20 Destinations for Lodges, Lakes, Camping, Hiking and Incredible Fall Sights
Bigfoot, South Bay Bessie and Other Mysterious Creatures
12 Restaurants to Visit Across Amish Country
MOHICAN STATE PARK
Explore the autumnal beauty of the Ohio State Parks, and enjoy a bounty of other activities while you’re there.
48 Cemeteries
Photographers Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber share their perspectives on Ohio’s cemeteries.
53 Cryptid Field Guide
Do you believe? Dive into the lore behind a few of these mythical creatures that may (or may not) call Ohio home.
Cincinnati’s Baqette creates handcrafted leather goods, and Allen Farst talks documentary filmmaking.
Celebrate the arts this season with these festivals, performances and exhibitions happening across Ohio.
West End Ciderhouse specializes in a fall favorite, and Littleton’s Market fosters community around food.
In September 1960, John F. Kennedy made a campaign stop at Cleveland’s Euclid Beach Park.
ON THE COVER: Mohican State Park PHOTO BY JESS WILSCHEK
CONNECT
BOOK CLUB
Last fall, Arcadia Publishing released Kristina Smith and Kevin Moore’s Unnatural Ohio: A History of Buckeye Cryptids, Legends & Other Mysteries. It delves into the lore surrounding creatures like Bigfoot and the Loveland Frog as well as events like the UFO sighting that occurred above Charles Mill Lake on Oct. 18, 1973. So, when we got the idea for this month’s Field Guide to Ohio Cryptids (page 53), Smith — a frequent Ohio Magazine contributor — was our obvious choice to write it.
This fall, Smith and Moore are making appearances in support of Unnatural Ohio. They’ll be at the author fair at Gathering Volumes in Perrysburg (Sept. 15) before October takes them to Black Cat Books & Oddities in Medina (Oct. 6), The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Museum in Niles (Oct. 10), NeverMore Used Bookstore in Toledo (Oct. 17), Finch & Fern Book Co. in Sylvania (Oct. 18) and the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s New Albany Branch (Oct. 24). For more information, visit facebook.com/unnaturalohio.
CORRECTIONS:
On page 84 of our June 2024 issue, we misidentified The Pine Club manager Karen Watson. On page 56 of our July/ Aug. 2024 issue we incorrectly noted the Nash Jackson Family Amphitheater’s Summer Concert Series runs through Aug. 31. The final show is Tom Petty tribute King’s Highway on Sept. 7.
Photographers Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber, who created the images featured in the new Ohio University Press release This Place of Silence: Ohio’s Cemeteries and Burial Grounds, will be making appearances this fall as well. (See a selection of photographs featured in the book and the get the stories behind them from Adams and Schieber on page 48.)
Adams is presenting at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland (Sept. 6) and at Lakewood Public Library in Lakewood (Sept. 25). Schieber and Robin L. Smith, who penned the text for the book, are appearing at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus at an event that includes hors d’oeuvres and a cemetery walk (Sept. 14) and at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati (Sept. 29). For more information, visit facebook.com/OhioUnivPress.
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MEDINA COUNTY
Take a road trip to explore what life is like in this Ohio community.
after page 62
HOMESTEAD FURNITURE
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85 HAUNTED OHIO
From chills to mild scares, these places embrace spooky season.
Bidwell, p. 83
Camp Dennison, p. 34
Canton, p. 15
Celina, p. 7
Cincinnati, p. 8, 16
Cleveland, p. 13
Columbus, p. 13, 14, 15
Dayton, p. 10, 11, 13
Doylestown, p. 82
Grove City, p. 69
p. 13
Madison, p. 80
Marietta, p. 17
Morrow, p. 83
New Plymouth, p. 9
Toledo, p. 15, 17
Upper Arlington, p. 33
Ohio Magazine encourages you to recycle this magazine. Great Lakes Publishing supports the use of paper milled from replanted forests as a
and
Kirtland,
Urban Wineries
BY HOPE DUFFY |
Discover a unique winery experience without ever leaving the city at one of Ohio’s urban wineries.
Watch the masters at work with a glass in your hand at CLE Urban Winery in Cleveland Heights. The tasting room is right across from a window to the wine production area, so you can see how your new favorite wine is made as you sip it.
Want to attend a wine tasting but don’t want to leave your couch? Revel OTR Urban Winery in Cincinnati offers virtual tastings led by their master winemaker, who will share tasting tips, food pairings and a walkthrough of the wine-making process as you taste some of their wines, pre-shipped to your door. Visit in person to try a glass of Sangiovese or one of their featured wine cocktails, like the Red Top Margarita or the O Tea R.
in Columbus uses Ohio grapes whenever possible in their small-batch wines. They showcase their love of Ohio by featuring landmarks, like the Ohio Statehouse, on their labels.
Visit Urban Pine Winery in Maumee on a Sunday and try something from their expansive brunch menu to enjoy with a mimosa. Stop for lunch another day with a glass of their dry White Orchid or sweet Blueberry Field.
Relax in a cozy neighborhood setting at central Ohio’s oldest urban winery. Wyandotte Winery
Check out Powell Village Winery, in charming downtown Powell within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Pick from over a dozen wines on tap, a practice that keeps their wine fresh and improves guest experiences. Kick back in the winery with a glass of sweet Kiwi Pineapple wine or dry Cab/Syrah blend!
CLE Urban Winery
Powell Village Winery
great ohio Road Trips
This season, we head to Medina County to visit local spots that highlight the way of life in this northeast Ohio community.
Medina County is lauded for its charming communities and recreational opportunities. Enjoy fun with the family by making a fall visit to walk among the foliage, pick out local produce and explore a book shop that captures the imagination.
Autumn Escape
Unplug and unwind in nature at the Medina County Parks District’s 22 locations this fall. The properties cover a total of 8,500 acres and include traditional parks as well as nature preserves and animal sanctuaries. Each park offers different amenities for visitors to enjoy depending on the location.
With more than 50 miles of trails, there are plenty of places to enjoy a fall hike, but Allardale Park in Medina and Hubbard Valley Park in Seville are great for seeing the changing leaves. Trails at Allardale range from easy to difficult, while Hubbard Valley offers easy and moderate trails. Most of the trails in the park system are no more than 1 mile, but for the hiker looking for something a little longer, Buckeye Woods Park connects to the Chippewa Inlet Trail, which is nearly 3 miles of both paved and rocky terrain.
Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park in Medina is a great place to take the little ones in your life. Go on a storybook walk along the path to read a seasonally rotating tale that is chosen and provided by the Medina County District Library or spend time at the inclusive playground that kids of all abilities can enjoy. For more information, visit medinacountyparks.com.
CAROLYN LUDWIG MUGRAGE PARK
Coffee Break
Shake up your average at-home cup of coffee with the help of The Coffee Colony in Medina. Since 1985, mother-daughter duo Sharon Lipton and Kim Hansen have been selling flavored coffee and decaf blends so their customers can make their own cafe-worthy creations at home.
The shop is housed in an 1846 home, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and stocks an array of coffee and tea blends. Flavored coffees are a huge draw, with over 70 varieties of grounds and beans available for purchase. The selection includes flavors like peppermint mocha, chocolate peanut butter, and oatmeal cookie. One of the most popular flavors is Jamaican Me Crazy, a warm, sweet blend with notes of rum, vanilla and caramel.
Shoppers can purchase bags of coffee in a variety of sizes, and one of The Coffee Colony’s most popular selections is its trial-size bag, which lets customers try a new blend without the commitment. These small bags of coffee grounds cost $2 and hold enough for about five cups of coffee. Those who are not into coffee can check out the shop’s variety of bagged and loose-leaf teas. 113 N. Huntington St., Medina 44256, 330/722-6797, thecoffeecolony.com
Book Haven
With over 10,000 titles on its shelves, Black Cat Books and Oddities in Medina has become a local favorite for picking out a new read. Recently expanding into two separate buildings, the shop initially opened on Court Street in summer 2023 and expanded to include a second building around the corner on Lafayette Street in June 2024.
In the original space, shoppers are greeted with a selection of art prints for sale and a collection of new book titles before they head into the next room where mysteries and thrillers abound. Upstairs, kids will love exploring The Secret Garden, a children’s book room decorated with artificial flowers and mushroom-shaped tents to sit in. Edgar Allan Poe is celebrated in a room of his own, and there is a selection of banned books to choose from tucked away in a corner closet.
In the new addition, the entryway opens into a space walled with roses in various shades of pink and a blush-colored sofa that creates a perfect environment for diving into a romantic read. Around the corner, horror and sci-fi fans will find their next favorite among the shelves decorated with bubbling test tubes. 420 S. Court St., Medina 44256, 440/263-0650, blackcatmedina.com
Farm Fun
Find fall fun as well as fresh, local goods at Richardson Farms in Medina. In its sixth generation of family ownership, the farm has been a Medina County favorite for decades, welcoming visitors to stop in for fresh flowers, meat, produce and local goods.
The greenhouse sells bountiful blooms of flowers in hanging baskets during the growing season, while the market is open year-
round. Here, shoppers will find in-season fruits and vegetables, as well as farm fresh beef and pork. The farm market also stocks a variety of other goods made by Richardson Farms, including jams, pickles and salsas, as well as eggs produced by the chickens who call the farm home.
Goods from local purveyors fill the shelves as well, spanning biscuits, baked goods, milk, coffee, pierogies, syrups and more. Fall is a perfect time to visit as apples and peaches are ripe for the picking. Walk through the orchard and fill a bag with fruits to take home or make plans to visit the pumpkin patch, where the family can pick out a bright orange pumpkin to make the perfect jack-o’lantern. When you go, be sure to pay a visit to the farm’s chickens, cows and pigs. 6984 Lafayette Rd., Medina 44256, 330/722-4029, richardsonfarms.com
Go to visitmedinacounty.com for more information about these and other Medina County destinations.
KILLBUCK MARSH WILDLIFE AREA
RICHARDSON FARM
THE COFFEE COLONY
BLACK CAT BOOKS AND ODDITIES
Chairman Lute Harmon Sr.
President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.
Natural Heritage
National parks get all the attention, and for good reason. Experiencing the grandeur of Yosemite, Yellowstone or Glacier has few rivals. But visiting a variety of national parks takes work, planning and plenty of miles (not to mention the expense of both time and money). There is a lot to love about such trips, but sometimes you want to explore a little closer to home.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The creation of a parks division within it meant the state became overseer of lands and lakes that had been set aside for public use. It started with 16 parks, of which Buckeye Lake was among the oldest, having been constructed during the 1820s and ’30s
By 1950, after talks with the state’s forestry and wildlife divisions, the list of Ohio State Parks totaled 44. With a little over $150,000, V. W. Flickinger, the first head of Ohio’s parks division, set out to make these places destinations for nature enthusiasts by funding the creation of programming and interpretation at each site. The aim was to not only give Ohioans a place to enjoy nature but also help them build an appreciation for it.
Today, there is a state park near where you live, no matter where that happens to be. Earlier this year, the 76th park in the Ohio State Parks system, Great Council State Park, opened in Xenia. The park is located where the Shawnee village of Old Chillicothe once stood, and a 12,000-square-foot interpretive center modeled after a Shawnee longhouse serves as its centerpiece.
If you haven’t spent much time exploring Ohio’s state parks, autumn is a good time to do so. The heat of summer gives way to fall breezes and changing leaves, creating ideal conditions for a long afternoon on the trail or a quiet night of camping. Or you can stay in style at one of the beautiful Ohio State Parks lodges, which span from the Appalachian foothills near Cambridge to the shoreline of Lake Erie. There are plenty of adventures waiting to be discovered in our state parks, and we have some suggestions to inspire you, starting on page 36.
Filmmaker Ken Burns subtitled his documentary about our country’s national parks “America’s Best Idea,” and the same could be said about the mid-20th-century foresight to set aside public lands for use by Ohioans. It’s an idea that keeps looking better and better, year after year.
EDITORIAL
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Editor Jim Vickers
Associate Editors Erin Finan, Gracie Metz
Contributing Writers Ruth Corradi Beach, Jason Brill, Hollie Davis, Nicholas Dekker, Nathan Havenner, Emma Shinker, Kristina Smith, Ilona Westfall
Digital Content Assistant Kelly Powell
Editorial Interns Morgan Mills, Olivia Montgomery
Art Director Rachael Jirousek
Contributing Artists Ian Adams, Matthew Allen, Oliver Allison, Megan Leigh Barnard, Sam Ciha, Lee J. Markowitz, Brian Prose, Nathan Racz, Randall Lee Schieber, Jeff Smith, Jess Wilschek
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Mythical Monument
Bigfoot is one of Ohio’s most popular and enduring bits of lore, with sightings of the hairy and mysterious humanlike creature dating back generations. While many yearn for a glimpse of the elusive being, he typically evades sightings or photographic evidence — except in Mercer County, where visitors can behold a monumental statue of Sasquatch himself. Constructed in just one week by nine skilled craftsmen from Bear Hollow Wood Carvers, a traveling wood-carving team based out of Indiana, this 27-foot-tall tribute to the cryptid was commissioned to celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse and now watches over the Mercer County Fairgrounds. 1001 W. Market St., Celina 45822
Leather Looks: Cincinnati-based maker Quinn McIlhargeyNicholson’s Baqette creates handcrafted leather goods that are both functional and fashionable.
Medieval Retreat: An overnight stay at New Plymouth’s Ravenwood Castle offers a unique blend of centuries-old aesthetics and up-to-date amenities.
Leather Looks
Cincinnati-based maker Quinn McIlhargeyNicholson’s Baqette creates handcrafted leather goods that are both functional and fashionable.
Quinn McIlhargey-Nicholson entered the fashion retail world in 2012. At the same time, she began pursuing a smaller, more colorful, leatherworking project, which came to be known as Baqette. Her foray into bag-making began during a visit to her uncle’s Cumberland Furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, in the remnant pieces of leather, she saw the possibility to create items that stood apart from the mainstream.
“I was just playing around with my uncle’s scraps at the furniture company,” she recalls, adding, “His ‘scraps’ are full hides and half hides.”
McIlhargey-Nicholson created a small studio in her postcollege apartment and began experimenting with her sewing machine. By 2013 her creations were gaining a following online, and a few years later she was selling them locally in Cincinnati markets. She launched Baqette in 2017 and left her full-time job three years later to focus on the bag-making business.
Today, Baqette operates out of Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills neighborhood, making eye-catching bags, wallets, straps and key tools. McIlhargey-Nicholson is committed to sustainable production, and although she can’t promise all products are made from upcycled leather, she uses it as often as she can.
When designing a new product, McIlhargey-Nicholson creates a prototype and preps the piece with the help of her studio assistants, who pick up where others leave off, cutting leather or sewing zippers, which results in several people working to complete one item.
Although she says it is hard to pick favorites, McIlhargey-Nicholson is particularly fond of the Crescent Woodie, a half-moonshaped bag with an ovular handle designed by local woodworker Colin Cormier. She also takes pride in the Party Bucket, a collaboration with Lawn Party, a vintage glass-bead company with an expansive jewelry collection.
Her pieces are colorful and chic, but McIlhargey-Nicholson notes that as much as her creations can be used to make fashion statements, she doesn’t want them to lose their functionality.
“Use a leather bag and get a stain on it,” she says. “It’s not a luxury handbag, but it is well made. It’s handmade and has a lot of thought behind it, but it’s not too precious that you shouldn’t use it on a daily basis.” — Kelly Powell
For more information, visit baqette.com.
Medieval Retreat
Ravenwood Castle’s overnight stays offer a blend of centuries-old aesthetics and up-to-date amenities, along with themed rooms and engaging events.
While this hotel in Vinton County may have been built in 1995, the design of Ravenwood Castle hails from the 12th- and 13th-century castles that once sat on the border of England and Wales. It offers guests the feeling of stepping back in time while enjoying all the comforts and conveniences of modern living.
“We really wanted it to keep with the feel of what it is,” says Pam Reed, who purchased Ravenwood Castle with her husband, Jim, in 2012. “We’ve been very careful with the decorations and furniture and those items we have put in to keep with the theme of the castle and be true to what it is.”
The stone walls and dark, wooden furniture of the castle’s great hall help set that tone. Then, there are the 21 themed rooms available to choose from when booking a stay. Unlike a typical hotel, no two rooms are alike. Each has unique features, such as Rapunzel’s Tower, which is situated in the highest portion of the castle, and Cinderella’s Coach House, which has two stained-glass windows. There are also a variety of cottages and cabins on the 57-acre property that are available for overnight stays.
Ravenwood Castle also hosts events such as Murder Mystery Weekends, which it has staged for more than a decade (typically scheduled on select weekends from September through April). The experience starts as soon as guests check in on Friday and runs throughout the weekend, allowing time for participants to search for clues and piece together the mystery before checkout on Sunday. For more fun and games, the castle provides a boardgame library with more than 150 tabletop games for guests to play.
Ravenwood Castle also offers complimentary breakfast, with house specialties like its cinnamon rolls, which are a must-try on Sunday mornings. The Raven’s Roost Pub is open daily, offering a selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails.
Reed says even though they have gone to great lengths to create a unique on-site experience, providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for guests to come back to after exploring this scenic region of southeast Ohio is just as important.
“The area itself is just beautiful,” she says. “There are so many things to do.”
— Olivia Montgomery
The Halloween we celebrate today would be little recognized by the original Celtic celebrants from whose harvest holiday, Samhain, our modern traditions evolved. But the traces of those ancient customs remain.
The term “jack-o’-lantern” was used in folklore to describe the faint eerie lights that floated above bogs, and while costumes and trick-ortreating are more modern notions, using a carved vegetable as a lantern has much older roots.
Eighteenth-century Irish pranksters hollowed out turnips or mangelwurzels (a type of beet), carved faces into them and used stumps of candles to illuminate them. Carved turnips eventually became carved pumpkins, which inspired this tin lantern.
This item was patented in 1902 and manufactured by the Toledo Metal Sign Co. It was mounted on a pole or hung on the end of one with a hook and lit from within by a candle. Finding one of these lanterns in excellent condition is a real treat for collectors, but the trick is finding one as affordable as this one was when it sold a few years ago for $2,500. Today, a similar example would be more likely to sell for $5,000 or more. — Hollie Davis
$2,500 SOLD
65666 Bethel Rd., New Plymouth 45654, ravenwoodcastle.com
Hollie Davis is a co-owner of Meander Auctions in Whipple, Ohio.
Early 20th-century lantern from Toledo Metal Sign Co.
Movie Magic
For Daytonian Allen Farst, decades of moviemaking culminate in his latest project, “Triangle Park,” a documentary about the historic game that kicked off the NFL.
