias. It also incorporates a train display from Applied Imagination, which uses natural elements like twigs to craft Cincinnati landmarks for the train to wind around. cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks
CONSERVATORY AGLOW
NOV. 23–JAN. 5
See this beloved Columbus attraction in a new light when Conservatory Aglow opens at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Visitors can explore the indoor biomes and permanent exhibits, walk through tunnels of light and see animated displays in the outdoor gardens. The conservatory is also hosting its Holiday Blooms
exhibit, with hundreds of poinsettias. fpconservatory.org
FROST | NOV. 23–JAN. 5
Frost returns to the Cleveland Botanical Garden for a second year, bringing with it an immersive storybook world filled with towering evergreens, rich red poinsettias and lighted displays. The scenic gardens take on
an air of whimsy, including little sprites within the plants, animal characters among the foliage and plenty of interactive experiences for kids. holdenfg.org
CHRISTMAS AT KINGWOOD NOV. 30–DEC. 30
This Mansfield tradition combines stunning lighted gardens with the beauty of a historic
Savor every moment
AT GERVASI VINEYARD
FROST
mansion. Walk the grounds under lighted tunnels and archways to see the glowing woodland gardens and festive greenhouse. Then, step inside Kingwood Hall to see 24 different areas decorated to the theme of “Caroling Through Christmas,” including the foyer with a 17-foot-tall live Christmas tree. kingwoodcenter.org
WINTER WONDERS WALK
SELECT NIGHTS, DEC. 5–21
Walk under the canopy of native Ohio trees along the paved Parkwoods Trail at The Dawes Arboretum in Newark this holiday season. After walking the 0.8-mile trail, visit with Santa Claus and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. Special events include a sensory-friendly night on Dec. 12 and a chance to visit with live reindeer on Dec. 21. dawesarb.org
WINTER WONDERS WALK
COLUMBUS
Head to our state capital this season to celebrate the holidays with twinkling lights, local shopping and great events that promise to warm your season. By Emma Shinker
COLUMBUS
Dazzling Displays
Situated in Columbus’ Old Towne East neighborhood, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens celebrates the holidays each year with Conservatory Aglow. From 5 to 9 p.m. every day between Nov. 23 and Jan. 5, see over 500,000 lights in the outdoor gardens and indoor biomes.
From light shows to dance parties to amazing gingerbread creations, the event is the perfect way to ring in the season. Don’t miss the chance to unwind in some cozy festive igloos at the all-new Ahlum & Arbor Arctic Terrace. When it’s time to warm up, step inside to see the Holiday Blooms exhibition, featuring holiday vignettes and a gorgeous poinsettia tree.
See Columbus in a new light this year with expanded, free downtown light displays. From Nov. 22 to Jan. 1, Columbus Commons features lighted archways, a 40foot holiday tree and whimsical photo opportunities. The city is expanding its public light displays this year as well.
“It’s not just the Columbus Commons this year,” says Amy Taylor, president of Downtown Columbus Inc. “We’re really excited to be debuting over half a million lights in [a] little urban walking tour.”
As you exit Columbus Commons, let the penguins on Town Street guide you to Bicentennial Park and the Scioto Mile, where the spectacle of lights continues.
The holiday season in Central Ohio wouldn’t be the same without Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located about 20 miles from downtown in the suburb of Powell. From Nov. 22 through Jan. 5, the Zoo transforms into a festive wonderland. Grab a seasonal snack before gazing at the millions of lights and meeting Santa, Rudolph and other beloved characters. Be sure to stay and check out the three animated musical light displays. While animal sightings depend on weather and the animals’ well-being, many indoor habitats will be open during the evening hours.
Holiday Shopping
From runway gowns to accessories and flower arrangements, Common Thread Shops on 3rd offers a curated downtown shopping experience. With a focus on sup-
porting emerging brands, finding a one-ofa-kind gift on this Columbus block is an easy — and enjoyable — task.
“We’ve gotten so used to shopping online,” says Taylor, who, in her role with Downtown Columbus Inc., partnered with the Columbus Fashion Council in 2022 to bring shopping back to downtown Columbus through Common Thread. “This is about exploring… and finding things that surprise you.”