Allen Farst became a filmmaker, he says, because he wasn’t really good at anything else. He started making movies as a child in Dayton and later moved into a career shooting music videos, commercials for national brands and marketing videos.
In 2020, he directed “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” a documentary about the keyboardist and musical director for the Rolling Stones, also a committed environmentalist and sustainable forester. That movie got Farst into the Directors Guild of America, and he decided to take on a project closer to home for his next documentary.
“Triangle Park” is about the first game in the history of what is now the NFL, which took place on Oct. 3, 1920, when the Columbus Panhandles played the Dayton Triangles at Triangle Park, a three-sided slip of land at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater rivers in Dayton. The game was the first for the American Professional Football Association, which was formed less than two months prior. The movie got a limited theatrical release in fall 2023 and will be available on Amazon Prime starting Sept. 5. — Vince Guerrieri
With this game being played in 1920, there is no video footage and few still photos. How do you as a filmmaker tell a story with those constraints?
A: I had to do some digging. I interviewed some of the families of the players, and they had things in their basement that they’d never shared. One descendant had a Dayton Triangles necklace, and as far as I know, that’s one of only two that exists. We have a lot of re-enactments in the film. We wanted to make this as fun as possible to watch.
There are a lot of big names involved in the movie. Michele Tafoya narrates, and a lot of former players and coaches, like Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Dungy and Cris Collinsworth are in it. How did you get them?
A: I was fortunate enough that I knew about 35% of them. My publicist mentioned he knew Michele Tafoya, and about a day later, I was on the phone with her telling her my vision, and she said, “I totally want to be the narrator.” And then she asked me, “Who do you want for the movie?”
So what’s next?
A: I’m currently working on a faith-based film called “Osgood.” It’s a true story about a lady named Karen Homan, and I was riveted when I heard it. I also optioned Tom Crouch’s book “The Bishop’s Boys,” about the Wright brothers, for a movie called “Flying Machine.” I’m doing a screenplay, and the Wright family is working with me. Nobody’s ever done a feature film on the Wright brothers, and that seems crazy to me. I’m an Ohio-centric guy with these films I’m doing.
For more information, visit allenfarst.com.
Allen Farst’s “Triangle Park” got a limited theatrical release in 2023. It will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Sept. 5.
FALL ARTS PREVIEW
Hamilton
Oct. 1–13: Dayton
Recount the life and legacy of one of our country’s most influential Founding Fathers as this 11-time Tony Award-winning musical brings its North American tour to the Schuster Center in Dayton. Featuring stunning costumes, captivating choreography and a dynamic score by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this revolutionary production vividly brings to life the birth of the United States. daytonlive.org
:
Calendar of Events: Your fall plans start here. Check out our guide to exhibitions, shows, festivals and other happenings scheduled between now and the end of October.
Creature Feature
Explore “Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art” at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and see historic works that explore the supernatural
Don’t miss out on Dayton’s amazing world-class arts and cultural scene!
Plan
Find both performing & visual arts in Dayton!
Bach Society of Dayton
“Bing” Davis Studio & EbonNia Gallery
Brookville Community Theatre
Color of Energy Gallery
Dayton Art Institute
Dayton Ballet
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Dayton Live
Dayton Opera
Dayton Philharmonic
Dayton Playhouse
Dayton Theatre Guild
Edward Dixon Gallery
Fraze Pavilion
Front Street Galleries
High Street Galleries
K-12 Gallery & TEJAS
Levitt Pavilion
Muse Machine
Musica, Dayton’s
Chamber Choir
Rose Music Center
Rosewood Arts Center
The Contemporary
The Human Race Theatre
Dayton Art Institute
Dayton Live
FALL ARTS
exhibit
Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art
Sept. 8–Jan. 19: Cleveland
Aregal figure with blue skin is flanked by two warrior demons, one with three eyes and the other wearing a dragon around its neck like a scarf. This strange trio depicted in “Heavenly King Virudhaka,” a painting on a silk hanging scroll that dates back to the Ming Dynasty, was intended to scare off evil spirits from the Buddhist temple in which it would have hung.
The colorful piece is one of 20 sculptures and paintings in the exhibition “Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art” on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art from Sept. 8 through Jan. 19. The exhibit explores secular and religious works that incorporate supernatural creatures from the sixth century to the 18th century, many of which hail from the Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian belief systems.
While it might be tempting to assume a supernatural creature is meant to depict something inherently evil, that is not necessarily true, according to Clarissa von Spee, curator of Chinese art and chair of the Asian art department at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
“What’s most fascinating for me is they can be good or evil, the same creature, de-
music
Don’t Stop Believin’: The Music of Journey
Oct. 26: Dayton
Listen as the Dayton Philharmonic and the music of Journey blend harmoniously at the Schuster Center. This performance pairs the orchestra with Canadian-based rock group Jeans ’n Classics to cover hits such as “Separate Ways” and, of course, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” dayton performingarts.org
pending on which service they are in and who controls them,” von Spee says. “They can be harmful or they can protect you against evil spirits.”
For example, a pair of fierce-looking, half-animal, half-human “Tomb Guardians” in the exhibition would have originally been situated in the entrance to a tomb. The human-size creatures served two purposes: protecting the deceased inside from outsiders and keeping the soul of the deceased from wandering out.
The same duality is found in a painting that serves as the inspiration for the exhibition, “Demon Queller Zhong Kui” by Gao Qipei. This rare finger painting on loan from a private collection serves as the centerpiece of the exhibit. The painting depicts the story
of demon soldiers being sent out by the governor of the region to clear the mountains of creatures and a dragon that caused devastating flooding to the area. In this case, the demons are the good guys.
While the timing of the exhibition coinciding with Halloween and the Chinese Year of the Dragon is a coincidence, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore an aspect of Chinese art people do not typically see, even though it is a common denominator in all cultures.
“It’s not specific to Chinese art,” von Spee says. “It’s a very human phenomenon to have demons and creepy and scary creatures.” 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106, 216/421-7350, clevelandart.org — Ilona Westfall
dance
Dracula
Oct. 25–Nov. 2: Columbus
Returning to the Davidson Theatre stage, “Dracula” has been a fall favorite for fans of Columbus’ BalletMet since its premiere in 1999. Former artistic director David Nixon’s haunting version, which draws on both Bram Stoker’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation, is told through beautiful costuming and choreography. balletmet.org
“TOMB GUARDIANS”
Fragments of Epic Memory
Sept. 19–Jan. 26: Columbus
Shades of blue envelop the Carnival performer, her elaborate costume decorated with an array of feathers. She is the subject of Jamaican artist Paul Anthony Smith’s “Midnight Blue,” a picotage on pigment print created in 2020. Picotage is Smith’s technique of stippling the image with a sharp tool to create texture, like on the performer’s body. In “Midnight Blue,” he also used spray paint and colored pencil to enhance the blue painted figure in the background so that it appears drawn into the scene rather than naturally part of it.
Smith’s piece is part of “Fragments of Epic Memory,” a traveling exhibition that can be seen at the Columbus Museum of Art from Sept. 19 through Jan. 26. Named for a 1992 Nobel Prize-winning lecture by writer Derek Walcott, the exhibit serves as a window into the Caribbean through the presentation of historic photographs and documents alongside contemporary art across various mediums.
“It’s a region that’s inspired many of the freedom struggles that continue to play out across the globe,” says Daniel Marcus, the Columbus Museum of Art’s in-house curator for the exhibition. “Particularly, this show was conceived with the George Floyd movement unfolding simultaneously. There’s a link that the show makes between the uprising in 2020, and the pattern of movements in the Caribbean going all the way back to emancipation in the 1830s.”
festival
Village Peddler Festival
Sept. 14–15: Kirtland
Shop works from over 150 artisans during this annual festival at Lake Metroparks Farmpark. Browse handcrafted items including jewelry, soap, candles, wood crafts, clothing and more. The event also features music from acts such as Country Redford and the Blackjack Gypsies. villagepeddlerfestival.com
The exhibition includes contemporary media such as photography, video projection and paintings by artists of Caribbean descent to tell the stories of both struggle and celebration. The heart of the exhibition is a collection of more than 100 historic photographs of the island region, which come from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs and depict the years following freedom from colonial rule.
“It asks us to think about the Caribbean, but it also asks us to reflect on the immensity of Caribbean history,” Marcus says. “That history is central to the show. It’s front and center. We want people to come away with that weight and at the same time we want people to come away with the lightness of Carnival.” E. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/221-6801, columbusmuseum.org — Olivia Montgomery
PAUL ANTHONY SMITH’S “MIDNIGHT BLUE”
exhibit
Transcendent Dreamscapes
Thru Oct. 27: Canton
See nearly 50 surrealist works at the Canton Museum of Art during “Transcendent Dreamscapes: Exploring Surrealism Through the CMA Collection.” The exhibit features dreamlike works by Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Kay Sage, a pioneering woman in the genre, among others. cantonart.org
theater
The Book of Mormon Oct. 8–13: Columbus
Enjoy this nine-time Tony Award-winning musical at the Ohio Theatre. The irreverent musical from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Robert Lopez follows the story of two missionaries and their zany journey across the globe to spread their religion to others. capa.com
music
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in Concert Sept. 20: Toledo
Revisit the halls of Hogwarts and dive into the wizarding world in a whole new way with the Toledo Symphony. This immersive experience at the Stranahan Theater pairs a screening of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” with a live performance of the score. artstoledo.com/toledosymphony
the
&
FALL ARTS
Discovering Ansel Adams
Sept. 27–Jan. 19: Cincinnati
Snowcaps top magnificent mountains standing sentry in the distance as light sneaks through the clouds above and illuminates a silvery, serpentine river. Captured in black and white, the image is so vivid that color is not required to communicate the tranquility and the gravity of the scene — it’s even better this way, echoing with majesty and eternity like so many of photographer Ansel Adams’ works.
Adams created this photo, “The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming,” in 1942, and it is among a prolific body of work that cemented the artist as a legend in the medium of landscape photography.
“Discovering Ansel Adams,” on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum from Sept. 27
through Jan.19, provides a roadmap of the photographer’s life through roughly 80 photographs and about 30 artifacts, including his personal compass and a light meter, all of
into Findlay Fun! Fall
Make your plans in Findlay!
Findlay is home to all your fall fun! Make plans to attend an event, like Oktoberfest or the Historic Barn Tour, and round out your weekend getaway with a memorable meal at a local restaurant, enjoy the fall colors, and go on a shopping spree in Downtown Findlay. Fall fun awaits in Findlay!
which showcase Adams as a photographer but also an outdoorsman.
“He absolutely thought of himself as an artist, but his thoughts about art were always
“THE TETONS AND THE SNAKE RIVER, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING”
together with thoughts about conservation, the natural world and the United States,” says Nathaniel M. Stein, curator of photography at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Aside from one image, all the photographs in the exhibition are on loan from the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson, which Adams co-founded in the 1970s. This collection showcases what are deemed as some of his most influential works.
Adams’ journey as a photographer began with a Kodak Brownie and a trip to Yosemite at the age of 14. His love for the outdoors progressed along with his camera skills, and over the course of his lifetime, his use of natural lighting, use of cameras that allowed for incredible detail, and technical mastery of film exposure and development reshaped the world of landscape photography.
“His thinking and techniques taught many 20th-century photographers a very influential idea,” Stein says. “His influence is important both for people that have followed it and the for the people who have reacted in opposition to it.” 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati 45202, 513/721-2787, cincinnatiartmuseum.org — Morgan Mills
festival Momentum Festival
Sept. 20–22: Toledo
Explore art in downtown Toledo at this festival focused on community and culture. Watch independent movies, browse an art market and fine art exhibition, and enjoy live music and dance. The Toledo Museum of Art and its Glass Pavilion plays host to the opening reception. theartscommission.org/events/ momentum
Oct. 3: Marietta
Hailing from Texas, Lonestar has been releasing No. 1 hits since the 1990s. The group behind favorites like “Amazed,” “Mr. Mom” and “I’m Already There” brings its brand of country music to the historic Peoples Bank Theatre stage. peoplesbanktheatre.com
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music
Lonestar
CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
Central festivals
SEPT 5–7
Marion Popcorn Festival
Since 1981, organizers have been putting together a celebration of America’s favorite movie theater snack. Today, it is the largest popcorn festival in the world, attracting crowds of over 250,000 people annually. Downtown Marion, Marion, 740/387-3378. popcornfestival.com. 11 a.m.–midnight. Visit website for prices.
SEPT 20–22
Arts in the Alley Festival
Mark your calendars and be ready to join The Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce for the 45th annual Arts in the Alley Festival and Voice of Grove City vocal competition. This event features 120 artists and vendors, arts competitions and a community parade that begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Grove City Town Center, 3360 Park St., 614/875-9762. gcchamber.org/arts. Fri. 5 p.m.–Sun. 5 p.m. Free.
SEPT 28
Lawrence Orchards Applefest
Celebrate the star of every orchard at this gathering hosting hayrides, live music, pony rides, food trucks and more. Be sure to set aside some time to pick your own apples and take a bushel home. Lawrence Orchards, 2634 Smeltzer Rd., Marion, 740/389-3019. lawrenceorchards.com. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $7.
museums + exhibits
SEPT 22–JAN 5
Rotimi Fani-Kayode: Tranquility of Communion
See into a world of heightened sensuality through the work of Nigerian British photographer Rotimi Fani-Kayode. This potent exhibition highlights themes of Yoruba cosmology and queer activism, while also offering a look into Fani-Kayode’s own journey navigating his complex identity and heritage. Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., Columbus, 614/2923535. wexarts.org. Visit website for times. Free.
music + theater
SEPT 7
Delaware Music Festival
The inaugural celebration of this event will highlight local bands from the community with five live musical performances throughout the day. Boardman Arts Park, 154 W. William St., Delaware, 614/226-8744. boardmanartspark. org. Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Pre-sale $8, day-of $10, children free.
SEPT 13–15
MTVarts: Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.
MTVarts presents this magical tale that takes audiences under the sea and beyond. Adapted from classic literature, the Academy Award-winning film and Broadway musical, Ariel’s journey is a beautiful love story for the ages. Knox Memorial Theater, 112 E. High St., Mount Vernon, 740/830-6040. mtvarts.com. Visit website for times. $15–$20.
SEPT 27–OCT 13
Little Theatre Off Broadway Presents: The Passion of Dracula
Based on the iconic novel by Bram Stoker, this production will be held in the historic Little Theatre Off Broadway in downtown Grove City. Be sure to enjoy local eateries, shops and attractions before or after the show. Little Theatre Off Broadway, 3981 Broadway, Grove City, 614/875-3919. ltob.org. Visit website for times. Seniors $15, all others $20.
other events
THRU SEPT 26
Thursdays at The Yard
Easton Town Center welcomes you to eat, drink, move and groove Thursdays this summer at The Yard. From funk to acoustic and Americana
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.
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to rock, enjoy free live music from local artists. Grab a drink on a patio overlooking The Yard, or pop out your favorite lawn chair right in front of the stage. The Yard, 160 Easton Town Center, Columbus, 614/416-7000. eastontowncenter. com. 6–9 p.m. Free.
SEPT 15
Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens
Explore an extraordinary collection of homes in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood. From historic mansions to a renovated warehouse, tour attendees will experience these buildings’ unique interiors and creative architecture. Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St., Columbus, shortnorthcivic.org. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $20–$25.
Northeast
festivals
SEPT 13–14
Log Cabin Days
This fun-filled and family-friendly event features the largest gathering of rustic furniture and home decor vendors in North America. Visitors can indulge in Amish-cooked food, enjoy kid-friendly activities like a petting zoo and wagon rides, and witness live lumberjack demonstrations. Hochstetler Log Homes, 552 St. Rte. 95, Loudonville, 800/368-1015. hochstetlerloghomes.com.
SEPT 14–15
Village Peddler Festival
Visit this quaint marketplace packed with over 175 vendors and musicians. Spot some of your favorite artists and meet some new makers along the way Be sure to explore the Farmpark grounds while you’re there. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland, 440/358-7275. lakemetroparks.com. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Visit website for prices.
SEPT 14–17
Delphos Canal Days
Start this weekend with a “Toast to the Town,” an opening ceremony of sorts shining a light on this small community. Stay for rides, games and food, as well as a lineup of live music. Downtown Delphos, South Main Street, Delphos, 419/6951771. delposcanaldays.com. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 21
Art in the Burg
Head to the beautiful and historic downtown Millersburg for this perennial event. Find artists, demonstrations, live music and more at Holmes County’s premier arts festival. Holmes County Courthouse Lawn, 1 E. Jackson St., Millersburg, 330/674-2412. historicdowntownmillersburg. com. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
SEPT 21
Cleveland Pickle Festival
Pickles take center stage at this festival making its return to downtown Cleveland. Enjoy dozens of vendors, food trucks, live music and entertainment, contests and, of course, plenty of pickles. Sample pickles on a stick, pickle candy, pickle ice cream, pickle beer and more. Downtown Cleveland, 216/391-9500. clevelandpicklefest. com. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 21–22
Apple Harvest Weekend
Witness several traditional harvest activities and learn more about how apple cider and butter are made. Families can take a tour of the Johnny Appleseed Trail, view apple-themed crafts and try their hand at a 3-acre corn maze. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland, 440/358-7275. lakemetroparks.com. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.
SEPT 26–28
Ohio Swiss Festival
See the quaint downtown of Sugarcreek transform into a lively Swiss village. Dig into wine and cheese samplings, watch entertaining contests and enjoy booming live entertainment. The festival has been a small-town tradition since 1953. Downtown Sugarcreek, Dover Road NW, Sugarcreek, 330/852-4113. ohioswissfestival.
This annual Oktoberfest-style event, now in its 41st year, attracts thousands throughout northeast Ohio to Wooster, offering free entertainment, unique food vendors, activities and an ever-expanding beer and wine garden. Downtown Wooster, 330/262-5735. woosterchamber. com/woosterfest1. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free.
SEPT 29
Woollybear Festival
Delight in this quirky event consisting of food and craft booths, merchant sales, live entertainment and a vibrant parade. Established by northeast Ohio weatherman Dick Goddard in 1972, the festival continues to draw in large crowds to this day. Victory Park, 687 Main St., Vermilion, 440/967-4477. vermilionohio.com. Visit website for times. Free.
museums + exhibits
THRU OCT 20
Proximity of Fate
“Proximity of Fate” features works representing a range of perspectives from local, regional and national artists. The exhibit explores how even accidental occurrences can reveal complex intentions and provoke new narrative agency. Mansfield Art Center, 700 Marion Ave. Mansfield, 419/756-1700. mansfieldartcenter.org. Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Suggested donation $5–$10.
THRU OCT 27
Eyes to the Soul: The Fiber Art of Margene May Gaze at the creations of Canton native and artist Margene May, best known for her lively patterns and warm, earthy tones. May’s work draws inspiration from the Black community and especially from Black women, who are frequent subjects in her portraits. Using fabric to bring vivid images to life, her work also captures a deep sense of emotion. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, 330/453-7666. cantonart.org. Tues.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri.–Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.
THRU DEC 29
Where We Live: Photographs of Human Spaces
Find meaning in storefronts, skyscrapers and homes in this contemplative exhibit centered on the places that shape us. Spots that were once just brick, wood or metal are made into something more over time, revealing a wide range of narratives and emotions through photography. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330/376-9186. akronartmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
THRU JAN 5
Picturing the Border
View photographs from the United StatesMexico border spanning 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.
music + theater
SEPT 13–OCT 6
The Sunshine Boys
Al and Willie as “Lewis and Clark” were topbilled vaudevillians for over forty years. Now, they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, the duo begrudgingly reunites to deliver on an evening of memories, miseries and laughs. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216/521-2540. beckcenter.org. Tues.–Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2:30 p.m. Adults $38, seniors $34, students $17, children $12.
SEPT 24
Guy Penrod Concert
Known for his authenticity and engaging personality, Guy Penrod brings his love for gospel and country music stylings to the Ohio Star Theater. Penrod is one of the most in-demand touring artists for Christian music, with both national and international followings. Ohio Star Theater, 1387 Old Route 39, Sugarcreek, 855/344-7547. ohiostartheater.com. 7 p.m. Reserved seat $59.
SEPT 25
The Life and Music of George Michael Witness a dynamic performance celebrating the artist’s journey from Wham! to his solo career. Enjoy hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Faith” and “Careless Whisper.” With dazzling staging and lighting, the show promises an unforgettable night of music. Connor Palace Theater, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/2416000. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times. $20–$120.
SEPT 27–OCT 26
Ludlow Fair & The Madness of Lady Bright
Witness the quirky events of two one-act plays by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson. Both plays explore topics of self-worth, relationships (both real and imagined), loneliness and degrees of functioning sanity. Kennedy’s Cabaret, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/2416000. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times. Adults $28, students $15.
Other Events
SEPT 15
New England’s Favorites Wine Pairing
Immerse yourself in the rich flavors and traditions of this iconic region through a carefully curated menu of classic New England dishes, each perfectly paired with one of Gervasi’s award-winning wines. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard.com. 1 p.m. $49.
SEPT 18
Vino Versity at The Cave at Gervasi Vineyard
Looking to take your wine education to the next level? This event offers guests a hands-on, interactive educational experience utilizing Gervasi’s diverse wine portfolio. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard.com. 6:30 p.m. $29.
SEPT 20
Films With Fireflies: Over the Hedge
Enjoy a sensory-friendly movie-watching experience in the Summit Metro Parks. Popcorn is provided, but visitors are encouraged to bring snacks and blankets. Sand Run Metro Park, 1501 Sand Run Pkwy., Akron, 330/867-5511. summitmetroparks.org. 7:30–9 p.m. Free.
SEPT 21
720 MKT in North Canton
Experience open-air fall shopping with the makers, bakers, brewers and growers of 720 Market. Enjoy live music, free arts and crafts projects, food trucks, coffee and craft beer at this familyfriendly event. North Canton City Square, 141 North Main St., North Canton, 330/571-0367. eventsby720.com. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
SEPT 21
GrillFest Sale & BBQ Competition
Celebrate the 10th annual GrillFest Sale & BBQ Competition at Hartville Hardware. Enjoy free samples, learn new recipes and cooking tips from celebrity chefs, browse new products and take advantage of great deals all day long. Hartville Hardware, 1315 Edison St. NW Hartville, 330/877-3631. hartvillehardware.com/events. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
Northwest festivals
SEPT 21
Big Day at the Bay
This event features a multitude of activities happening all throughout the day. Run the Miller Boat Line 5K, explore an island-wide garage sale, savor a clambake, enjoy Monte Carlo-style street games and much more. Various locations across Put-in-Bay, 419/285-2832. visitputinbay. com/events. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 28
Defiance Rib Fest
Take a bite out of the 17th annual celebration of this food festival. Enjoy music, brews and
barbecue from some of the best grilling teams around. Downtown Defiance, Clinton Street, Defiance, 419/782-0739. visitdefianceohio.com. 3:30–11 p.m. Adults $10, seniors and children under 10 free.
SEPT 28
Fall Fest on the Square
Get an authentic autumnal experience at this event in conjunction with Barn Fest. Browse wares from local vendors, hear live musicians and snag seasonal favorites from the Bryan Farmers Market. Downtown Bryan, North Main Street, Bryan, 419/633-1156. visitbryanohio. com. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
SEPT 28
Oktoberfest Findlay!
Don your lederhosen and dirndl and head to Findlay to enjoy a day of traditional German music and entertainment, a variety of contests, authentic German food and a selection of more than 40 German and craft beers. Downtown Findlay, 300 S. Main St. Findlay, 419/423-4433. oktoberfestfindlay.com. 2–10:30 p.m. Those 21 and over $5, those under 21 $3, children in strollers free.
museums + exhibits
THRU NOV 10
Ethiopia at the Crossroads
Take a journey through almost 2,000 years of historic artistry. This exhibition examines Ethiopian works in a global context and chronicles the nation’s traditions from their origins to present day. 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.
THRU DEC 31
Chasing Totality: The History and Science of Eclipses
Explore the story of humanity’s fascination with eclipses at this exhibit that will look at the science and the history of astronomy’s attempts to understand them. Take a look at the solar eclipse that drove Americans across the country to the western territories during Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. Visit website for times and prices.
music + theater
SEPT 15
Joe Gatto: Let’s Get Into It
Known for his time on the television series “Impractical Jokers,” see Gatto in a new comedic light at this show in the heart of the Glass City.
Comedian Mark Jigarjian is set to open. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419/381-8851. stranahantheater.com. 7 p.m.
$39.75–$99.75.
other events
SEPT 8
Findlay Fall Model Train Show
See an expansive train barn filled with model and toy trains and railroad memorabilia. Quarter-scale train rides are available at an additional cost. Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, 12505 County Rd. 99, Findlay, 419/423-2995. nworrp.org. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $5, children 12 and under free.
Southeast festivals
SEPT 6–8
Ohio River Sternwheel Festival
Make your way to this river tradition packed with food vendors, a car show, fireworks and a sternwheel 5K. The storied festival, established in 1976, also includes children’s activities and pageant contests. Ohio River Levee, 100 Post St., Marietta, 740/373-5178. sternwheel.org. Visit website for times. Free.
SEPT 13–15
Ohio Pawpaw Festival
Celebrate America’s largest edible native tree fruit by spending the weekend sampling food
and drinks as you learn about pawpaw growing, cooking, genetics and more. Lake Snowden, State Route 50, Albany, ohipawpawfest.com. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 20–22
Jack Pine Glass Pumpkin Festival
Celebrate the artistry present at this vibrant outdoor art show that showcases unique glass pumpkins alongside a diverse array of crafts from local and regional artists. Jack Pine Studio, 21397 St. Rte. 180, Laurelville, 740/332-2223. glasspumpkinfestival.com. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 26–29
60th Annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival
Take part in this annual festival that celebrates fall with all things pumpkin — especially giant ones. Savor the flavors of the season with delicious pumpkin bread, pie and ice cream as you stroll down Main Street. Downtown Barnesville, 300 E. Church St., Barnesville, 740/425-2593. barnesvillepumpkinfestival.com. Visit website for times. Free.
SEPT 28–29
John Roger Simon Sorghum Festival
Taking place at John Roger Simon’s historic fifth-generation homestead, this festival features the making of sorghum syrup, heritage craft demonstrations, southern food and musicians playing lively old-time jams. John Roger Simon Farm, 8721 Careys Run Pond Creek Rd., Portsmouth, 937/365-1935. arcofappalachia.org/ simonsorghumfestival. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
museums + exhibits
SEPT 21–DEC 28
Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life & Art of Barbara Shermund
Explore the work of Barbara Shermund, one of the first female cartoonists to work for The New Yorker Beginning in 1925, Shermund contributed hundreds of pieces to the publication and was celebrated for her fierce, feminist takes on gender, age and even life itself. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740/681-1423. decartsohio.org. Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 1–4 p.m. Free.
SEPT 28–JAN 4,
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.
music + theater
SEPT 11
Creekside Concert: Dean Johnson
Known for his gentle, yet passionate performances and heartfelt songwriting, Dean Johnson shares the sounds of his debut album, “Nothing for Me, Please.” The thoughtful, relaxed album showcases Johnson’s innate songwriting talent, encapsulating the highs and lows of love. Snow Fork Event Center, 5685 Happy Hollow Rd., Nelsonville, 740/753-1924. stuartsoperahouse.org. 7 p.m. $20–$25.
SEPT 12
Elle King
Enjoy an evening with the first female artist in history to have scored radio No. 1 singles on four different formats. King is most known for her breakthrough single “Ex’s and Oh’s” and comes prepared with a lineup of multigenre tracks, including four Grammy-nominated hits. Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, 47 E. Union St., Athens, 740/593-1780. ohio.edu. 7:30 p.m. $35–$65.
SEPT 26
Hairball
Vocalists Kris Vox, Dave Moody and Drew Hart lead the band through over two hours of live musical performance. Rock out at this mind-blowing, accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world. Van Halen, Kiss, Motley Crue, Journey and Aerosmith are but a few of the acts fans will see brought to life. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/3715152. peoplesbanktheatre.com. Tues.–Thurs. 8–10 p.m. $43–$104.
other events
SEPT 13–15
Murder Mystery Dinner at Adena Mansion
Guests are invited to Adena Mansion & Gardens to test their crime-solving skills with an entertaining atmosphere, great food and plenty of mystery. “Trial by Jury” is this year’s all-new original production. Adena Mansion & Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 740/772-1500. adenamansion.com. Fri.–Sun. 6–9 p.m. $65.
SEPT 21
Ghost Walk
Prepare for a fright as you tour five downtown locations in order to hear the stories and histories of various buildings, as well as the ghostly encounters and hauntings that have supposedly been experienced at them. This tour will take you through each building and into areas that are typically not open to the public. Downtown Chillicothe, North Paint Street, Chillicothe, 740/702-7677. chillicothehalloweenfestival. com/ghost-walk. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $10.
SEPT 21
Hocking Hills Trail Run
Participate in a run surrounded by the beauty of the Hocking Hills. Head to the naturalist cabin to start one of several races: a 5K, 10K, 20K, 40K or 60K. Run along gorges, beside waterfalls and streams and into dense forests with courses that take you through the heart of this region. Hocking Hills State Park Naturalist Cabin, Logan, 740/385-9706. explorehockinghills.com. Visit website for times. $50.
SEPT 22
Autumn Equinox Fall Harvest Dinner: A Farm-to-Table Experience
Celebrate a time of balance and transition on this day with almost equal darkness and light. Prepare for the coming winter with a flavorful bounty, and enjoy community and sustainability alongside new acquaintances and friends. Adena Mansion & Gardens, 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe, 800/319-7248. adenamansion.com. 4–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Southwest festivals
SEPT 6–8
Clinton County Corn Festival
Celebrate this community tradition, featuring live entertainment, antique displays, crafts, food vendors and more. Plus, take part in games in the special events area. Clinton County Fairgrounds, 958 W. Main St., Wilmington, 937/3835676. cornfestivalonline.com. Visit website for times. Adults $5, children 12 and under free.
SEPT 19–22
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Prost! Celebrate the Queen City’s German heritage with a keg tapping, numerous food vendors, live entertainment and the signature wiener dog races. Downtown Cincinnati, Cincinnati, 513/579-3187. oktoberfestzinzinnati.com. Thurs. 4–11 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Visit website for prices.
SEPT 28–29
Art Fair at Pyramid Hill
Usher in fall with this annual event. Shop paintings, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, glass and more from over 50 regional artists. Enjoy food trucks and live entertainment, and get creative with activities and crafts for the whole family. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton, 513/8688336. pyramidhill.org. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $5, members and children 12 and under free.
museums + exhibits
THRU SEPT 15
Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs
See more than 100 photographs dating from the art form’s advent in the 1830s to the mid-20th century. View works from renowned artists, including Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange. 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.
THRU OCT 27
Those Who Care
Consider what it means to be a caretaker through this range of pieces reflecting on the topic and exploring the varieties of ways it can take shape. See how family and friends, teachers and mentors and those in helping positions play a part in the way society comes together. Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmont Park N., Dayton, 937/223-4278. daytonartinstitute.org. Visit website for times and prices.
SEPT 27–JAN 19
Discovering Ansel Adams
View this unprecedented look at Ansel Adams’ early career, showing the artist’s progression from a teenager with a camera to one of our nation’s most revered photographers. The exhibition features around 80 photos in addition to items from Adams’ personal collection. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, 513/721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum. org. Visit website for times and prices.
• Homesteading Tent: Learn how to have your own hobby farm.
• Kids Zone, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides
music + theater
SEPT 5–7
Hot Damn! It’s The Loveland Frog! This performance takes you on an adventure with wild bluegrass and maniacal moonshiners, a peculiar professor and crooked cops, all seeking the wondrous and mythical Loveland Frog. Loveland Stage Company, 111 S. Second St., Loveland, 513/443-4572. hugowesttheatricals. com/lovelandfrog Thurs.–Sat. 7:30–9 p.m. $25.
other events
SEPT 14
Something Wonderful Fine Art & Craft Show and Sale
Support local artisans and families experiencing homelessness, enter to win raffles and even make your own art at this family event. Glendale New Church, 845 Congress Ave., Glendale, 513/400-4463. newchurchofmontgomery. com. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.
SEPT 20
Zoofari 2024 at the Cincinnati Zoo
Celebrate the zoo’s new habitat: Elephant Trek, a 5-acre landscape peppered with gardens that aims to support a multigenerational Asian elephant herd. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, 513/281-4700. cincinnatizoo.org. 7 p.m. Visit website for prices.
SEPT 21
Springfield Beautiful Bicycle Tour
Join in on this two-wheeled trek across the
Fun for thefamilywhole
• Food tent will serve barbecued chicken, noodles and sandwiches. Plus kettle-cooked baked beans, kettle corn, apple butter, homemade ice cream, Amish pies, pastries.
• Early bird breakfast served Sat. between 7-10 a.m.
• Log Home Tours
• Cabin and Rustic Furnishings Auction. Friday 3:00 PM
Hours: Friday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. & Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Location: 552 SR 95, Loudonville, OH For more information call 419-368-0004. $5 Admission.
A Constellation of Objects
An eclectic mix of over 200 artifacts inspired by the Night Sky on view through October 26
Planetarium
Shows
Tickets are FREE with Museum admission! www.McKinleyMuseum.org
city’s scenic trails and learn about the people and projects that transformed Springfield in the 1890s. This time period brought political and social reform to the forefront with Bennetta Titlow’s fresh air baby camps and George Kessler’s comprehensive park plan. Westcott House, 85 S. Greenmount Ave., Springfield, 937/327-9291. westcotthouse.org. 10–11:30 a.m. Adults $15, members $12.
OCTOBER
Central festivals
OCT 4
Columbus Mac and Cheese Festival
Dig into the ultimate comfort food for a good cause. This annual food festival features an array of local cheese creations with all proceeds benefitting the adolescent and young adult cancer program at The James. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, 800/293-5066. cancer. osu.edu. 4–7:30 p.m. $10–$100.
OCT 4–6
Ohio Gourd Show
If you’re nuts about seasonal produce, this weekend is for you. Take part in several workshops, make gourd crafts, enjoy outdoor gourd and vendor sales, watch live demonstrations
and learn about the crop’s history. Delaware County Fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave., Delaware, 740/215-3516. ohiogourdsociety. com. Fri. noon–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.
OCT 5–6
Columbus Coffee Festival
Take a sip of this supercharged event celebrating local coffee roasters in the community. Over 40 vendors will be in attendance, and every ticketed attendee receives a mug to keep. Plus, enjoy live poetry readings, craft vendors and food trucks. Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4100 Columbia St., Hilliard, columbuscoffeefest.com. Visit website for times. $20–$55.
OCT 16–19
Circleville Pumpkin Show
classic rock album and a number of his biggest hits. Enjoy your favorite tracks from the title song to “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/345-5483. midlandtheatre.org. 8 p.m. $40–$50.
OCT 14
Dogwood Blossoms: Love at the Magic Queendom
Enjoy this choral performance with themes of romance, intrigue and magic. The afternoon brings special guests Daybreak Quartet, an a cappella group sure to get the crowd on its feet. Woodward Opera House, 107 S. Main St., Mount Vernon, 740/462-3163. thewoodward. org. 3 p.m. Adults $15, children under 10 free.
OCT 22
Don’t miss this annual festival boasting concessions, carnival rides and competitions. Make sure to stick around for the giant pumpkin weigh-in. Plus, enjoy a giant pumpkin carving demonstration, several parades, family-friendly activities and loads of live entertainment as the weekend goes on. Downtown Circleville, Circleville, 740/474-7000. pumpkinshow.com. Visit website for times and prices.
music + theater
OCT 5
The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Prince’s Purple Rain Note for note and sound for sound, listen to this symphony perform a full version of Prince’s
Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque
Be wowed by this youthful and artistic show inspired by daily life in Guinea. The performance was created by Yamoussa Bangoura and shows acrobats in gravity-defying moves, accompanied by an Afro-Jazz soundtrack. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. 7:30 p.m. $34–$44.
other events
OCT 11
Fall Safari at The Wilds Immerse yourself in the beauty of this central Ohio destination with delicious food, refreshing beverages and an open-air safari tour led by expert staff members. Choose from a curated
list of tours for an exploration of the grounds. The Wilds, 14000 International Rd., Cumberland, 740/638-5030. thewilds.org. 4–8:30 p.m.
$250–$800.
Northeast festivals
OCT 4–6
Norton Cider Festival
Keep things fresh at this family-friendly gettogether featuring a parade, train rides and inflatables for the little ones. Try delicious festival food, watch a fireworks show, take part in an apple-decorating contest and enjoy a delicious
cup of cider while there. Columbia Woods Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Dr., Norton, 234/2382474. nortonciderfestival.com. Fri. 5–9 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m. Visit website for prices.
OCT 5
Fall Festival at Brant’s Apple Orchard Celebrate the beauty of the season at Brant’s Apple Orchard. The day kicks off with a 5K race (with doughnuts and cider at the finish line) and continues with horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, carnival games, apple launching, bounce houses, hayrides and a craft show. Brant’s Apple Orchard, 4749 Dibble Rd., Ashtabula, 440/224-0639. brantsappleorchard. com. Visit website for times and prices.