Columbus has no shortage of neighborhoods to visit for unique holiday shopping experiences. Try the Short North Arts District for vintage clothing, books, jewelry and everything in between. For the creative folks on your list, purchase a gift card from one of the district’s experience-based
businesses, where they can learn to paint or pour candles. To the west of downtown in Grandview Heights, find streets of fun restaurants and local shops that sell everything from beauty products and home decor to sweet treats.
Farther north, the Clintonville neighborhood boasts a variety of local favorite restaurants and cafes along High Street, as well as shops that sell an eclectic mix of giftable items. Be sure to walk through Olde Towne East and stop by the East Market food hall before checking out the area’s selection of locally owned shops.
When it’s time to shop favorite national retailers, Polaris Fashion Place has you covered. Grab a bite to eat before diving into the mall’s two floors of shops and department
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; Common Thread Shops on 3rd downtown (below)
SEATTLE NEW YORK COLUMBUS
Columbus is not only a top 10 ranked culinary destination in the world but home to a top 10 ranked public market. Plan a visit to Columbus and while you’re here make a pit stop at North Market. Build your weekend itinerary and learn more at experiencecolumbus.com.
COLUMBUS
stores or let out your playful side in an arcade or escape room.
With an abundance of retailers specializing in fashion and great dining choices, Easton Town Center is another favorite for holiday shopping in Columbus. The shopping center is also home to a Legoland Discovery Center, which offers themed indoor rides and experiences perfect for entertaining the family on a cold day.
Christmas Bars
You don’t have to be Scrooge to enjoy Ebenezer’s at The Bottle Shop, but it certainly helps. Inspired by his time in the service industry, owner Greg Stokes aims to create an alternative holiday experience. Those who have had enough of the sameold holiday music and festive decorations can visit The Bottle Shop in December for dark, Victorian decor and photo opportunities with Krampus.
Visitors can even try Charles Dickens’ Personal Punch, made from a recipe shared
by the author of A Christmas Carol.
“We wanted to create something that was really fun… for everyone to get into the holiday spirit in an anti-Santa Claus kind of way,” Stokes says.
After you’ve been visited by the ghosts of Christmas, you’ll want to check out what has come to be known as the tacky Christmas bar at BrewDog Short North. Each December brings a new cocktail menu and unique, over-the-top decor.
The Citizens Trust also decks the halls this year to host the Miracle pop-up bar from Nov. 29 through Dec. 28. Stop in for twists on classic cocktails, such as a Snowball Old Fashioned or Christmopolitan. While there are Miracle pop-ups throughout the country, each puts its own spin on the experience, and The Citizens Trust’s delivers the upscale service for which the establishment is known.
For more information about these and other holiday season destinations throughout Columbus, visit experiencecolumbus.com.
Holiday Events
Plan your travels around one of these happenings between now and early 2025.
Nov. 22: GRAND ILLUMINATION, EASTON TOWN CENTER
Watch as the shopping center simultaneously lights its displays of over 2 million glowing bulbs, then stay for a musical performance and fun for the family with costumed characters and more eastontowncenter.com
Nov. 23–Jan 5: SEASON OF CELEBRATIONS, COSI
Walk through a forest of holiday trees decorated by local organizations and watch seasonal science demonstrations as COSI’s classic exhibits like “Life” and “Ocean” are transformed for the holidays cosi.org
Nov 23: ONE LIGHT 2024
This night of song and dance, put on by the nonprofit OYO Dance Company brings its One Light show to the Harmony Project in Columbus, with performances that honor the holiday traditions of Kwanzaa, Hannukah and more. oyodancecompany.org
Dec. 6, 13 & 20: FESTIVE FRIDAYS
Listen to live music, sip on free hot chocolate and pose for photos as you stroll among the light displays in Columbus Commons and along the Scioto Mile on the city’s downtown riverfront. columbuscommons.org
Dec. 3: HOLIDAY IN THE HEIGHTS, GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS
Make your way to Grandview Avenue, west of the Short North Arts District, for ice skating, hot chocolate, a tree-lighting ceremony and more as local shops stay open late for holiday shopping. grandviewheights.gov
(Continued on page 97)
Cocktail at The Bottle Shop; Holiday in the Heights (right)
THIS YEAR WE ARE HONORED TO BE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN THE COLUMBUS COMMUNITY AND EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOU.
Featuring more than 250+ best-in-class retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues – there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Easton this holiday season.
TWO MILLION HOLIDAY LIGHTS
FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS
HOLIDAY SPECIALS AND MORE!