OCT 12 Fall Festival
Gather the family to kick off the fall season at Lehman’s. Enjoy free face painting, a corn box play area, pumpkin decorating, outdoor games and more. Plus, don’t miss Flower the Clown and his amazing balloon art. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 800/438-5346. lehmans.com. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
OCT 12–13 & OCT 19–20
Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods
In a manicured, wooded setting, costumed crafters will have their booths decorated with an old-fashioned holiday theme. Watch demonstrations of their handiwork as you shop from a selection of handmade holiday items and traditional wares. Shaker Woods Grounds, 44337 County Line Rd., Columbiana, 724/774-6341. christmasohio.com. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $10, children 12 and under free.
OCT 26
Boo in the Burg
If you’re part of the 21-and-up crowd, you’ll have a frightfully good time at this craft beer and wine festival happening just in time for Halloween. Taste local flavors, enjoy live music and pair your beverage with delicious bites from a variety of food trucks. Historic Downtown Millersburg, 330/674-2412. historicdowntownmillersburg. com. 6 p.m. $30 and up.
music + theater
OCT 4–NOV 3
The Glass Menagerie
Amanda lives in poverty with her son, Tom, and her daughter, Laura. Amanda strives to give meaning and direction to her life and the lives of
her children. When Tom invites a young friend to their apartment, Laura is lifted out of herself and into a new world. Can others help save us from the worlds we create? Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216/521-2540. beckcenter.org. Visit website for times. Adults $38, seniors $34, students $17, children $12.
OCT 8
Chardon Polka Band Matinee
With a faithful fan base spanning generations, this band takes on an eccentric style, humor and diverse musical range — from traditional polkas to punk-rock renditions. Dig into a delectable meal in the kitchen’s dining room before or after the show. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com. 1–2:30 p.m. $50–$52.50.
OCT 13
Jesse Smith: Finger Style Guitar
Enjoy the guitar stylings of Jesse Smith. Smith specializes in a mixture of bluegrass, country, classical, jazz and swing. A retired Wadsworth High School carpentry teacher, he now builds acoustic guitars. He has won many awards, including the 2021 International Finger Style Championship. Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 419/853-6016. ormaco. org. 2–3 p.m. Free.
OCT 29–NOV 3
Mean Girls
Enjoy an energetic performance of this Broadway hit, a hilarious musical based on Tina Fey’s film about a naive high school student entering
the vicious world of teenage girlhood. The adaptation was written by Fey and composed by her husband, Ohio native Jeff Richmond. KeyBank State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216/771-4444. playhousesquare.org. Visit website for times. $20–$110.
Other Events
OCT 5
720 MKT in the ’Ville
Shop the 720 Market in Hartville, where you'll discover 720 makers, bakers, brewers, growers, boutiques and more, all nestled among vintage downtown shops. Enjoy live music, food trucks and craft brews surrounded by a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere. Historic Downtown Hartville, 105 Prospect Ave. S., 330/571-0367. eventsby720.com. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Free.
OCT 6
Fall Woodland Mushrooms
Deepen your appreciation for the outdoors as you discover the hidden beauty of fall mushrooms. Join naturalists on a guided woodland
hike to uncover and identify the diverse and intriguing ecology of local fungi. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes to fully enjoy this educational walk. Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park, 5779 Riverview Rd., Peninsula, 330/867-5511. summitmetroparks.org. 2–4 p.m. Free.
OCT 11–12
Charm Days
Head to Keim Home Center for this two-day, event that features games, merchant sales, food and community. In addition to the festivities, visitors can enjoy special deals at the home center. Keim Home Center, 4465 St. Rte. 557, Charm, 330/893-2251. keimhome.com. Fri. 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.–noon. Free.
OCT 12
Fall Foliage Cycle
Join guides from the Summit Metro Parks for a family-friendly bike ride to the Boston Mills Trailhead and back. Riders will travel at a leisurely pace with frequent stops to admire the fall colors and learn about local trees. Helmets are required. Ride begins at: 685 W. Aurora Rd.,
Step into a world of autumnal whimsy at this event featuring 1,000 jack-o’-lanterns, a 15-foot Mum Tree, Scarecrow Row, Enchanted Forest, children’s carnival, food trucks and stunning fall decor. Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 N. Trimble Rd., Mansfield, 419/522-0211. kingwoodcenter. org. 4–9 p.m. Visit website for prices.
Northwest
festivals
OCT 4–5
Oastoberfest
Raise your glass to this weekend celebrating the Bavarian spirit. Try authentic German delicacies, sample several craft brews, including Proast, Twin Oast Brewing’s featured beer, participate in festive games and enjoy live music. Twin Oast Brewing, 3630 NE Catawba Rd., Port Clinton, 419/573-6126. twinoast.com. Visit website for times and prices.
OCT 12–13 Put-In-Bay Oktoberfest
Celebrate over 30 years of Bavarian tradition with this lakeside festival at scenic Put-In-Bay. Enjoy authentic German cuisine, beer and wine amidst live polka and German-style music, shop for unique souvenirs and more. DeRivera Park, 341 Bayview Ave., Put-In-Bay, 419/285-2832. visitputinbay.com/events. Sat. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.
music + theater
OCT 21
Hadestown
See this musical that beautifully intertwines the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice and of King Hades and Persephone. The hell-raising show makes for a haunting theatrical experience to the underworld and back. Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, 200 W. Main Cross St., Findlay, 419/423-2787. mcpa.org. 7:30 p.m. $69–$149.
other events
OCT 5
Spirits in the Museum
Boo! Dress up in Halloween attire and prepare for a spooky night at the museum. Try signature mixed drinks utilizing a rum and unaged whiskey from Cleveland Distillery. Tickets include four drinks, appetizers and a commemorative drinking glass. Plus, ghost enthusiasts will have the opportunity to explore the basement with paranormal equipment. Merry-Go-Round Museum, 301 Jackson St., Sandusky, 419/626-6111. merrygoroundmuseum.org. 7 p.m. $50–$70.
OCT 19–20
WWII Living History Weekend
Head to Lauer Historical Farm for the largest WWII reenactment in northwest Ohio. Interact with 150 to 200 living-history reenactors and watch as the Allied forces battle the oppositional Axis powers. Visit the website for details on battle schedules. Lauer Historical Farm, 800 Roush Rd., Lima, 419/205-1423. facebook.com/ lauerfarms1944. Fri.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.
OCT 26
Civil War Winter Camp
Get a glimpse into the time of President Hayes’ Civil War regiment as it camped for the winter. See reenactors fire muskets in infantry demonstrations, listen to military bands perform and take a look at what soldiers’ camps would have looked like. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. Visit website for times and prices.
Southeast
festivals
OCT 11–13
Chillicothe Halloween Festival
Celebrate the best of Halloween at this familyfriendly event offering thrilling activities for all ages such as live entertainment, delicious treats, a fun costume contest, unique vendors, a kids zone and much more. Yoctangee Park, 1 Enderlin Circle, Chillicothe, 740/702-7677. chillicothehalloweenfestival.com. Fri.–Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.
OCT 13
Applebutter Fest
Take a bite out of this event featuring historical reenactments, artisan crafts and live music. Plus, learn how to make the festival’s signature dish. Downtown Grand Rapids, Front Street, Grand Rapids, 419/832-5305. applebutterfest. org. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.
OCT 19 Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treat
Join in on the fun in downtown Lancaster for an afternoon full of fall traditions and community. Enjoy free hayrides, live music and shopping from local vendors. Destination Downtown Lancaster, 128 N. Broad St., Lancaster, 740/2776607. destinationdowntownlancaster.com. Noon–5 p.m. Free.
music + theater
OCT 3
Lonestar
See this award-winning group that has been touring for nearly 30 years. The current tour centers on the group’s most recent album, “Ten to 1,” which revisits and improves upon their biggest hits. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbanktheatre. com. 8 p.m. $50–$134.
OCT 3–26
The Frankenstein Experience at Haunted Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre transforms to bring you an evening of thrills, including a scavenger hunt, haunted trail, tomahawk throwing and movie screenings. Don’t miss the highlight of the night, a fully produced performance on the outdoor stage. Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre, 5968 Marietta Rd. Chillicothe, 740/7750700. hauntedmountain.org. 7 p.m. $25–$50.
OCT 6
Voctave
Listen to the musical stylings of this a cappella sensation. The group will perform “The Corner of Broadway and Main Street” upon taking the stage. Voctave features 11 members representing a wealth of diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 740/454-6851. secrestauditorium.com. 3–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.
OCT 13
Pipe Organ Spectacular
James McLaughlin performs his 27th annual organ recital on the E.M. Skinner Organ. McLaughlin is an artist in residence at the Central Trinity United Methodist Church. The recital features organ, piano and vocal music. Central Trinity United Methodist Church, 62 S. Seventh St., Zanesvillle, 740/453-1210. centraltrinityumc. com. 3–5 p.m. Free.
OCT 18
Fleetwood Gold: Fleetwood Mac Tribute
Spend an evening with one of the top Fleetwood Mac tribute bands in the nation. Enjoy renditions of the band’s music from the early years, with
tight harmonies and impressive guitar playing. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe.net 7:30–9:30 p.m. $28–$40.
other events
OCT 12
Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Colors Hike
Take in autumnal scenery along this distinctive trail in the Hocking Hills. Enjoy a 5.5-mile hike from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls. Be sure to note that this route is rated difficult and visitors should dress for weather and terrain. Old Man’s Cave, 19852 St. Rte. 664, Logan, 740/385-9706. explorehockinghills.com. 9 a.m. Free.
Southwest festivals
OCT 12–13
Ohio Sauerkraut Festival
Browse handmade goods from approximately 460 arts and crafts vendors during this charming annual event. Plus, sample nearly 60 food items, many utilizing the festival’s namesake ingredient. Downtown Waynesville, 513/897-8855. sauerkrautfestival.waysnesvilleohio.com. Sat. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Free.
OCT 26–27
Cincinnati Coffee Festival
Get grinding at this weekend dedicated to the art and science of coffee. Sample fine choco-
late, learn the nuances of latte design and visit a “cupping station,” where experts demonstrate how to sample drinks like a pro. Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, 513/460-3365. cincinnaticoffeefestival.com. Visit website for times. $17.50–$35.
museums + exhibits
OCT 5–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. Visit website for times and prices.
OCT 12–FEB 16
Resilience: New Ceramics Work by Terri Kern
Explore the works of a local ceramicist inspired by the natural world. Terri Kern’s pieces invite the viewer to consider the ways nature helps us embrace, recover and resist life’s hardships. Her narrative pieces are created using wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, 513/241-0343. taftmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.
music + theater
OCT 1
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
Spend time with this group formed in 2007, who
have since recorded a musical catalog inspired by the rock ’n’ roll era. Holland Theatre, 127 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, 937/592-9002. theholland.org. 7:30 p.m. $40–$60.
OCT 11–12
Stomp
Enjoy an explosive performance by an awardwinning percussion sensation. Using wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and more, this group fills the room with unbelievable rhythms. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, 513/621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org. 10 a.m. Visit website for prices.
OCT 14
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth in Concert
Witness this cult-classic film starring David Bowie come to life like never before. The movie will be played on a giant screen, accompanied by a combination of live rock band, synth, percussion and dazzling lighting effects. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati, 513/232-6220. tafttheatre. org. 7:30 p.m. $35–$121.
other events
OCT 10
Zoo Brew
This annual beer-tasting event invites attendees to walk the zoo as they enjoy a variety of brews from local establishments. Visit animal habitats and enjoy food from casual dining locations. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, 513/281-4700. cincinnatizoo.org. 7–9:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.
THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURE AND COUNTRY
Wayne County is at the crossroads of culture and country. Taste your way through the region at one of many local restaurants, where local produce is used to create mouthwatering dishes. Pair a meal with award-winning cider straight from the farm, and end the evening by indulging your senses at an operetta fit for Broadway
ENTER TO WIN A LEHMAN’S GIFT CARD
Enter to win a $100 gift card and assorted holiday decor package, just in time for Christmas, from Lehman’s (Lehmans.com) on the square in Kidron. Find gifts for the gardener, the cook, the DIYer, and all the children on your list in our rambling retail store in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country.
Shores & Islands Ohio
StayInAkron.com
58. Stonegait Winery
59. Taft Museum of Art
60. Tecumseh/The Scioto Society, Inc
61. The Grand Resort and Spa
62. Travel Butler County, OH
63. Trumbull County Tourism Bureau
64. Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau
65. Valley View Hills Winery LLC
66. Visit Bowling Green (OH)
67. Visit Canton
68. Visit Cincy
69. Visit Dublin Ohio
70. Visit Findlay (Hancock County CVB)
71. Visit Greater Lima
72. Visit Grove City (Grove City Area CVB)
73. Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau
74. Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission
75. Youngstown Live | Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau
FARM & TABLE
Quality Connections
The restaurant at Littleton’s Market in Upper Arlington serves meals that showcase what is on the store’s shelves and fosters an atmosphere of community.»
Back to School: This historic building in Hamilton County merges the age of blackboards and communal family dinners in a fun and inviting space
West End Ciderhouse: Using ingredients sourced from across southern Ohio, this Athens spot offers a creative lineup of hard ciders and a cozy taproom to hang out in.
FARM & TABLE BACK TO SCHOOL
This historic building in Hamilton County merges the age of blackboards and communal family dinners.
LTittleton’s Market had a lot to live up to when it opened in summer 2023. It took over the long-standing Huffman’s Market, an institution in Upper Arlington’s Tremont Center, transforming the space by expanding it, adding a skylight and building a restaurant and cafe along with an outdoor pavilion.
The restaurant area inhabits a brightly lit corner at the front of the market. Customers entering through the main doors can’t miss the tables, oblong bar and cases filled with pastries.
“Up until opening, we spent a lot of time building relationships with vendors and trying to provide the best products possible,” says Littleton’s Market co-founder Rob Littleton. “The idea behind the restaurant and cafe is to highlight those products and what can be done with them.”
He explains that the idea came about during the pandemic, when everyone was missing the ability to gather and connect with others.
“We provide high-quality food, making it easy for people to be healthy,” he adds. “The other part of health is the social [and] emotional part, so we made [the market] a community gathering place.”
The restaurant and cafe at Littleton’s Market opens at 8 a.m. daily for breakfast and coffee, with a menu that includes pastries from chef Aaron Clouse, a full espresso bar and items like
avocado toast and French toast with berries. Littleton recommends the Breakfast Sandwich, featuring house-made maple sage sausage, eggs, cheddar cheese and chipotle creme on a brioche croissant or a lox bagel.
Lunch and dinner feature dishes like the bestselling LM Burger (a smash burger with cheddar cheese, black garlic special sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and house-made pickles on a brioche bun) and the nearly as popular Chicken Katsu Sandwich, which layers a panko-crusted fried chicken cutlet with slaw, pickles, katsu sauce and Kewpie mayo on Japanese milk bread. The latter pairs nicely with the shaved kale and Brussels sprouts Caesar salad — a generous mound with Parmesan, brioche croutons, chili flakes and pine nuts. Littleton’s also has a raw bar with seafood towers, oysters, crab salad and other items sourced with the help of Columbus’ CoLo Market & Oyster Bar.
Meals are complemented by a full bar with cocktails, wines and draft beers. While the indoor dining area has proven popular, the outdoor pavilion is a favorite gathering place too.
“We’re designed to come and have fun with friends and fam,” Littleton says.
— Nicholas
Dekker
2140 Tremont Center, Upper Arlington 43221, 614/826-1432, littletonsmarket.com
he Schoolhouse Restaurant & General Store gets high marks for historic appeal. Located in the Hamilton County community of Camp Dennison, the structure that the eatery calls home saw its first students in 1870 and its last ones more than eight decades later. Since 1962, the building has welcomed diners looking for a flavor of a bygone era.
“We just want everyone to realize what it used to be like,” says co-owner Beth Miller. Her parents, who opened the spot, kept details like the schoolhouse’s blackboard, windows and wooden floors intact. Miller and her three siblings took over in 2000.
The menu is written on the dining room’s blackboard, and diners can choose from entrees such as fried chicken and roast beef, while sides are served family style. The restaurant’s wooden tables are inspired by dinners in Miller’s own kitchen growing up: Each has a lazy Susan in the center so patrons can share sides.
“In our home, we always had a lazy Susan and a big round table,” Miller says. “[My mom] tried to re-create our family dinner.” 8031 Glendale Milford Rd., Camp Dennison 45111, 513/831-5753, theschoolhousecincinnati.com
— Morgan Mills
West End Ciderhouse
Using ingredients sourced from across southern Ohio, this college-town spot offers a creative lineup of hard ciders and a cozy taproom to hang out in.
In 2014, West End Ciderhouse opened on the forefront of a cider revolution, being only the second cidery in the state of Ohio and the first to have a full taproom. Kelly Sauber co-founded the Athens cidery with partner Deanna Schwartz after a 17year career working as a professional brewer. Discouraged by his inability to create a fully local beer and impassioned by his love for hard cider, he made the switch.
“As a brewer, I could not use local ingredients to make an entire beer,” Sauber says. “So, going into distillation and cider production, 100% of everything we make can be local. That just wasn’t possible as a brewer, at least back in the day.”
Sauber works with local farms like Hugus Fruit Farm in Rushville and Hirsch Fruit Farm in Chillicothe to source freshpressed apple juice, which he collects typically between September and February. The fermenting process begins within 24 hours of pressing and takes about six months to produce a finished hard cider. In addition
to apples, the cidery incorporates other locally farmed fruits like strawberries, plums, raspberries, pears and mulberries, as well as wild-harvested fruits such as pawpaws and blackberries, to create cider flavors.
West End Ciderhouse has become a much-loved destination in the college town, especially during the autumn months. The large, plush couches and cozy fireplace nook, shelves of board games and exposed brick walls all work to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, the centerpiece of which is a stunning wooden bar where patrons can sample an array of up to eight ciders at a given time, ranging from dry to semisweet.
The cidery’s Kelly’s Dry variety is accompanied by other creatively flavored ciders.
On the semisweet side, patrons can choose from the fruit, spiced and botanical ciders. One of the most popular choices is Zingiber, a tangy, slightly sweet cider that is made using fresh-squeezed lemon and ginger juices. Another customer favorite is Peach Melba, an apple-forward cider that leans a bit drier but still has a semisweet finish.
“It’s pretty cool to see how much people’s tastes have evolved since we opened,” Schwartz says. “We sell a lot more dry ciders now. People actually want to taste the apples.”
— Erin Finan
234 W. Washington St., Athens 45701, athenswestend.com
FALL PLACE INTO fall into place
Ohio’s state parks take on every shade of fun and adventure as autumn arrives. Whether you’re on the hunt for colorful hikes, ready for a weekend campout or hoping to book a stay at a classic lodge, make one (or more) of these destinations part of your plans.
By Jason Brill
MOHICAN STATE PARK
on the water
Don’t hang up the paddles and poles just because the air is cooler. Layer up and seek out fun on or along the lake at these state parks.
MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK
Many of Ohio’s state parks have a lake. Some of them are quite large. But only a handful can lay claim to the lake. Located on the shore of Lake Erie, 5 miles east of Toledo, Maumee Bay State Park offers visitors the chance to admire our Great Lake and the nature surrounding it.
“It’s a picturesque park,” says park naturalist Lauren Stewart, noting that the 2-mile wetlands boardwalk is a way to see squirrels, deer and more as they prepare for the fall. “It is a really nice way to connect with nature.”
Lake Erie is a popular fishing spot, both from boats and from the shoreline, but the state park’s 57-acre inland lake is a great place for those less experienced with a rod and reel. The inland lake is also good for nonmotorized boating such as kayaking.
The park’s Maumee Bay Marina doesn’t offer boat rentals, but it has 32 slips for those who want to boat in and check out the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center’s Water’s Edge Restaurant or Icebreaker Lounge. “A lot of people like to come and dock their boat and eat lunch at the restaurant,” Stewart says. 1400 State Park Rd., Oregon 43616, 419/836-7758
LAKE LOGAN STATE PARK
Lake Logan State Park in Hocking County is an angler’s oasis during the fall, particularly if you enjoy the peaceful side of fishing. While you can snag the same bluegill, crappie, bass, muskie and catfish found in other Ohio lakes, the 10-horsepower limit on this secluded, 400-acre lake means things move at a more leisurely pace. Falling temperatures usually result in fish eager to bite, including Lake Logan’s bass, which can weigh in at 3 to 4 pounds. The Lake Logan Marina at the park’s eastern end offers canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats and pontoon boats for rent throughout the fall. 30443 Lake Logan Rd., Logan 43138, 740/385-6842
ALUM CREEK STATE PARK
Finding your own speed at Delaware County’s Alum Creek State Park is as easy as cruise control. The park’s 3,387-acre lake has four public boat ramps and no limit on horsepower, catering to most kinds of boats and personal watercraft. If you move at a slower pace, the lake’s many inlets and coves are a great place to drop anchor and fish while taking in the views of the tree-lined shore and shale cliffs or spotting wildlife such as bald eagles and great blue herons. The Alum Creek Marina rents pontoon boats, speed boats, kayaks and more throughout the fall. 3615 S. Old State Rd., Delaware 43015, 740/548-4631
INDIAN LAKE STATE PARK
Dotted with small communities along its shores, Indian Lake State Park’s more than 5,000-acre lake makes it feel more like a waterside community than a public park. You can get a feel for that vibe by renting a pontoon boat or kayak from one of a handful of marinas, including Spend-A-Day Marina located off Orchard Island. Restaurants like Cranberry Resort Waterfont Bar & Grill and Acheson’s Resort have places for boaters to dock and grab a bite, while anglers can cast for largemouth bass, perch, channel catfish, flathead catfish, crappie and saugeye. 13156 St. Rte. 235 N., Lakeview 43331, 937/843-2717
ALUM CREEK STATE PARK
LAKE LOGAN STATE PARK
hiking
HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK
Get up close and personal with fall leaves, one step at a time. These four state parks have colorful jaunts for hikers of every skill level.
HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK
There’s a lot of wisdom in the sentiment that the journey matters as much as the destination. That’s especially the case in the 2,356-acre Hocking Hills State Park, where forests full of oaks, maples and hemlocks give way to stunning natural rock formations. Fall offers a perfect time to tackle the 5.5-mile Grandma Gatewood Trail that stretches from Ash Cave to Cedar Falls to Whispering Cave and then Old Man’s Cave.
“It makes it more of a comfortable hike, unlike in June, July [and] August when temperatures can get sweltering,” says Jeff Large, naturalist supervisor at the park.
Although he advises travelers to be aware that the region’s waterfalls are dependent on recent rainfall, one thing you can count on as autumn descends is a forest full of brilliant fall colors dotted with splashes of evergreen hemlocks. A great place to see this variety is the Rock House Trail, where a 1-mile loop starts atop a ridge before descending into a gorge and through a tunnel-like sandstone corridor set into the cliffside.
“You’ll hear things come alive — squirrels and other animals are out there gathering things up for the winter,” Large says. “Birds are migrating south. It’s just a really cool transition period.” Old Man’s Cave area: 19852 St. Rte. 664, Logan 43138, 740/385-6842
MOHICAN STATE PARK
Keep an eye on the weather if you want to get the most out of Mohican State Park’s Lyons Falls Trail. The 2-mile hike at this 1,110-acre park in Ashland County passes Big Lyons Falls and Little Lyons Falls. If you visit after a moderate rain shower, you’ll be able to see cascading water on its way to the Clear Fork of the Mohican River. The trail has a covered bridge at one end and Pleasant Hill Dam at the other. The park’s newest trail, Gorge Overlook Trail, offers a 1.4-mile loop with steep hills, a ladder to climb and a suspension bridge. 3116 St. Rte. 3, Loudonville 44842, 419/994-5125
CAESAR CREEK STATE PARK
Located close to earthworks built by early Indigenous cultures along the Little Miami River and a trail that was part of the Underground Railroad, Caesar Creek State Park sits at the intersection of history. The 3,741-acre park has more than 40 miles of trails, including the moderate-to-difficult, 13-mile Perimeter Trail, which loops the park’s southeast portion and takes hikers past Horseshoe Falls, which feeds into Caesar Creek Reservoir. The park also encompasses several miles of the statewide Buckeye Trail. Along the northern reaches of the park, hikers can check out Seymour the Sycamore, a giant tree that mea-
sures 20 feet in diameter. 8570 E. St. Rte. 73, Waynesville 45068, 513/897-3055
SHAWNEE STATE PARK
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Scioto County’s Shawnee State Park lets you follow in the footsteps of the Native Americans who once hunted here. There are 10 trails in the 1,095-acre park, which is within the 60,000-acre Shawnee State Forest. Popular hikes include the 5-mile Park Loop Trail, which offers views of the 43-acre Turkey Creek Lake. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the 1.5-mile Lookout Trail is the oldest in the park. It heads uphill through a hemlock forest before entering a mixed mesophytic area with varied tree species. 4404 St. Rte. 125, West Portsmouth 45663, 740/858-6652
MOHICAN STATE PARK
SHAWNEE STATE PARK
lodges
These classic state park spots have been welcoming visitors for decades, offering updated amenities that make for a great getaway.
PUNDERSON STATE PARK MANOR LODGE
There is a good reason Punderson State Park’s Manor Lodge has a comfortable, homey feel: It was almost someone’s home. In the 1920s, Detroit millionaire Karl Long started construction on the English Tudor-style mansion along a natural kettle lake but defaulted on the mortgage as the Great Depression took hold. The lodge has been open to the public since 1956 and has 31 guest rooms, meeting spaces and a restaurant. Seven of those rooms are original to the manor and have just one bed, while the others are lodge-style rooms with two queen beds. (There are also 26 free-standing cabins.) General manager Kate Patterson says the manor’s Cherry Dining Room restaurant is a great place to admire the surrounding scenery. There’s also a patio open through most of the fall.
“Sometimes I forget just how beautiful it really is here until I look out from the dining room when I’m seating somebody,” she says.
Patterson adds that there are also nooks and crannies throughout the manor to steal a quiet moment, including an Elizabethan balcony off one of the banquet rooms.
“It looks out over the lake, and I love that,” she says.
“If I were staying here, that’s where I would sit and have a cup of coffee in the morning.” 11755 Kinsman Rd., Newbury 44065, 440/564-2279
SALT FORK STATE PARK LODGE
Located in Ohio’s largest state park, Salt Fork State Park Lodge is equally impressive. It also gives a nod to one of the area’s most famous purported residents, with a Bigfoot statue right outside the Wildlife Lounge bar. (The front desk also offers maps to each of the spots where the cryptid has reportedly been seen.) The lodge, which was completed in 1972, has 148 cozy and comfortable guest rooms, three common areas with fireplaces perfect for fall nights and Timbers Restaurant, which features the must-have Salt Fork Pretzel, a dessert pretzel filled with cream cheese and topped with ice cream and chocolate caramel drizzle. 14755 Cadiz Rd., Lore City 43755, 740/435-9000
HUESTON WOODS STATE PARK LODGE
This A-frame-style lodge opened in 1967 and is a natural fit in the area, set among the trees on the shores of Acton Lake in southwest Ohio. The lofty ceilings inside create welcoming communal areas, perfect for groups who want to hang out by the fireplace. Hueston Woods State Park Lodge’s 92 rooms were made over in 2024 with updated bathrooms, flooring, linens and more, resulting in a more modern stay. The Smokehouse restaurant offers barbecue-style favorites such as smoked brisket and turkey and provides a great place for a bite to eat without having to leave the lodge. 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner 45003, 513/664-3500
DEER CREEK STATE PARK LODGE
The spacious lobby at Deer Creek State Park Lodge is airy and vibrant during the day, thanks to skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto Deer Creek Lake. At night, the lobby’s huge stone fireplace becomes a cozy place to gather after a day spent exploring the park, while the lobby balcony offers a more intimate hangout spot. The lodge’s 110 guest rooms and entrance were updated in 2024, giving a fresh feel to the place, which opened in 1979. Visit the on-site Rafter’s Restaurant for a meal, and check out Harding’s Lounge for its can’t-miss wine slushies. 22300 State Park Rd. 20, Mount Sterling 43143, 740/869-2020
Visit greatohiolodges.com for more information about these and other Ohio State Parks lodges.
HUESTON WOODS STATE PARK LODGE
scenic spots
LEDGES STATE PARK
TOP: JEFF SMITH; BOTTOM: NATHAN RACZ
JOHN BRYAN STATE PARK
NELSON–KENNEDY
Ohio’s state parks have enough Instagram-worthy locations to fill your entire feed. These four state parks with noteworthy features are a great place to start.
NELSON-KENNEDY LEDGES STATE PARK
What is missing from the rock formations at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park is just as interesting as what’s there. A geological mystery surrounds the formation of many of the park’s rocky features, such as the Gold Hunter’s Cave.
“There’s a missing piece of geologic time between those rocks where geologists don’t know what happened,” says T. Andrew Nash, Ohio Geological Survey mapping group supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “That leads to some of the interesting features that we see in the park because the shale under the sandstone is pretty weak and easily eroded.”
Erosion is at play all over the 167-acre park in Portage County. Along its 3 miles of trails, you can see spots where Mother Nature carved gaps between rock joints to create pathways just wide enough for a person. Nash’s favorites are Devil’s Hole, a cave-like collection of rocks, and Devil’s Icebox, a rock shelter.
“There’s a little tributary that comes out of Minnehaha Falls [and] goes right through Devil’s Icebox, bringing colder water, and it creates this microclimate,” he says. “There’s not any light or heat from the sun able to get in the water, so it stays cooler.” 12440 St. Rte. 282, Nelson Township 44231, 330/235-0030
JOHN BRYAN STATE PARK
Set along the Little Miami River, which carved out the limestone gorge here over thousands of years, this 752-acre park in Greene County was once home to mound-building Native Americans, Shawnee tribes and later, nine mills. Clifton Mill and Grinnell Mill still stand, while the remnants of the Patterson Mill and the Nixon Hagar Papermill are in the adjoining Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve. A small waterfall can be seen from the north side of the Little Miami, near the South Gorge Bridge, but be sure to check out Amphitheater Falls, which drops 35 feet, after an autumn rain. 3790 St. Rte. 370, Yellow Springs 45387, 937/767-1274
STROUDS RUN STATE PARK
With more than 40 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, there are a lot of ways to get around Strouds Run State Park in Athens County. It is known for its scenic lake, but there is plenty more to see across the rugged, 2,606-acre park. The 6.6mile Sundown Trail meanders among Native American mounds, while the 1.2-mile Trace Trail passes the remnants of a farmstead and cemetery. The 1-mile Beaver Trail Pond leads to a beaver colony along a creek, where you might spot the critters gathering food for winter. 11661 State Park Rd., Athens, 45701, 740/767-3570
KELLEYS ISLAND STATE PARK
There’s something groovy going on just a short walk from Kelleys Island State Park. While the island is quieter during the fall, the Jet Express and Kelleys Island Ferry bring people there all season for camping and hiking. For a rare sight, head to Glacial Grooves Geological Preserve near the park entrance. The more than 17,000-year-old grooves were left behind when Ice Age glaciers carved the Lake Erie region as we know it today. At 400 feet long, 10 feet deep in some spots and 33 feet wide, the geologic wonder is one of the world’s largest examples of glacial grooves. 920 Division St., Kelleys Island 43438, 419/746-2546
CAMPING
Fall and camping go together like chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers. Spend a night or two at one of these state park campgrounds.
BURR OAK STATE PARK
Burr Oak State Park and its 100-site campground feel like a best-kept secret. The remote 2,593-acre park in southeast Ohio is miles from everything but the tiniest towns, making it the perfect spot for connecting with nature on a quiet overnight stay.
“You don’t just find Burr Oak accidentally,” says park and watercraft manager Jerry Pollock. “You have to know where to look. It’s truly quaint.”
The campsites are on the smaller side, and many are placed along rolling hills. Thirty-three of them offer electric hookups, but most are primitive. While there are hookups for smaller recreational vehicles, Burr Oak is ideal for tent camping. A handful of primitive sites are located near the 664-acre Burr Oak Lake.
“You can easily walk over [from those sites] and fish from the shore,” Pollock says.
Although the park is a calm retreat, there’s plenty to do here. Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center has a restaurant, lounge and indoor pool. There is also a 21-mile backpacking trail that follows the lake’s shoreline, with primitive and group campsites along the route.
“We have people that come in, figure out where they want to camp and hike that trail for a couple days and nights,” Pollock says. 4170 Beach Rd., Glouster 45732, 740/767-3683
COWAN LAKE STATE PARK
Home to bald eagles that will occasionally do their own fishing in the 700-acre lake, Cowan Lake State Park offers more than 250 campsites, most of which have electric hookups for recreational vehicles (47 sites have full hookups). For campers strictly interested in roughing it, there are 17 primitive sites. The campground also has two shower houses (each with a laundry facility), a camp store with supplies, bike and kayak rentals, and access to five hiking trails. The on-site nature center is perfect for activities with the kids, and it’s a great spot to learn about Cowan Lake’s bald eagles. 1750 Osborn Rd., Wilmington 45177, 937/382-1096
DELAWARE STATE PARK
The dense woodland of central Ohio’s Delaware State Park’s campground makes it feel secluded despite the fact there are more than 200 sites here, all of which have electric hookups for recreational vehicles. Set along the western shore of the 1,300acre Delaware Reservoir, the sites are organized into clusters that end in cul-desacs. Each of the four clusters has a shower house and playground, and the interconnected hiking trail system makes getting around an adventure (the good kind). The campground also has nine-hole disc golf and mini golf courses, shuffleboard and pickleball courts, and a dog park. 5202 U.S. 23, North Delaware 43015, 740/363-4561
BLUE ROCK STATE PARK
Located southeast of Zanesville, the 322-acre Blue Rock State Park’s intimate campground has just over 60 sites available, all of which are primitive, making it the perfect spot for fall tent camping. The campground is also notable for its 22 equestrian camping sites and the park’s 3 miles of bridle trails that connect to the 26 miles of trails found in the adjacent Blue Rock State Forest. The campground’s on-site archery range is near the camp store, which sells supplies and snacks and rents canoes, kayaks and rowboats to take out on the 15-acre Cutler Lake. 7924 Cutler Lake Rd., Blue Rock 43720, 740/674-4794
For more information about these and other Ohio State Parks, visit ohiodnr.gov.
COWAN LAKE STATE PARK
BLUE ROCK STATE PARK
SILENT
STORIES
Take a glimpse into This Place of Silence, a new book featuring the work of photographers Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber, whose images encapsulate the majesty, history and tranquility of Ohio’s cemeteries.
Story by Erin Finan | Photography by Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber
Capturing the beauty of cemeteries across Ohio’s 88 counties is a challenging task, but for self-proclaimed taphophiles (people with a deep affinity for cemeteries) Ian Adams and Randall Lee Schieber, it was a labor of love.
After collaborating on a photography book in 2017, titled Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, which sought to document each county through a series of images that were quintessentially Ohio, the duo set their sights on doing the same for the state’s cemeteries.
“Over the course of several phone conversations, we thought, ‘Well, there are cemeteries in every county of the state. Why don’t we try to put together a book on the most beautiful, the most interesting, the most historic cemeteries in the state of Ohio,’” Adams says. “And so that’s what we ended up doing. It’s been a four-year project, a tremendous amount of traveling [and] a great deal of hard work.”
That work culminates in This Place of Silence: Ohio’s Cemeteries and Burial Grounds, a nearly 250-page book that features 240 photographs submitted by Adams and Schieber. Published by Ohio University Press in July 2024, the book was authored by Robin L. Smith and shares scenes from Ohio’s cemeteries coupled with informative descriptions.
“We were pretty determined and felt that this [project] was unique and needed to be done for many reasons,” Schieber says. “We hope that we can open the minds of many other people and get them to realize what cemeteries can bring.”
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, Hamilton County by
Randall Lee Schieber
No other cemetery in Ohio can boast what Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum can. As the largest cemetery in the state and a designated National Historic Landmark, “there’s just so much to photograph there all the time,” according to Schieber. This photo features one of the cemetery’s lakes surrounded by plumes of fall color. The image is one of many from Spring Grove that made it into the completed book. “I think it speaks for itself,” Schieber says. “The fall colors were pretty dramatic.”
Lake View Cemetery, Cuyahoga County
by Ian Adams
“I go up to Lake View at least once a month, and I just drive around,” Adams says. While paying a visit to the cemetery during springtime, he grabbed this photo of a blooming magnolia tree. “I was delighted that the ground was completely covered,” he says. “That was an integral part of the composition. The other thing with cemeteries is you want to have some structures, a gravestone, a monument, something that tells you it’s not your backyard. … That’s an important part of any of my compositions of a cemetery.”