Holiday Happenings
GRAND ILLUMINATION
Join us on Friday, November 22, 2024, as we kick off the holiday season the Easton way by simultaneously lighting over two million lights!
THE SANTA EXPERIENCE
Santa is making his list and checking it twice! Schedule your time with Old Saint Nick in advance on our website. Walk-up visits welcome, reservations recommended.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Our Festive Friends have been working all year long on a special scavenger hunt! Can you find them all through the clues? Start your adventure on our website.
TREE LIGHTING SHOWS
Enjoy the show! Beginning November 23, our 56-foot holiday tree on the Town Square will feature special shows every five minutes from 5-11PM daily.
MENORAH LIGHTING
Join Easton and Chabad Columbus on Monday, December 30, 2024, for a special lighting of the Menorah to celebrate Hanukkah.
EASTON EXPRESS
New Brands to Easton
As Easton Town Center celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the shopping center continues to evolve and add best-in-class brands, innovative retailers and new restaurants to its mix of more than 250 fashion, dining and entertainment offerings.
ALTAR’D STATE* • BOSS • BOXLUNCH • BUCK MASON • BREITLING • BLUEMERCURY
CHANEL FRAGRANCE & BEAUTY BOUTIQUE • CHICO’S • DAVID YURMAN • DIAMOND CELLAR EXPANSION
DEL MAR • FAHERTY • GOLDEN GOOSE • GORJANA • HOLLISTER • LOUIS VUITTON EXPANSION • MASTRO’S*
MIKEY’S LATE NIGHT SLICE • MUGSY • NAPA KITCHEN & GRILL* • PARIS BAGUETTE • ROWAN
SEPHORA EXPANSION SOMA • SUITSHOP* • TECOVAS • WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET
* COMING SOON
COLUMBUS
(Continued from page 92)
Dec. 6–8: HOLIDAY POPS
Listen to some of your favorite holiday tunes as performed by the Columbus Symphony, Columbus Symphony Chorus and Columbus Children’s Choir during a weekend of shows at the iconic Ohio Theatre. columbussymphony.com
Dec. 8: VILLAGE LIGHTS, GERMAN VILLAGE
Explore the shops and restaurants of Columbus’s picturesque German Village under the glow of holiday lights and stroll through their new Striezlemarkt (or Christmas market) to pick up treasures to take home. germanvillage.com
Dec. 17: PRE-HANUKKAH CELEBRATION
Prepare for Hanukkah with special programming during Franklin Park’s Conservatory Aglow. Partnering with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus, enjoy activities for kids and entertainment centered around the Festival of Lights. fpconservatory.org
Dec. 26–Jan. 1: KWANZAA 614
Celebrate Kwanzaa and African culture with this week of free events happening throughout the city, including two days of programming held at the Ohio History Center that includes authentic food and music. ohiohistory.org
Dec. 30: MENORAH LIGHTING
Stand under the lights at Easton Town Center as a giant menorah casts the shopping center in a warm glow. Plus, enjoy raffle prizes, food and more. eastontowncenter.com
Curator: Char Norman
MEDIA SPONSORS
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
It’s the season of finding that perfect gift, and these destinations offer festive ways for making a day or weekend trip out of it.
Miami County
As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better time to explore the beautiful historic downtowns of communities across Miami County. From Troy to Tipp City to Piqua, each city is brimming with unique shops that offer an array of gifts.
One of the best ways to experience holiday shopping in Miami County is by way of the Miami County Boutique Trail. Shops along the trail feature a variety of items, including clothing, jewelry, bags, pottery, home goods and more.
In Tipp City, check out Bella Gray Market for local artisanal gifts or Fox and Feather Trading Co. for eclectic home decor. Troy boasts charming boutiques like Arkhouse Co., which blends modern flair with smalltown comforts.
Continue on the trail, and make your way to Piqua, where you will find other shops like Barclay’s, known for its men’s and women’s apparel, and Bushel & A Peck, which features unique screen-printed items and home goods.
While not on the Boutique Trail, Apple Tree Gallery is a must-visit spot in the heart of the city of Piqua’s National Historic District. Established in 1994, this family-owned business specializes in antiques, vintage Christmas decorations and glass Christmas ornaments.
Shoppers can go to the Miami County Boutique Trail’s website or show a printed brochure at select locations to be eligible for discounts. For more information, visit homegrowngreat.com/trails/boutique-trail.