Zion United Church of Christ Cemetery, Coshocton County by
Ian Adams
“I live about an hour north from the largest population of Amish in the world, and I’ve included photographs of Amish Country in many, many of my books over the years,” Adams says. The cemetery depicted in this image is not an Amish cemetery, as there are both Amish and non-Amish people buried there. Adams’ patience is what ultimately allowed him to obtain this picture. “I waited for about 20 minutes, and I was lucky enough to get an Amish buggy with a gentleman and probably his son just as they came past the sign, which absolutely made the photograph as far as I’m concerned.”
Lake View Cemetery, Cuyahoga County
by Ian Adams
“This is one of my favorite monuments anywhere in the state of Ohio,” Adams says of this mausoleum designed by famed Cleveland architect Levi Schofield. “He was an officer in the Civil War, but he was also a well-known architect. He designed the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in downtown Cleveland, and the asylum at Ohio University in Athens was one of his designs as well. It’s just an absolutely classic piece of Gothic architecture. Every time I drive past it, and I’ve been past it dozens of times, I have to stop and look at it because it’s just so unique.”
Ridges Cemetery, Athens County
by Randall Lee Schieber
“I was actually quite happy to get that particular image because it was one of the more challenging photographs that I had to do,” Schieber says. “There were no big monuments to shoot, no spectacular gardens or flowering trees. It was just a lot of small markers. Then I noticed those beautiful pine trees in the background, and I thought, ‘I wonder if there’s another perspective that could lend a little more interesting view.’” After making his way around to the other side of the trees, he found his sightline. “It was the kind of image that hits you and it’s like, ‘Wow. That’s it.’ I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.”
Mound Cemetery, Washington County
by Randall Lee Schieber
“This is one that indicates what Ian and I went through in the planning of not just finding the interesting cemeteries and monuments but determining when to photograph them,” Schieber says. “You really don’t want a strictly bright, sunny day with nothing but sunshine. You want a little softer light, and that’s what I have here. It adds another dimension to the image that you wouldn’t have if you had the harsh sunlight and the contrast and the shadows. You wouldn’t get that kind of ethereal sense, and I think it adds a lot to the image.”
Salem Church and Cemetery, Jackson County
by Randall Lee Schieber
“This particular cemetery is way out in the middle of nowhere,” Schieber says. “It was a bit of a chore to find it.” Once he did, however, he was pleased to see the small white church sitting against the backdrop of a bright blue sky. “What can make or break an image is the sky,” he says. “Whether it’s a blue sky, or a dramatic sky or whatever, it kind of adds a soul to the image. The sky turned out so nice, and then this one little cloud popped up, kind of mimicking the white of the church. It’s the kind of image that when you see it, it’s like, ‘Wow … click!’”
Glendale Cemetery, Summit County
by Ian Adams
“The Civil War Memorial Chapel at Glendale is probably one of the best Gothic structures in any cemetery in the state of Ohio. I just don’t think there’s anything more spectacular than that anywhere in the state,” Adams says. “I love the shadows on the snow,” which he explains serve as leading lines that draw the eye directly to the chapel. “They worked beautifully, compositionally, and the sky had a beautiful, soft winter look to it. It’s nice occasionally to photograph something that doesn’t have a bright blue sky. It was just a photograph that worked for me.”
Washington Cemetery, Fayette County by
Randall Lee Schieber
“This is the only — that I know of — monument fountain in a cemetery in Ohio. When I found that out, I thought, ‘Well, we definitely have to include that in the book,’” Schieber says. Having already photographed the lower half of the fountain the previous year, he returned before the book’s completion to capture the top half. “It’s a unique little fountain that you see kind of right as you drive in there. You can’t miss it. It’s gone through several renovations, and some years ago, they totally restored it. … What caught my interest right away was the symmetry and the beautiful fall colors.”
An easy-to-use handbook for fast identification of mysterious creatures that roam our state.
Story by Kristina Smith | Illustrations by Oliver Allison
LOVELAND FROG
The Loveland Frog is an unusual case, even among cryptids. The giant frog has only been spotted in Loveland, a northern suburb of Cincinnati that straddles Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties. Sightings are limited to a few events that happened decades apart.
APPEARANCE: A creature 2 to 4 feet tall with webbed hands and feet, leathery skin and a head and face like a frog.
BEHAVIOR: Hops like a regular frog and can stand on two feet. During the first sighting in 1955, an unidentified businessman reported seeing three of these creatures and noted one was holding a wand that emitted sparks.
HABITAT/RANGE: Prefers an aquatic and marshy habitat in or near the Little Mi ami River. Range is limited to the Loveland area.
HISTORY: Ohio lore is all we have to back up the 1955 sighting when the unidentified businessman saw three large frogmen near the river, as there is no documented account. The Loveland Frog wasn’t officially reported until 1972, when local police officers Ray Shockey and Mark Matthews said they each saw it individually on separate occasions. Shockey saw it first, telling his supervisors that while he was driving along the river, he saw “an animal 2 or 3 feet tall with dark green or blackish, scaly skin,” the Cincinnati Post reported. A week later, Matthews saw the creature and told the Post it was irritated and “stuck its tongue out at [him] …” He said that he shot at it before it disappeared into the water. (Matthews told Dayton’s Journal Herald a few weeks later that he believed the creature was an iguana.) The most recent sighting was in 2016, when Sam Jacobs reported he and his girlfriend saw “a huge frog near the water” that stood up and walked on its hind legs, Fox 19 Cincinnati reported on Aug. 4, 2016. “I swear on my grandmother’s grave that this is the truth,” Jacobs told the TV station. “I’m not sure whether it was a frogman or just a giant frog. Either way, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
little miami river, loveland
SOUTH BAY BESSIE
APPEARANCE: Described variously as having horns, flippers, tentacles, rows of teeth, spots and, according to an 1897 Sandusky Weekly Journal article, blazing green eyes, “like those of an angry cat.” The creature’s skin has been characterized as gray, black and brown. It has been most consistently described in 19th- and early 20th-century sightings as a snake, often 30 feet long. Sightings from the 1990s describe a creature with the body of a plesiosaur, a now-extinct ancient marine reptile.
BEHAVIOR: Reports from the late 1800s describe a sea monster that behaves aggressively toward boats. Sightings from the 1990s indicate a docile creature that merely swam around.
HABITAT/RANGE: Spotted from the Lake Erie Islands up to Point Pelee in Ontario, Canada, and across the lake into the Eastern Basin around Buffalo, New York. Also spotted in the Huron River in Milan, Ohio.
HISTORY: Bessie lore dates to 1793, when a ship captain reported being chased by a snakelike monster on Middle Bass Island.
For generations, Lake Erie boaters from the islands of the Western Basin to the deeper portions of the Eastern Basin have reported seeing the undulating body of a giant sea serpent gliding through the water. There have been years-long gaps between rashes of sightings of the creature, which received the nickname South Bay Bessie in the 1990s. lake erie, circa 1907
An 1896 Buffalo Courier article listed local businesspeople who had seen the creature. “ … It can travel like a streak of lightning under the water, for it came up in half a minute after every dive,” said leather merchant Fred W. Sherman. The 1910s had waves of sightings. In 1912, Kelleys Island residents woke up to the sounds of crashing ice and found the monster trying to free itself from a frozen Lake Erie, according to a Sandusky Register article. Sightings were so prevalent in the 1990s, Port Clinton’s The Beacon newspaper had a naming contest: South Bay Bessie was the winner
BIGFOOT
Since 1869, witnesses across Ohio have reported seeing an apelike creature in wooded areas or running across roads. That’s not surprising, given that the state ranks fourth in the United States for reported sightings of Bigfoot (also known as Sasquatch or sometimes in Ohio as Grassman), according to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, which catalogs Bigfoot sightings.
APPEARANCE: Consistently described as an apelike creature. Usually reported to be 6 to 9 feet tall, although there are some reports of smaller Bigfoots. Fur color varies and has been described as black, dark brown, red or gray.
BEHAVIOR: Stands and runs on two feet. Believed to emit a howl that sounds like a tornado siren. Diet is likely deer and other forest animals but could also include berries, nuts and plants.
HABITAT: Prefers densely wooded areas, especially large, remote forests.
RANGE: Sightings have been recorded in 66 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Since the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization was formed in 1995, most
sightings have been reported in Portage County, followed by Guernsey County around Salt Fork State Park.
HISTORY: In 1869, residents near Gallipolis heard tales of a “wild man” — nude and covered in hair — terrorizing people in and near the forest, the Gallipolis Bulletin reported that year. The story is believed to be the first newspaper account of Bigfoot in Ohio. (The name Bigfoot wasn’t coined until 1958.) Reports persisted over the decades from Marietta to Lima. In 1932, men searching for the creature in Coshocton ran out of the woods after a “gigantic, hairy figure dropped from the heights of an apple tree …,” the Coshocton Tribune reported. Sightings have continued into the 21st century. In May 2013, a witness reported seeing two of the creatures on the Shadebush Trail at Salt Fork State Park. “At any time, they could have stopped and tore me in half,” the witness told the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, “but all they wanted to do is get away as fast as possible.”
DOGMAN OF DEFIANCE
Standing 7 to 9 feet tall and wearing jeans, the Dogman of Defiance is named after the city where it was reportedly seen, a community about 60 miles southwest of Toledo. Sightings are limited to about two weeks during summer 1972. Back then, it was referred to as a werewolf (and sometimes still is), but cryptozoology enthusiasts have since determined that it was more likely a dogman. Werewolves are humans who transform, whereas dogmen are of an unknown origin and are not known to transform.
APPEARANCE: Described as very hairy with a dog’s head, fangs and large, furry canine feet. Regularly wears jeans, but no other clothing has been reported.
BEHAVIOR: Stands, walks and runs on two feet. One witness described it as carrying a stick or 2-by-4 in a menacing manner. Believed to be nocturnal because sightings
have only been reported at night. There are no reports of it growling, howling or biting anyone.
HABITAT: Prefers brushy cover near railroad tracks in a populated, residential area of a city.
RANGE: Seen on multiple occasions near the Norfolk & Western Railroad station, two blocks from downtown Defiance. Sightings of a dogmanlike creature were also reported in the same 1972 timeframe in Toledo, Tiffin and Bucyrus. It is unclear if the Dogman of Defiance is related to these other northwest Ohio reports or additional ones that have been made in Michigan and Wisconsin.
HISTORY: Railroad worker Ted Davis was the first to report seeing the dogman at the Defiance rail yard just after midnight on July 25, 1972. He told coworker Tom Jones, who didn’t believe Davis until he saw the dogman for himself while working in the rail yard on July 30 of that same year. Jones told a reporter for Toledo’s newspaper, The Blade, “At first, I thought the whole thing was a big joke, but when I saw how hairy and woolly it was — that was enough for me.”
AMISH COUNTRY
Whether you’re looking for fried chicken and real mashed potatoes, specialty pizzas or fine dining fare, these 12 restaurants show the variety this region offers. By Jim Vickers
DER DUTCHMAN, WALNUT CREEK
Embark on a Shopping Adventure Through Ohio Amish Country
As visitors journey through Ohio Amish Country, they’ll discover numerous shopping-themed trails that guide them through a charming adventure. These trails are designed to direct travelers to quaint shops and local artisans, where they can explore handmade crafts, sample homemade goods, and immerse themselves in the rich culture of Amish Country.
Whether seeking traditional quilts, unique woodworking, or distinctive home accents, these trails offer a curated experience highlighting the hidden gems that make Ohio Amish Country a truly memorable destination.
Dutch Valley | Sugarcreek
Along with the restaurant, there is also the Carlisle Inn hotel, Ohio Star Theater, Dutch Valley Gifts and Dutch Valley Market. The bakery connected to the restaurant sells breads, pies, cookies and other sweets. 1343 Old Route 39 NE, Sugarcreek 44681, 330/852-4627
Der Dutchman | Walnut Creek
Der Dutchman’s original Walnut Creek location opened in 1969. Today, views from the dining room look out across the farmland of Goose Bottom Valley. There is an adjoining bakery, a Carlisle Inn hotel next door and Carlisle Gifts across the street. 4967 Walnut St., Walnut Creek 44687, 330/893-2981
Berlin Farmstead | Berlin
This location in the bustling community of Berlin only encompasses a restaurant, but travelers can expect a menu and buffet filled with homestyle favorites. 4757 Township Rd. 366, Berlin 44610, 330/893-4600
For more information, visit dhgroup.com.
Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen Mount Hope
Gloria Yoder’s restaurant reflects her interest in cooking and her background as one of the only “English” students in the predominantly Amish elementary school she attended while growing up in Mount Hope. Opened in 1994, Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen serves a range of Amish fare, such as fried chicken, beef pot roast and Wedding Steak. The buffet changes daily, but you can expect to find a selection of items from the menu as well as seasonal surprises (the dandelion gravy over mashed potatoes is one such specialty) and other offerings that provide alternatives to the traditional dishes. Of course, no meal is complete without a slice of pie 8101 St. Rte. 241, Mount Hope 44660, 330/674-0922, mrsyoderskitchen.com
AMISH COUNTRY
Olde World Bistro and Bakery | MILLERSBURG
Inspired by her family’s barn parties, the bounty of the garden and the rich culinary heritage she encountered in Europe while attending college, chef Mandy Beachy’s Olde World Bistro & Bakery serves madefrom-scratch foods that are crafted using traditional recipes and time-honored tech-
niques. What started as a small bakery in 2008 has grown into a restaurant with a full lineup of lunch and dinner options. Sandwiches are served on artisan breads, and the burgers are made from locally raised beef. The slate of entrees spans pasta and seafood options as well as a lineup of signature dishes that includes baconwrapped meatloaf and the Pork Stack, barbecued pork served atop garlic cheddar mashed potatoes with crispy onions. 4363 St. Rte. 39, Millersburg 44654, 330/8931077, oldeworldbistroandbakery.com
Millersburg Brewing Co. | Millersburg
Brews like the French Ridge IPA and Lot 21 Blonde Ale draw local craft beer fans to this spot in downtown Millersburg. But don’t miss the food menu that spans appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and flatbreads such as the Burnt End Brisket Brat (garlic IPA aioli base, sliced brisket brats, onions, red peppers and Swiss cheese) and the Angry Cuban (beer cheese base, chopped pickles, jalapenos, pulled pork, cheese and a spicy mustard drizzle). If all that’s not comforting enough,
there’s a “Comfort Food” section of the menu featuring southern fried chicken breast with mashed potatoes and gravy and a Banger Bowl of burnt-end brisket brats and pierogies. 60 E. Jackson St., Millersburg 44654, 330/674-4728, millersburgbrewing.com
Park Street Pizza Sugarcreek
Park Street Pizza sits just off state Route 39, down the street from Garaway High School’s football stadium. Rocky and Courtney Shanower opened the restaurant in 2003 and purchased ingredients from local farmers to help other businesses grow as theirs did. The place is known for its signature pizzas, like the Colossal Italian (topped with regular and spicy sausage) and the Veggie Patch, featuring a garden’s worth of goodies. Step up to the counter, choose from nearly a dozen specialty pizzas (or build your own) and grab a seat in the dining room. The pizzas are known for their soft, chewy crust. The secret is made-in-house dough that has been chilled and fermented for at least 24 hours. 215 Dover Rd. NW, Sugarcreek 44681, 330/852-2993, parkstreetpizza.com
Gathering Place
Created as a community hub, East Main Kitchen + Coffee supports philanthropic initiatives both near and far.
The parking lot at East Main Kitchen + Coffee has a section for cars and an area for horse and buggies, a reminder that this spot in the village of Baltic aims to serve everyone in the community.
The restaurant’s interior is welcoming yet conservative. On one wall, a map shows the reach of the restaurant’s mission to support causes close to the hearts of owners Mark and Maureen Miller and J. Mark and Martha Miller.
“Proceeds do go to ministries and missionaries,” says restaurant manager Wayne Troyer. “We keep our feelers out for local families in need. Globally, we have orphanages we send money to.”
When the East Main Street building that formerly housed Miller’s Dutch Kitchen came up for sale, Mark Miller, pastor at Crosspointe Mennonite Church, wanted to create a gathering place for the community that served coffee and a few food items. It opened in May 2018, but by the next year, the transition to a restaurant was beginning.
“Now, we’re a full-blown restaurant with a coffee shop on the side,” Troyer says.
Into Amish Country
Apple butter on warm, fresh dinner rolls. Shopping for handcrafted gifts. Enjoying delightful fall colors.
Restaurants, Shops, Inns, & Theater
dhgroup.com
Breakfast on chef Daryl Miller’s menu includes the Miller Scramble (fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, sauteed vegetables and bacon, sausage or ham covered in sausage gravy). Lunch and dinner bring casual options such as wraps, sandwiches and salads, as well as entrees like fried buttermilk chicken and Wagyu steak.
“A lot of people want to try it,” Troyer says of the Wagyu steak, “and it’s not something you can find just anywhere.” 108 E. Main St., Baltic 43804, 330/897-9065, eastmainkitchen.com
Photo by Doyle Yoder
Photo by Doyle Yoder
Der Dutchman Berlin Farmstead Dutch Valley
Ohio Swiss Festival
September 26, 27, 28
Apfelfest
September 28, 29
Three Sisters International Pow Wow and Atwood Fall Festival
October 4, 5
Dracula
October 4, 5, 11, 12
Zoar Ghost Tours
October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
Lantern Tours at the Age of Steam Roundhouse
October 18, 19, 25, 26
Ghost Tours at the Reeves Museum
October 18, 19
Ghost Busting at the Dennison Depot
October 24
AMISH COUNTRY
Family Tradition
Wooster’s Pine Tree Barn is in its third generation of family ownership, and its restaurant, The Granary, has become a destination of its own.
Housed in a historic dairy barn built in 1868, the family-owned Pine Tree Barn in Wooster has been a local landmark for generations. People visit for the three floors of gifts, furniture, home furnishings and more, as well as the Christmas tree farm out back. In between shopping, many opt for a meal at The Granary, an on-site lunch spot with an indoor dining space and outdoor deck that offers views of the Killbuck Valley countryside.
Pine Tree Barn’s roots stretch to 1952, when Bob and Betty Dush opened the Christmas tree farm to help fund their kids’ college education. Their son, Roger Dush, launched the gift shop side as Pine Tree Barn in 1980. Today, Roger and Rita Dush’s daughter Julie Kilbourne and her husband, Matt, are third-generation owners.
The Granary is known for its quiches, crepes and sour cream fruit pies as well as its French onion soup and lemon crumb muffins. The restaurant works in new offerings, but tradition is at the heart of its menu. “We make our pie crusts and quiche crust with real butter,” says Lori Troyer, who has been restaurant manager for more than 25 years. “We squeeze lemon juice to go into [the lemon drizzle for] our lemon muffins.”