Bowling Green, Ohio
Radiating holiday cheer from every corner of town, Bowling Green is a great destination to fulfill all your holiday shopping needs. Start your gift search at For
Keeps, where you’ll find a wide selection of Bowling Green-themed apparel and gifts, as well as products to keep your home warm and cozy this season, such as candles, essential-oil diffusers, soaps, handmade artwork and more.
For those seeking a one-of-a-kind jewelry piece, Coyote Beads offers handmade necklaces, bracelets, pendants and rings, including genuine turquoise products. Craft a truly personalized present at Round N Round Gifts. The store offers a range of customizable pieces, including laser-engraved items and turned-wood art. Poppy Lane stocks an array of vibrantly colored home decor items, as well as quirky accessories and accent items like socks and coasters.
At Indigo Mystics, you can bring peace to your body and mind by taking part in fun workshops, such as tarot-reading parties or candle-making classes. You can also treat someone you love to a massage or reiki session. If you’re shopping for someone who loves old-school finds, be sure to check out The Fringe for vintage, antique and retro pieces. With so many shops to choose from, coupled with a festive atmosphere, Bowling Green, Ohio, promises a fun place to explore this holiday season. For more information, visit bgohio.org
Miami County offers a wealth of boutiques and shops to explore (above). Head to Bowling Green, Ohio, for downtown shopping (left).
Need a change of scenery? Head for the Hills, the Hocking Hills. This is the place for fresh air, the vibrant colors of fall, frozen waterfalls, outdoor adventures, spas, galleries, small town charm and a much needed winter break.
Shop for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at the 10th Annual Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt. Hunt for treasures in shops and galleries November 1 through December 12, collect six different Treasure Hunt stickers and enter to win one of more than 25 prizes and a Grand Prize Getaway for 4. Download your Treasure Map at ExploreHockingHills.com
The Hocking Hills, Ohio’s Natural Crown Jewels.
Marietta
Marietta offers a blend of history, creativity and adventure, resulting in a charming destination for those seeking unique shopping experiences. Stroll through the picturesque downtown and discover Schaffer Leather, a family-owned shop that has been around since 1867 and is known for its high-quality leather goods and jewelry.
For cooking enthusiasts, The Cook’s Shop is a must-visit spot, featuring top-of-the-line kitchen gadgets and cookware, even offering hands-on cooking classes. Thrill-seekers will love Marietta Adventure Co., where you can find the perfect gift with a selection of kayaks, bikes and a variety of accessories for sale. The friendly staff is ready to help you gear up and share tips for exploring the local trails and waterways.
Fashion finds are in abundance as well. Threadz offers trendy clothing and accessories that blend style and comfort, while Teri Ann’s, a longtime Marietta favorite, stocks a sophisticated selection of women’s apparel and jewelry. Just steps away, American Flags & Poles showcases an impressive selection of patriotic products, from flags to banners. Stop in at JustAJar Design Press to meet printmaker Bobby Rosenstock, who makes his beautiful limited-run posters on antique machines from carved wooden blocks and letterpress type.
For other eclectic, locally made goods, Wit and Whimzy and Clutch Collective are perfect stops, each brimming with handmade items created by regional artisans. Treasure hunters can find antiques at Green Acres of Marietta, The Marietta Antique Mall, Smith and Company, and other locations in town. For more information, visit mariettaohio.org.
Chillicothe
As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better way to embrace the festive spirit than by exploring the local shops and restaurants in downtown Chillicothe. Beautifully decorated storefronts create a cheerful atmosphere as you stroll along the streets for holiday shopping and dining.
Shoppers can visit Ivy’s for stylish home decor and accessories, while Wheatberry Books offers an excellent selection of curated reads. Find unique historical miniatures at The History Store, check out the variety of artisanal products at The Pump House Center for the Arts, and fill stockings with retro and new candies from Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop.
After checking off some items on your holiday gift list, take time to savor the local flavors. As the neighborhood gastropub, the Pour House at Machinery Hall serves up delicious craft beers and hearty cuisine. Old Canal Smokehouse is a must-visit for barbecue lovers, offering tasty smoked meats and a cozy atmosphere. Be sure to indulge in the sweet treats at High Five Cakes and enjoy an expertly crafted coffee at Rost Coffee.
The downtown experience combines the joy of finding unique gifts with the pleasure of enjoying great meals. Whether you’re hunting for that perfect present or simply soaking in the charm of the festively decorated town, Chillicothe is the ideal destination this season for shopping, activities and an abundance of holiday cheer. For more information, go to visitchillicotheohio.com.
The Cook’s Shop in Marietta stocks a wide array of kitchen cookware and gadgets (above). Ivy’s in Chillicothe is a spot for home decor and accessories (left).
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Visit Findlay
Celebrate the holiday season and check a few gifts off your shopping list this season by making a visit to Findlay. Stop by Roo Barb Studios on Main Street for custom jewelry and accessories. Names, dates, initials and more can be added to the shop’s rings, key chains, bracelets, necklace charms and dog tags. Also on Main Street, Elida Candle Co. has a selection of soy candles, soy melts and room sprays with a variety of scents to choose from.
A brick house along Findlay’s West Front Street is home to River + Road, a shop for women’s clothing, accessories and beauty products, as well as home decor items such as baskets, throws and kitchen goods.
For the wine lover in your life, pick up a bottle from the Wine Merchant. The shop, which has been in business for more than 40 years, offers a great selection and an on-site wine bar where you can sample varieties while enjoying a smattering of small plates. Or pop over to The Baker’s Cafe for lunch, and choose from a selection of soups, sandwiches, wraps and salads, as well as specialty coffees perfect for warming up a cool day.
The whole family can celebrate the holidays in Findlay too, with Winterfest every Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit Santa’s House, enjoy a local makers market and more. For more information, go to visitfindlay.com
Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt
Explore the beauty of the Hocking Hills, do your holiday shopping and earn the chance to win a variety of prizes this season as the Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt returns Nov. 1 through Dec. 12. Shoppers can pick up their Treasure Map at the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center in Logan or download it at explorehockinghills.com.
Collect stickers from the participating locations (there are routinely more than 25 shops and galleries throughout the region taking part each year), fill out your map and return it to the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center for the chance to win one of more than 25 prizes as well as the grand prize of a Hocking Hills getaway for four.
The annual event provides the opportunity to find unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and support small businesses and talented artisans throughout the region. Browse the colorful pumpkins that glass blower Jack Pine makes at his Jack Pine Studio & Gifts, look for unique finds at the Spring Street Antique Mall or pay a visit to the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls for dinner, spa services or a stay.
With the natural wonders of the Hocking Hills and the area’s evergreen hemlock trees as a holiday backdrop, you’re sure to get in the spirit of the season. For more information about the Hocking Hills Holiday Treasure Hunt and other destinations throughout the region, visit explorehockinghills.com.
over 25 stops
Find handmade items in Ohio Amish Country (opposite page).
The Hocking Hills Treasure Hunt has
(above).
Ohio Amish Country
Make Ohio Amish Country your holiday shopping destination this year. Offering handcrafted, unique finds for everyone on your list, Ohio Amish Country in Holmes County provides a oneof-a-kind shopping experience. Explore the sights and sounds of the season surrounded by the unique charm and tradition only found in Ohio Amish Country.
The magic of the season arrives in Berlin with the Live Nativity Parade on Nov. 29 at 6:45 p.m. The immersive experience with live animals from the Farm at Walnut Creek features camels, horses, sheep and oxen, while parade-goers are invited to dress as angels and shepherds to celebrate the Christmas season. The spirit of Christmas will also be on full display in Berlin during the annual Shopping Under the Stars event Dec. 6, featuring hot cocoa, holiday treats and special sales from local merchants
Discover three floors of spectacular Christmas displays at Tis the Season, Ohio’s largest Christmas shop, and browse its abundance of ornaments and holiday decor. Ohio Amish Country is home to some of the world’s finest handcrafted, heirloom-quality furniture and handmade quilts, which are sure to be a treasured gift. Your journey to the area would not be complete without a visit to Lehman’s in Kidron, which offers thousands of nonelectric products across its expansive and fun-to-explore showroom. For more information about these and other destinations in Ohio Amish Country, go to visitamishcountry.com.
Browse endless collections of treasured items! Find fashionable clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decór, and seasonal items.