The menu also includes salads (such as the Betty’s Sweet Chicken Fruit Salad and Black & Bleu Steak Salad) and sandwiches. Although The Granary is small, it’s big on service, and its charming atmosphere is obvious the moment you step across the threshold.
“It’s just quaint,” Troyer adds. “Before I became part of this business, I loved it here [as a customer]. It’s a place people tend to come back to many times.” 4374 Shreve Rd., Wooster 44691, 330/264-1014, pinetreebarn.com
Rebecca’s Bistro
Walnut Creek
Those looking for lighter fare for breakfast or lunch can find it at Rebecca’s Bistro in Walnut Creek. Owners Rebecca and Jim Miller, who moved from Arizona back to Jim’s hometown of Berlin, converted an 1800s log cabin to create their charming eatery that serves seasonal salads, quiches, sandwiches made on gluten-free bread, fruit smooth-
ies, and chai and coffee drinks. The menu changes biweekly to feature local and seasonal ingredients. September brings selections like an pumpkin-apple-bacon soup and an apple-pecan salad drizzled with blue cheese. One item that is always on the menu is the bistro’s signature tomato basil soup. Diners can even grab a jar of it to take home, along with the bistro’s popular herb dressing. 4986 Walnut St., Walnut Creek 44687, 330/893-2668, rebeccasbistro.com
Tarragon at The Inn at Honey Run | Millersburg
Travelers may be surprised to find metropolitan dining in the middle of Amish Country, but the Inn at Honey Run’s on-site restaurant, Tarragon, offers a sophisticated menu that sources as many ingredients as it can from farmers and purveyors in the surrounding countryside. (It also has its own 2-acre garden and large greenhouse that allows the restaurant to keep growing through the winter.) Honey is harvested from beehives on the 56-acre property,
and the bounty of the inn’s fruit trees and berry bushes find their way onto chef Bret Andreasen’s menu. The dinner menu spans a half-dozen entree selections that include a vegan option, while the brunch menu boasts a lineup of comforting morning favorites. 6920 County Rd. 203, Millersburg 44653, 330/6740011, innathoneyrun.com/ dining
Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant
Berlin
Originally known as Hummel’s Market, this spot opened as a grocery store in 1938. Owners Paul and Mary Hummel added a lunch counter in the 1940s, serving trail bologna and Swiss cheese sandwiches along with other items. (Dale Boyd and Henry Wurthmann bought the place in 1945.) You can still sit at the counter or opt for a seat
in the dining room. There may be a line at peak times, but it’s worth the wait for dishes like fried chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes. Henry’s wife, Bryl, was known for her pies, and that tradition continues today. Up to 20 varieties are available at any given time, including favorites like peanut butter cream. 4819 E. Main St., Berlin 44610, 330/893-4000, boydandwurthmann.com
We invite you to shop, dine, and stay in Historic Downtown Millersburg! Located in the center of Ohio Amish Country, experience the small town charm of our nationally recognized historic town!
Phone: (330) 674-2412 • HistoricDowntownMillersburg com • Instagram: @historicmillersburg
Discover the endless possibilites in Grove City, OH
Book your stay at one of 18 hotels and get ready to make memories.
Whether you are 8 or 80, there is an adventure for everyone!
Check in and head over to Scioto Grove Metro Park where you can hike across a rope bridge on the REI River Trail. Bring your kayak and float down the Big Darby Creek, a National Scenic River, or hop on a bike and pedal through town.
Venture into the Historic Town Center where you will find local shops, restaurants, and the Visitor Center; located at 4060 Broadway. Relax in the Community Living Room and get information for your next stop.
Get an interactive experience at an escape room or pour your own candle before grabbing a bite to eat. Jumpstart your holiday shopping at one of the many boutiques filled with the latest fashions, home decor, and Grove City gear.
Take in the fall colors at the Gardens at Gantz Farm or learn about the history of Grove City at Century Village during an Old Time Harvest Day. Don’t forget to say hello to the bison at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park where they roam in two large pastures next to the Nature Center.
GROVE CITY
This Columbus suburb is home to downtown shopping, tranquil outdoor spaces, fun community gatherings and unique art experiences. By Emma Shinker
“GAME TIME” MURAL, FRYER PARK
GROVE CITY
Downtown Shopping
The stretch of Broadway that runs through downtown Grove City offers shoppers plenty to explore. Visitors can get creative by making candles at The Chandler or picking up home decor at The Farm Table on 62. It seems there is always a new shop to discover, including a fresh find for flowers and a haven for trading card collectors.
Open since May 2024, Butterfly Boutique carries an abundance of locally grown flowers, including many that have been cultivated by shop owner Katie Fleming. Shoppers will also find teas, seasonal decor, jewelry and art — much of it sourced from local artists and women-owned businesses.
Fleming and her staff take pride in their ability to help customers find the right flowers for any occasion. Stop in to buy a ready-made bouquet or create one of your own. The boutique also hosts buildyour-own bouquet classes and themed events.
“I like to say we’re more than just a retail shop,” Fleming adds. “We’re kind of a flower experience.”
A short walk away, visitors will find CardCollector2, a one-stopshop for trading cards and sports memorabilia. Owner Ryan Johnson bought the store in 2019 after the former owner retired, rebranding and expanding both the space and inventory. The store sells
sports cards, trading card games and other card-related supplies, so stop by to browse boxes of single cards, buy variety packs or just talk with the staff about the hobby.
The shop periodically hosts a trade night, where card enthusiasts from Grove City and beyond gather. Some trade nights are even geared specifically to kids, which is part of Johnson’s goal to inspire the next generation and build a community around the store.
“If you have any questions … that’s what we’re here for,” he says. “We’re meant to be an entry point into the hobby.”
Outdoor Exploration
As summer turns to fall, Grove City’s parks are the perfect place to experience the changing seasons. Opened in 2016, Scioto Grove Metro Park is a popular choice for a variety of outdoor activities. The 620-acre park offers eight different hiking trails, two archery courses and five campsites, as well as areas for fishing and kayaking. Climb the fire tower, which was installed at the end of 2023, for views of the park and surrounding city.
The park represents a variety of Ohio habitats, from woods and waterways to prairie land and oak savanna. Keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer and migrating birds as you explore the walking and hiking paths. To see the season’s colorful fall foliage, park manager Kurt Fortman recommends following the 1.8-mile REI River Trail, where you can also cross Scioto Grove’s picturesque rope suspension bridge, a popular choice with little ones who love to feel it bounce beneath their feet.
Closer to downtown, Fryer Park has walking paths, a playground and fishing spots. The park is also home to Century Village, a re-created late-19th-century Ohio town. While visiting Grove City, be sure to stop at Gantz Park to take a stroll through the arboretum and gardens or sign up for a class in the park’s renovated barn.
Butterfly Boutique opened in May 2024 (left). Century Village offers the chance to explore a re-created, 19th-century Ohio town (bottom). Arts in the Alley celebrates creativity each fall (opposite page).
Community Gatherings
Starting as a small local art competition, Grove City’s Arts in the Alley celebrates 45 years of community and creativity in 2024. The festival, organized by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, returns to the center of town this year Sept. 20 through 22.
Over 100 artists are scheduled to display and sell their wares during this year’s event, which also features five judged art shows, as well as people’s choice awards and a chance to become a part of the city’s permanent collection. For young artists, the Kids Fun Street has expanded to include more take-home crafts and an updated sensory-friendly area. Enjoy food from one of the many vendors while exploring the lineup of arts, crafts and entertainment.
The second day of the festival kicks off with a parade on Saturday morning, with the fifth annual Voice of Grove City competition going on throughout the day. Much like the popular TV show, competitors showcase their singing talent for a chance to win a $2,500 prize.
The lively Columbus suburb has lots more in store for the remainder of the season too. The Summer Sizzle Concert Series continues through the end of September with live music in the town center every Friday night. The Heart of Grove City Food Truck Festival, which takes place on Fridays during the summer, continues biweekly through October, and Oct. 26 brings Boo Off Broadway, a Halloween event with games, local vendors and food.
“I keep telling people, ‘If you haven’t been to Grove City in a while, you haven’t been to Grove City,’” says Shawn Conrad, president and CEO of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a new day here.”
GROVE CITY WHEN YOU GO
Interactive Art
One of the first things fall visitors to Fryer Park will see is “Game Time,” the first in a series of public stereo paintings by artists David Lane and Cody Wood. With the naked eye, the larger-than-life painting appears to be two images: one portraying the first year of the Grove City High School Alumni Softball Tournament in 1983 and the other depicting the tournament in 2023. Look through a double horizontal periscope contraption mounted in front of the painting, though, and the two paintings become one.
“It’s a way of using your binocular vision — your left and right eye — to create a three-dimensional image,” Lane explains. In this way, the paintings connect Grove City’s past with its present, beyond the capabilities of a photograph.
The second painting, not yet installed at press time, depicts a group of bison before and after the city’s establishment. While they once roamed wild in the area,
Ohioans can now see bison at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, about 15 minutes from Grove City. Look closely for the small details that make each side of the painting unique. Lane and Wood have more stereo paintings in the works, each taking about six months to complete.
“We’re trying to find ways to not just comment on history,” Wood says, “but also [ask] what can be enjoyed in Grove City right now?”
For more information about destinations and events in Grove City, visit grovecityohio.gov or visitgrovecityoh.com.
Arts in the Alley facebook.com/ artsinthealleygc
Boo Off Broadway gcchamber.org/ boo-off-broadway
Butterfly Boutique butterflygc.com
CardCollector2 cardcollector2.com
Fryer Park visitgrovecityoh.com
Scioto Grove Metro Park metroparks.net
COURTESY OF DAVID LANE
FamilyFun
Rest&Relaxation
Deer Creek
If a fall break is circled on the calendar look no further than Ohio’s breathtaking state parks and the Great Ohio Lodges. Whether you’re a family planning a fun-filled getaway, empty nesters in search of a charming vacation spot, or a corporate traveler in need of a refreshing break, there’s an ideal destination for you.
Serene Getaway
Hueston Woods
BURR OAK
At Burr Oak in Glouster, Ohio, immerse yourself in nature’s embrace. Accommodations include cozy lodge rooms and cabins, and a selection of activities like hiking, hunting, fishing, and boating. There’s something for everyone. Plus, our in-house dining ensures no craving goes unsatisfied.
740-767-2112 StayBurrOak.com
DEER CREEK
Deer Creek, nestled in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, promises an unforgettable adventure with 3,100 acres of trails, woodlands, and indoor/ outdoor activities. Perfect for families or events, our expansive property offers everything from championship golf courses to serene lakeside spots for s’mores under the stars.
740-869-2020 DeerCreekParkLodge.com
HOCKING HILLS
Hocking Hills, located in Logan, Ohio, beckons with its blend of modern luxury and rustic charm. With hiking trails, caves, and waterfalls right at your doorstep, every moment promises excitement and discovery.
740-270-6100 HockingHillsParkLodge.com
HUESTON WOODS
At Hueston Woods, College Corner, Ohio, relaxation meets adventure amidst 200 acres of forest and picturesque lake views. Whether it’s picnicking, boating, golfing, or simply unwinding in our comfortable lodge, tranquility awaits.
513-664-3500 HuestonWoodsLodge.com
MAUMEE BAY
Maumee Bay in Oregon, Ohio, invites you to experience the best of Lake Erie’s beauty. With a plethora of outdoor activities and picturesque settings, your vacation, wedding, or reunion will be elevated to new heights.
419-836-1466 MaumeeBayLodge.com
The golf course at Hueston Woods is an 18-hole championship course designed by prominent golf course architect Jack Kidwell.
Maumee Bay State Park
Pictured right: Salt Fork State Park
Making Memories
MOHICAN
Mohican in Perrysville, Ohio, offers the quintessential getaway, surrounded by natural splendor and modern comforts. From beach days, strolls through fall’s grandest foliage and family gatherings around the fire pit, every memory made here is unforgettable.
419-938-5411 MohicanLodge.com
PUNDERSON MANOR
Punderson Manor, nestled in Newbury, Ohio, combines old-world charm with endless exploration. With a 150-acre glacial lake and miles of trails, adventure is always within reach. Our aim is to offer each guest a comfortable place where they can relax, recharge and take in Ohio’s most magical scenery.
440-564-9144 PundersonManor.com
SALT FORK
ENJOY OHIO’S FALL COLOR
Bring your family and friends and take a frontrow seat for the dazzling show of fall colors in Ohio. You’ll find our properties’ unique Ohio State Park locations, paired with the natural beauty surrounding the hills, lakes, and trails offer you the best view of fall colors from early in the transition, to peak color in October and the fading glory of the fall season.
Weekly Fall Color Updates fallcolor.ohiodnr.gov
Complement your fall color experience by staying in one of our resort lodges.
Salt Fork in Cambridge, Ohio, promises memories to last a lifetime, with soon-to-beupdated accommodations and endless outdoor opportunities amidst lush woods and serene lake views.
740-435-9000 SaltForkParkLodge.com
SHAWNEE
Shawnee in West Portsmouth, Ohio, offers a glimpse into Ohio’s Little Smokies. With lodge rooms boasting private balconies and endless recreational activities, every moment here is a treasure.
740-858-6621 ShawneeParkLodges.com
Come experience Ohio’s hidden gems with The Great Ohio Lodges. Rich in history and natural beauty, each property promises a unique escape you’ll cherish for years to come.
Pictured left: Burr Oak State Park
Punderson Manor
EXPLORE OHIO TRAILS
OuterSpatial is a proven, award-winning application utilized by the federal government and various state agencies across the country, providing a global outdoor recreation and mapping resource for the public.
Whether you’re exploring the rugged hills of the Appalachian region or the serene shores of Lake Erie, there are trails to suit every preference and skill level.
Download the app today at ohiodnr.gov/ohiotrails
75TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION PARKS PASSPORT
Introducing the ODNR 75th Anniversary Edition Ohio State Parks Passport! This passport is a fun way to visit all of Ohio’s scenic state parks with the added benefit of giving visitors a chance to commemorate each visit.
HIKE, EXPLORE, MORE +
ODNR is now on OuterSpatial, your go-to free app to explore Ohio Trails!
This full-color booklet includes regional maps, updated photographs, and individual pages for all 76 state parks. It also highlights the facilities, available activities, interesting facts, and local contact information for each state park. Users are encouraged to visit park facilities to “stamp” their own passports, or they can use the full set of park decals conveniently included with each passport.
Order online at store.ohiodnr.gov
AMERICA 250-OHIO
Download the app now
As the United States gears up for its historic semi quincentennial, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) proudly aligns with the state commission entrusted with leading Ohio’s Celebration. This monumental event aims to spotlight Ohio’s legacy stories and invaluable contributions to the nation over the past 250+ years.
One of those chapters brings Wingfoot Lake State Park to the spotlight. ODNR is proud to announce that Wingfoot will be part of the Ohio Air & Space Trail, a significant initiative by America 250-Ohio to honor Ohio’s rich history in air and space exploration. As the manufacturing location of Goodyear’s first blimps, Wingfoot Lake State Park is a notable addition to the Ohio Air & Space Trail commemorating Ohio’s instrumental role in aerospace developments.
For more information about the Ohio Air & Space Trail and a complete list of its participating sites, visit the newly launched website at ohioairandspace.com
WINERIES
From innovative food-and-wine pairings to cookout nights that spark a communal atmosphere, embrace autumn at these four Ohio wineries. By Ruth
Corradi Beach
GRAND RIVER CELLARS, MADISON
cheers!
Enjoy the wide-open spaces of the Appalachian foothills and explore the eclectic mix of seven unique wineries and a craft brewery, all within a short drive of one another in beautiful Coshocton County. It’s the perfect romantic getaway or girls’ weekend adventure. Free Passport Program and hotel packages are available.
432 N. Whitewoman St. Coshocton,OH 740-622-4877 threeriverswinetrailohio.com
Creek Wine
Dutch Creek Winery crafts the best artisanal, small batch fruit and honey wines, ciders and familyfriendly, non-alcoholic honey sodas. Enjoy tastings, local beers, charcuterie boards and great pizza either inside on our covered patio and pavilion or outside in our picnic grove. Please check our website for current hours and specials.
12157 St. Rte. 699 Athens, OH 740-818-4699 dutchcreekwinery.com
Wild About Wine
Travel to the vineyards, wineries and breweries located in the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio. This year-round tour takes wine and craft beer enthusiasts through three counties: Guernsey, Coshocton and Muskingum. Relax on porches and in gardens, sip vintage wines, enjoy breathtaking sunsets and listen to captivating stories, all while you take in the beauty of southeast Ohio. visitguernseycounty.com/ wild-about-wine/ 740-432-2022
Wine and dine at this family-owned-and-operated winery. Enjoy handcrafted fine wines made with juices from the Napa Valley in a peaceful, breathtaking setting. Offering wine tastings, live music, large patio spaces and a pavilion. The perfect place for private events, weddings and overnight stays in our cabins.
Located just outside the Hocking Hills, this farm winery invites guests to sample wine flights and charcuteries surrounded by rolling hills, farmland and acres of vineyards. Catch a glimpse of farm life with border collies and sheep, enjoy picnicking and lodging accommodations, and as a fun bonus, wine slushie weekends.
26328 Locust Grove Rd. Creola,OH 470-988-6150 lepetitchev.com
Located in the heart of the Grand River Valley, Ferrante Winery is the perfect place for a fall getaway. Taste the fruits of over 75 years of innovative winemaking experience, including specialties like Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Dolcetto. The tasting room is open seven days a week, and guests can even stop for a bite at the full-service Italian restaurant and enjoy live entertainment on the weekends.
5585 St. Rte. 307 Geneva OH 440-466-8466 ferrantewinery.com
Experience Chateau Winery & Vineyard, a hidden gem where guests can sit by the pond, stroll the vineyard, relax in the tasting room and gather with friends. All wines are made on-site, and the vineyard is open year-round, offering food, beer, live entertainment and tours.
525 St. Rte. 635 Helena,OH 419-638-5411 chateauwineryandvineyard.com
Laurentia Vineyard and Winery is located within the Grand River Valley. Situated upon 48 acres of estate vineyards, Laurentia’s awardwinning wines, such as the Double Gold Stoltz Block Cabernet, may be perfectly paired with a variety of boards, shared plates and artisan flat breads.
4599 S. Madison Rd. Madison,OH 440-296-9175 laurentiawinery.com
Three Rivers Wine Trail
Dutch
Petit Chevalier Farm Winery Ferrante Winery
Old Firehouse Winery
Old Firehouse Winery is the Great Lake’s largest lakefront winery and restaurant, overlooking the Lake Erie Shoreline — the village’s first fire station. Firehouse features wines made on premises, a large patio and live music on weekends. Located right on “The Strip” in the resort town of Geneva-on-the-Lake. Open 7 days year round.