Lehman’s
Make your holidays merry with a trip to Lehman’s, located on the square in Kidron. From the practical to the pretty, Lehman’s has gifts for everyone. Started as a hardware store to serve the local Amish community, the store has grown far beyond its beginnings over the decades to provide a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
For the baker or the chef on your list, check out the store’s 5,000-square-foot housewares section, stocked with everything from apple peelers to cookie cutters to noodle makers. Visit the store’s pantry for locally produced snacks and sweets, like the popular Amish Country popcorn sampler.
Lehman’s will help make sure your holiday gatherings shine. From wood heating and cooking stoves to fireplaces and all the accessories, keep your home bright and cozy as the temperatures drop this season.
Lehman’s stocks scores of practical gifts, like a castiron skillet or a handy pocketknife. Or give the gift of an experience with a candle- or soap-making kit. Nontraditional lighting makes for a thoughtful gift as well, whether it’s a classic roll lamp, a hand-crank flashlight or a scented candle. Those looking for non-tech toys, games and puzzles, will find also them here, helping young (and the young at heart) create new memories
with old-time activities.
Lehman’s is open every day except Sunday, and its products are always available for purchase online. For more information, visit lehmans.com.
Nonelectric items at Lehman’s (above); Athens Underground (opposite page)
Athens
Uptown Athens is known for its mix of eclectic shops, and paying a visit to this college town is a great way to find interesting holiday gifts, from vintage clothing to one-of-a-kind art pieces that have become a symbol of the local creative spirit
Check out Athens Underground for vintage attire and all the accessories to go along with it, as well as a selection of antiques, vinyl records and used books. The vintage shopping doesn’t end there though. Bleeding Heart Boutique offers a collection of previously owned clothing and gifts in a bright and colorful storefront. Random House has been mainstay of the Athens community for more than 40 years and is a perfect place to browse vintage treasures from records to furniture.
For those on your list who are in touch with their metaphysical side, Gaia’s Realms has a vast selection of crystals, incense, healing sprays and lotions that are said to tap into energy, abundance and more. River of Time Boutique and Gallery welcomes exploration, with a large selection of art prints, stationery, books, beauty prod-
ucts and kitchen supplies.
Finally, a visit to Athens should include a stop by Passion Works Studio, a local organization that supports artists with developmental disabilities. The studio’s signature item is the Passion Flower, a beautifully crafted art piece made using upcycled materials and painted by hand. For more information, go to visitathens.com.
Carlisle Gifts & Dutch Valley Gifts
This holiday season, two inviting stores located in Ohio’s Amish Country welcome guests to visit and enjoy premier shopping experiences accompanied by festive events for the whole family throughout November and December.
Changing with the seasons, Carlisle Gifts and Dutch Valley Gifts each boast three floors of products for shoppers to browse, including boutique clothing, handbags, jewelry, seasonal decor, personal-care products and more.
Located across the street from the Der Dutchman restaurant in Walnut Creek, Carlisle Gifts hosts several special events throughout the holiday season. Check out the Christmas Open House on Nov. 8 before heading over to the annual Christmas in the Village & Tree Lighting event on the square. The weekend after Thanksgiving is a great time to visit with special sales on Nov. 29 and 30. Travelers can also plan their visit around “Journey to Bethlehem,” a live nativity experience hosted in Walnut Creek on Dec. 6 and 7 (4 to 8 p.m. each day) that requires both walking and driving.
Dutch Valley Gifts is located on the Dutch Valley
campus just east of Sugarcreek, along with the Dutch Valley Restaurant and Bakery, Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek and the Ohio Star Theater. Plan a visit to Dutch Valley Gifts around the Fall Fashion Show on Nov. 5 or the inaugural Christmas in Dutch Valley tree-lighting event on Nov. 15. For more information, visit dhgroup.com.
Carlisle Gifts in Walnut Creek (above); JAFB brewery in downtown Wooster (opposite page)
Wooster
Make a shopping road trip to scenic downtown Wooster this holiday season. Small businesses have a large presence in this Wayne County city, ensuring you will find something perfect for all your gift-giving needs.
Everyone has a book lover on their list, and Books in Stock offers a multitude of used titles in its expansive store that is a must-visit spot for bibliophiles. For the lover of all things Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and more, Operation Fandom has finds for every collector. Next door, Blackbird Records has both old and new tunes for the vinyl record fan in your life and always keeps its shelves stocked with new music releases. Blue Spruce Boutique offers a cozy atmosphere with its wood flooring, exposed brick and inventory of stylish clothing, vintage finds and home decor.
There are also plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat. Broken Rocks Cafe and Bakery’s scratch kitchen offers omelets, sandwiches, salads, pasta and more, while Sure House Coffee Roasting Co. has coffee, lattes and teas for your midday pick-me-up.
You can also make a weekend getaway out of your visit by booking a stay at the St. Paul Hotel, located in the heart of Wooster. This boutique lodging option offers deluxe rooms and suites with a host of amenities. For more information, go to visitwaynecountyohio.com
Zanesville
Have a local shopping experience in downtown Zanesville this season at Elk’s Eye Market. Open on South Fourth Street since 2023, Elk’s Eye Market is a juried art retail space that displays and sells the work of 30 talented artists and artisans from across the area.
The selection here is constantly changing, creating a vast range of what may be available on any given day, from pottery and paintings to woodworking and leathercraft goods. Additionally, shoppers will find home decor items like sculptures, wall art and rugs.
Shopping at Elk’s Eye Market supports local artists, but it also helps you find one-of-a-kinds gifts for your friends and family (and yourself too.) The works for sale here range from items that are industrial and functional to others that are whimsical and abstract, ensuring there is something for everyone on your holiday list.
After a day of shopping, stop for lunch at The Downtown Exchange on Main Street. This food hall opened in 2023 and offers seven food vendors plus a bar and coffee booth. With choices spanning tacos and Greek cuisine to hibachi and barbecue, even the pickiest eaters can find something to enjoy. Just be sure to hit the Bee Sweet Desserts & Eats booth on the way out for
rolled ice cream, cheesecake, brownies and more. For more information, go to visitzanesville.com.
Visit Canton
There are plenty of shopping experiences to enjoy this holiday season in Canton, from a stunning resort shop to a festive holiday market.
Season's greetings
Elk’s Eye Market in Zanesville (above); Hartville Hardware in Stark County (opposite page)
Get the feel for a European Christmas market during the holiday market at Oakwood Square. This vendor village features 34 shops along with festive activities between Nov. 22 and Dec. 14. Shop for the sports fan in your life at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which features a merchandise shop with gear for all 32 NFL teams. The Marketplace at Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa offers a chic
boutique experience featuring luxury jewelry, accessories and home decor. After you shop, be sure to enjoy the dazzling lights across the 55-acre estate and have dinner at one of the resort’s several dining locations.
Canton’s museums are also great places for shopping, so stop by the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, National First Ladies Museum & Library and the Canton Museum of Art to pick up gifts, collectibles and goods from Ohio designers, makers and artisans.
No holiday shopping experience in Canton and Stark County would be complete without a trip to Hartville. This 200-acre campus offers shopping that ranges from tools and toys to antiques and jewelry, and the Hartville Hardware Christmas Shop is filled with festive decorations. This year also brings Winter Wonderfest, an extravaganza of light displays, live music and family activities. For more information, go to visitcanton.com.
YOUNGSTOWN WINTER LINE UP
NOVEMBER 16 - DECEMBER 31, 2024
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DECEMBER 7 - 22, 2024
DECEMBER 14 - 15, 2024
Youngstown & Mahoning County
The holiday season in Mahoning County offers a unique blend of local charm and festive experiences, making it a perfect destination for finding thoughtful, handcrafted gifts. Plan your visit around one of these upcoming shopping events.
One of the area’s most beloved shopping locations is the Winter Gift Barn at White House Fruit Farm. Open Nov. 2 through Dec. 22, this seasonal event transforms the iconic farm into a wonderland filled with gifts, home decor and specialty food items. With its warm atmosphere and wide selection of local products, the Winter Gift Barn is a must for holiday shoppers. Visit on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
In addition to the Winter Gift Barn, Youngstown Flea hosts two highly anticipated holiday shopping events in downtown Youngstown. On Dec. 6, Flea On Phelps sets up with a vibrant outdoor market featuring local vendors, artisan goods and festive cheer. The shopping excitement continues Dec. 7 and 8 with the Holiday Flea. This indoor holiday market showcases local makers and artists who have the perfect gift for you to
put under the tree. These events are suited for those looking to support small businesses, all while picking up one-of-a-kind gifts. For more information, visit youngstownlive.com.
Experience Hartville
Located just 20 minutes from Canton, Experience Hartville is a premier destination for holiday shopping,
Youngstown’s Flea on Phelps returns Dec. 6 (above).
Experience Hartville offers a 200-acre campus filled with holiday cheer (opposite page).
dining and family fun. Spanning a 200-acre campus, Experience Hartville offers a unique blend of charming shops, festive experiences and homestyle dining perfect for the holiday season.
New this year, Winter Wonderfest adds even more magic to your visit. Starting Nov. 22, visitors can explore a dazzling walk-through display of over half a million Christmas lights at Hartville MarketPlace,
complete with custom animated scenes and photo-worthy moments. This immersive experience is ideal for families looking to create new holiday memories. Save time by grabbing tickets in advance when they go on sale Nov. 1.
Beyond Winter Wonderfest, the Hartville Hardware Christmas Shop enchants shoppers with 8,000 square feet of holiday decor, including personalized ornaments to add a special touch to your tree. Hartville Hardware is the place to shop for gifts like tools, woodworking supplies and more. The MarketPlace features over 50 shops offering items ranging from clothing to antiques to toys, and The Shops at Hartville Kitchen delights shoppers of all ages.
After a day of shopping, sit down and enjoy a homestyle meal together at Hartville Kitchen, where hearty dishes and homemade pies cap off the perfect day.
Whether you’re searching for unique gifts or simply want to enjoy the festive atmosphere, Experience Hartville offers a one-ofa-kind destination where new holiday traditions are made. For more information, visit experiencehartville.com.
Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center, the Midwest’s premier destination for shopping, dining and entertainment, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024. Located in the northeast quadrant of Columbus, Easton features more than 250 best-in-class shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, making it a perfect holiday destination.
Along with pedestrian-friendly walkways, an open-air town square and fountains to enjoy, Easton is constantly bringing the best and latest stores and restaurants to Columbus. This year, the newest openings at Easton include Boss, Bluemercury, Breitling, Del Mar, David Yurman, Golden Goose, an expanded Louis Vuitton and many more. In addition, Easton is the only place in Ohio where you’ll find True Food Kitchen, botanical brewery Forbidden Root, Ohio-based bar Beeline, Slurping Turtle and Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce.
Easton Town Center is the perfect place for your holiday shopping and dining this season. Stop by for all your gift-giving needs and take in more than 2 million lights across the grounds. Those lights will be turned on for the first time this season on Friday, Nov. 22, during Easton’s Grand Illumination. The lighting begins at 6 p.m. and is followed by family-friendly festivities such as live music, photo ops with costumed characters
and more. On Monday, Dec. 30, Easton will also light a giant menorah for Hannukah, followed by music, food, dancing and festivities. Go to eastontowncenter.com for more information. ●
Workers load the 1967 White House Christmas tree onto a flatbed truck.
Ohio Supplies the White House Christmas Tree
In 1967, the White House Christmas tree for the family of President Lyndon B. Johnson came from Portage County.
The White House Christmas Tree has been a seasonal fixture of the president’s home in Washington, D.C. since the very first White House Christmas Tree was decorated for the grandchildren of Ohio-born president Benjamin Harrison in 1889.
History came full circle in 1967 when an Ohio-grown Christmas tree was selected to make its way to America’s capital that December during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.
“A 20-foot blue spruce growing on the Portage County farm of Howard M. Cowan near here has been selected as the official Christmas Tree for President Johnson and his family this year,” East Liverpool’s The Evening Review reported from an AP News bulletin in its October 19, 1967, edition.
The article went on to state that the 176-member Ohio Christmas Tree Growers Association won the right to supply the White House Christmas tree in a competition conducted the previous year by the national growers association.
According to the White House Historical Association, it was not until 1966 that a competition to provide the White House Christmas Tree was put into place. To have a shot at taking top honors, tree growers had to first win their regional or state competitions before qualifying to compete at the national level.
Ohio Christmas Tree Growers Association president Roy R. Pierce learned that the Ohio tree had been selected by way of a phone call from the White House’s social secretary.
“I was told to have the tree at the White House on Dec. 10, the day after Lynda Bird Johnson is married,” Pierce said at the time.
Photos in the collection of the Ohio History Connection show the blue spruce being hoisted by a crane onto a green flatbed truck owned by the Davey Tree Expert Co. of Kent, Ohio.
According to White House records, the tree’s decorations that year included tinsel, silver stars, round mirrors, soldiers and snowmen along with Santa Claus cookies, gingerbread and seedpods.
— Nathan Havenner