5499 Lake Rd E. Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 800-UNCORK-1 oldfirehousewinery.com
Plum Run Winery
Locally owned boutique winery in the heart of downtown Grove City, featuring 22 varieties of house wines, 30 taps of artfully crafted beers and ciders, along with a full scratch kitchen and large pet-friendly patio. Great space for meetings and private events as well!
Come sit, sip and relax at Gallia County’s first winery. Take in the picturesque views of the countryside, stroll through the vineyard and sample handcrafted wines. With so many great varieties to choose from, you are sure to find something you’ll love.
2376 St. Rte. 850 Bidwell,OH 740-245-9463 merryfamilywinery.com
Laurello Vineyards is a family-owned winery providing hand-crafted, award-winning wines and specially prepared foods as well as beer on tap. Laurello’s offers premium, vinifera wines in addition to unique blends and delicious ice wines. We invite you to stop by to experience our boutique winery.
4573 St. Rte. 307 E. Geneva, OH 440-415-0661 laurellovineyards.com
Brady Vineyards of Ohio and Heron Creek Winery
The grapes to produce the award-winning Heron Creek Wine are grown, processed, fermented and bottled in a sustainable way at the Brady Vineyards of Ohio 140-acre family farm. Fourteen acres of wine grapes, including seven different varietals, are grown in the Lake Erie region of north-central Ohio. Visit our website for details.
“Find Your Wine Time” at Lincoln Way Vineyards. The winery boasts a variety of wines ranging from dry to sweet and everything in between, all made using O hio-grown grapes. Hard ciders are also available and made using locally sourced apples. Look forward to live music, food trucks and other special events during weekends throughout the year.
9050 W. Old Lincoln Way Wooster, OH 330-804-WINE lincolnwayvineyards.com
Stonegait Winery is a familyowned winery, featuring estate and American wines all crafted on-site. We offer a full menu showcasing our wood-fired pizzas, appetizers, sandwiches and more. Along with our large wine selection, we have beers on tap, bourbons and specialty drinks. We invite you in to enjoy our beautiful patio and relaxing atmosphere. 4275 Bates Rd. Madison,OH 440-307-9571 stonegaitwinery.com
Manchester Hill Winery and Vineyard
Established in 2011, Manchester Hill is a familyowned-and-operated winery and vineyard that handcrafts nationally and internationally award-winning wines and hard ciders made from local fruit. All products are fermented, created, bottled, corked and labeled on-site along with the estate vineyard grapes. Take in the friendly atmosphere as you enjoy these artistic creations.
The marriage of food and wine serves as a centerpiece of the experience at Grand River Cellars in Lake County. The winery is found within the Grand River Valley American Viticultural Area — a northeast Ohio region that benefits from its proximity to Lake Erie, resulting in a longer growing season and a reduced risk of frost.
Opened in 2005, and owned by Cindy and Jeff Lindberg and Beth and Tony DeBevc, the winery serves up a couple of autumn dishes that are popular year after year, and servers are well-versed in making wine suggestions that complement whatever diners order.
“One of our staples is chef Kelly [Palmiteri]’s meatloaf with merlot gravy,” Cindy Lindberg says. “That might not sound like it goes together, but it is truly one of the best meatloaves I’ve ever had.”
The other fall favorite is Palmiteri’s chicken pot pie served in a bread bowl. “Our Chardonnay Reserve works really well with the creaminess of the pot pie,” Lindberg adds.
Those who want to learn more about pairings can take part in Grand River Cellars’ Food & Wine Pairings in the Wine Cave, an experience that happens most Saturdays at 1 p.m. where participants are in-
Savor every moment AT GERVASI VINEYARD
troduced to five wines and four hors d’oeuvres. Groups of 10 to 20 can also reserve the Wine Cave for private food and wine pairing experiences. 5750 S. Madison Rd., Madison 44057, 440/298-9838, grandrivercellars.com
WINERIES
Bent Ladder
Matt and Chris Vodraska’s hard cider and wine operation is shaped by the surrounding Rittman Orchards, which grows more than 100 varieties of apples. Their parents purchased the landmark Wayne County orchard in 2004, and the brothers take full advantage of the fruit they have available, researching heirloom varieties and growing types of apples that thrive in Ohio to use in their ciders.
“Our primary focus is trying to develop hard cider varieties that do well in our location,” Matt says. “We’re trying to introduce genes that do well in our climate, specifically native varieties that have natural disease resistance, bloom later and [aren’t bothered by] frost. We’re crossing old American and European varieties with ancient varieties from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan that have higher tannins and go well in a commercial cider.”
Heirloom apple varieties grown at Rittman Orchards include Calville Blanc d’Hiver (developed in Louis XV’s court for French pastry and hard cider), Newton Pippen (one of the oldest American types) and Kingston Black, which is famous for its direct flavor.
“And practically no one in the Midwest grows it,” Matt says of the latter.
Although some of its most recent hard cider creations won’t be ready until 2025, there is plenty to explore, with eight ciders on draft and up to nine more bottled. Along with growing the apples used in their hard ciders, the brothers also cultivate all the grapes for their wines, around 10 of which can be sampled in the tasting room at any given time. 13550 Mount Eaton Rd. N., Doylestown 44230, 330/485-1089 bentladder.com
Valley Vineyards
When you want to make a night of your visit to the winery, Valley Vineyards in the Warren County village of Morrow has you covered. Not only does the winery take reservations, but when you book one, you can rest easy knowing you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.
“You’ll never feel that you’re rushed,” says Eddie Losekamp, general manager at Valley Vineyards. “We will reserve your table, whether it’s two or 30 people, and it’s your table all night.”
The winery, which opened in 1970, makes around 20 wines, from award-winning reds and whites to sweet and celebration wines, as well as its popular bourbon-barrel mead, a honey wine that is fermented for nine months in a barrel previously used to age bourbon. Craft beer fans can order something from the menu of the on-site Cellar Dweller brewing.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, Valley Vineyards fires up its four charcoal grills for a cookout experience called the House Dinner. Visitors can pick their meat of choice — New York strip, salmon, crab cakes or shrimp — and cook it up backyard style. (Don’t worry about things getting crowded, as there
is a total of 37 linear feet of grill space.) It also comes with two drink tickets.
“Even if it’s 25 or 30 degrees with snow on the ground, you’ll have groups of guys who grab a beer and grill some steaks outside,” Losekamp says.
If you happen to visit outside of a Friday or Saturday or are not in the mood for a cookout, the regular menu features an assortment of creative plates to share, such as cheese boards and a Bavarian pretzel platter. 2276 U.S. Route 22, Morrow 45152, 513/899-2485, valleyvineyards.com
Merry Family Winery
This family-owned winery in rural Gallia County offers an inviting atmosphere that starts with the swing that hangs from the oak
tree in the yard and extends to the cornhole matches that take place on the weekends and the board games available to occupy the kids visiting with their parents.
“We have customers for whom it’s a family affair,” says Lisa Merry, who owns and operates the winery with her husband, Tim. The couple opened the place in 2006 and pride themselves on having 30 different wines available at any given time. That number can even rise to 40 or 50 at times, when one might be able to sample varieties like dandelion, pear, rhubarb or cranberry wine, depending on the season.
The 850 Grille food truck pulls onto the winery grounds every weekend, offering a menu that rotates between hickory-smoked barbecue and wood-fired pizzas made in the winery’s own pizza oven. The winery also hosts live music, ranging from a couple times a month to every weekend, depending on the time of year.
One of Merry’s favorite spots to enjoy the vineyard is from the tree swing, but there are other cozy spots throughout the property, such as the front porch (with an additional swing and rocking chairs), a seating area near the vineyard under an ornamental canopy and another near a calming water feature.
“We have different little areas, like nooks, where people can sit and enjoy their wine and beer and food,” Merry says. “They feel like they have their own little spot.” 2376 St. Rte. 850, Bidwell 45614, 740/245-9463, merryfamilywinery.com
Merry Family Winery in Gallia County (above); Valley Vineyards in Warren County (below left); Bent Ladder in Wayne County (opposite page)
Endless Activities, Endless smiles: make memories in Medina County
When the harvest moon hangs bright in the sky over Medina County and the air turns crisp with the first bite of Fall, the urge to embrace country life grows.
Medina County is lauded for its charming communities and recreational opportunities. Enjoy fun with the family by making a fall visit to walk among the foliage, pick out local produce and explore a book shop that captures the imagination.
Unplug and unwind in nature at the Medina County Parks District’s 22 locations this fall. The properties cover a total of 8,500 acres and include traditional parks as well as nature preserves and animal sanctuaries. Each park offers different amenities for visitors to enjoy depending on the location. With more than 50 miles of trails, there are plenty of places to enjoy a fall hike, but Allardale Park in Medina and Hubbard Valley Park in Seville are great for seeing the changing leaves. Trails at Allardale range from easy todifficult, while Hubbard Valley offers easy and moderate trails. Most of the trails in the park system are no more than 1 mile, but for the hiker looking for something a little longer, Buckeye Woods Park connects to the Chippewa Inlet Trail, which is nearly 3 miles of both paved and rocky terrain. Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park in Medina is a great place to take the little ones in your life. Go on a storybook walk along the path to read a seasonally rotating tale that is chosen and provided by the Medina County District Library or spend time at the inclusive playground that kids of all abilities can enjoy.
HAUNTED OHIO
Experience fall fun and frightful thrills this season at these events and destinations across the state.
The Frankenstein Experience at Haunted Mountain
Spend an evening under the stars this fall at Haunted Mountain as it takes over Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre for its 10th season. During the month of October, the outdoor venue in Chillicothe is home to all manner of haunts and has become the largest Halloween event in southeast Ohio.
The Frankenstein Experience at Haunted Mountain has become a fall favorite. The event features a live stage show that runs about 65 minutes and is from the same crew that puts on “Tecumseh!” at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre each summer. Tickets are still available and shows happen every Thursday through Saturday in October. Before the show, band together with your group and try to beat the escape room. This Frankenstein’s lab-themed adventure tasks intrepid explorers to put their heads together and solve clues to escape in less than 30 minutes. Later in the evening, the haunted trail opens, inviting guests to take a trek through the woods — if they dare — and see plenty of spooky sights along the way. Be sure to grab a seat for a free movie each night, too, which is shown on the largest movie screen in the county.
And don’t worry, there is plenty for little ones to enjoy as well. In addition to the live show, there are free scavenger hunts and tomahawk throwing. For more information, visit hauntedmountain.org.
Halloween in Chillicothe and Ross County
Nestled within the autumnal beauty of southern Ohio’s picturesque Appalachian foothills, Chillicothe welcomes thrill seekers and Halloween enthusiasts to experience the excitement of the fall season. October bursts with seasonal activities, from haunted trails to live productions to festivals that celebrate and embrace the season. Home of the annual “Tecumseh!” outdoor drama, Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre transforms its stage and grounds to welcome visitors to the Frankenstein Experience at Haunted Mountain. This event immerses audiences in the dark laboratory of Dr. Frankenstein as the story unfolds on the outdoor stage. After the show concludes, brave the haunted trail to face your fears or test your skills to beat the clock and get out of an escape room.
The second weekend in October is dedicated to celebrating the season with the annual Chillicothe Halloween Festival. This is a family-friendly event for all ages, where you can embrace the fun and excitement of the holiday. The three-day event offers audiences an opportunity to dress in their best costumes, not only for the chance to win a contest but to immerse themselves in the festival. It features a haunted house, a fun Kids Zone for children of all ages, as well as live entertainment and special exhibits. In addition to the costume contest, the annual Coffin Races take place on the final day of the event. For more information, go to visitchillicotheohio.com.
Haunted Mountain celebrates its 10th anniversary (above). Chillicothe is a great place to spend the season, whether you want frights or family-friendly fun (below).
YORK COLUMBUS
Festivals, Fashion & Frights in Columbus
This autumn, Ohio’s capital city is brimming with seasonal activities and festive events that promise fun for all ages. A highlight for little ones is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Boo at the Zoo event, which runs during the last three weekends in October and is included with regular zoo admission. Families can walk along Tommy C. Turtle’s Trick or Treat Trail, watch a giant pumpkin-carving demonstration, enjoy a film in the 4D theater and much more.
Returning to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens this year is the beloved and enchanting Pumpkins Aglow event. Running on select evenings in October, this event features hundreds of glowing jacko’-lanterns, light displays and horticultural exhibits. For those seeking a spookier seasonal experience, Columbus Ghost Tours offer a chilling walk-through of the city’s history, complete with tales of ghosts, ghouls, murder and more. Led by knowledgeable paranormal historians, these tours provide unique insight into some of the city’s most iconic locations.
Billed as the nation’s most elaborate costume party, Highball Halloween is set for Oct. 26 this year. The event is held in the city’s Short North Arts District and features a couture fashion show, live music and public costume contests. While visiting this season, you’ll be asking yourself, “Can all of this really exist in one city?” Yes, Columbus. For more information, visit experiencecolumbus.com.
Forest of Screams in Medina County
Deep within the woods of Medina County, among the barren trees, lies the infamous Forest of Screams. With the crunch of dead leaves underfoot and the darkness of night surrounding you, this haunted attraction promises an evening filled with truly terrifying frights. Forest of Screams bills itself as Ohio’s premier scream park, with three separate experiences, each guaranteed to deliver on a new level of terror.
The first leg of this horror-filled journey takes visitors on a 1-mile haunted hayride, where unexpected frights await around every turn. Next, you must brave a walk through the Night Stalker’s Trail, a quarter-mile-long haunted trail that takes you into the 58-acre forest. Finally, visitors will enter the Mortuary Haunted House, a former funeral home that is now home to a sinister caretaker who has something spine-chilling in store for you.
After making your way through the attractions, you can warm up by a bonfire, enjoy refreshments from one of the food stands and relax knowing that you survived the Forest of Screams. This experience is not recommended for children, as it features intense scares and disturbing imagery.
The event runs in the evenings Fridays and Saturdays from Sept. 15 through 20 and Friday through Sunday starting Oct. 1 and going through Nov. 4. There is also a special weekday occurrence of the event on Oct. 31 for those who want top-tier thrills on Halloween night. For more information, visit forestofscreams.com.
Forest of Screams in Medina County offers three different spooky experiences (opposite page). See an assortment of giant gourds at the Barnesville
Barnesville Pumpkin Festival
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival in Belmont County. From Sept. 26 through 29, this beloved local tradition sees the city transformed for the season with carnival rides, live music, autumnal decor and, of course, all things pumpkin. Stroll down the festively decorated Main Street as you enjoy seasonal treats such as pumpkin bread, pie and ice cream.
A highlight of the festival is the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, which allows visitors to marvel at the many giant pumpkins competing for the title of King Pumpkin. The official weigh-in happens Wednesday evening when the winner is selected. In 2023, the King Pumpkin weighed in at 1,950 pounds and was purchased for $15,000, while the year prior, a 2,405-pound pumpkin became the festival’s largest ever King Pumpkin and even set the Pennsylvania state record.
Even if you don’t have a green thumb for growing prize pumpkins, there’s plenty of other ways to participate in the festivities, such as pie-eating contests, a 5K run/walk, the Antique and Classic Car Show, showcasing hundreds of cars from Ohio and its surrounding
Pumpkin Festival (below).
cave Tours Petting Zoo Gem mining Treasure hu nt Maze
states, and the Giant Pumpkin Parade, which takes place on Saturday afternoon.
For a weekend jam-packed with family fun and a variety of activities to get you in the fall spirit, the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is the perfect place to celebrate the season and create lasting memories. For more information, go to visitbelmontcounty.com.
Olentangy Caverns
For families seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure this fall, Delaware County’s Olentangy Caverns is the perfect destination for some seasonal, kid-friendly fun. Open through Oct. 31, Olentangy Caverns offers a mix of experiences that go beyond your typical autumn activities. A self-guided walk-through of the caves begins with a 58-step descent, and once you make your way into the caverns, you can feel free to explore at your own pace, even backtracking and visiting rooms multiple times. Seven audio stations and educational plaques placed along your route provide insight into local lore, geology and Native American history. Tours typically take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on your pace.
Aboveground, families can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities. Kids will love looking for rocks, fossils and gems at the gem-mining station, meeting furry friends at central Ohio’s largest petting zoo, completing a treasure hunt maze or playing a round of mini golf. Don’t miss the chance to explore the Bigfoot walking
trail and playground featuring a retired fire truck slide. The grounds are also decorated with autumnal decor, with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors available for purchase.
Whether you’re exploring the caverns, starting or adding to your rock collection, or simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, Olentangy Caverns provides a memorable fall outing for the whole family. For more information, visit olentangycaverns.com. ●
MILESTONES
John F. Kennedy
Campaigns at Euclid Beach
Park
Less than two months before the 1960 presidential election, the Democratic candidate addressed the largest crowd ever assembled at this lakeside park in Cleveland.
Sunday, Sept. 25, 1960, was not the first time John F. Kennedy spoke to a crowd at the Cuyahoga County Democratic Steer Roast at Euclid Beach Park. In fact, it was the third occasion, but this time, the 43-year-old senator from Massachusetts was running for president.
“Warmed by the biggest and most enthusiastic crowd of his entire campaign for the presidency, Sen. John F. Kennedy took off the kid gloves yesterday in Cleveland and swung his stiffest direct punch at Vice President
Richard M. Nixon, his Republican opponent,” Washington bureau chief Alvin Silver reported in the Monday, Sept. 26, 1960, edition of Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer.
The Democratic nominee made his way some 200 blocks from the Hollenden Hotel to Euclid Beach Park, according to the newspaper’s report. It noted an estimated crowd of between 200,000 to 250,000 people greeted Kennedy with “wide smiles reflecting their affection and happiness as they screamed, whistled, threw confetti and brandished homemade posters.”
During his speech, Kennedy noted the importance of the Buckeye State in the upcoming presidential election, predicting that whichever candidate carried “the great industrial states” of Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York would win the election.
“Kennedy concluded by asserting that ‘the cause of all mankind in 1960 is the cause of America,’” the newspaper reported.
While Kennedy went on to win the 1960 election, becoming the 35th president of the United States, it was Nixon, not Kennedy, who won Ohio. — Nathan Havenner
F.
the crowd at Cleveland’s Euclid Beach Park on Sept. 25, 1960.
BY
Sen. John
Kennedy addresses
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Always in Season? IT’S A SHORE THING
Shores & Islands Ohio has something for everyone. Hike and bike miles of natural trails, explore quaint downtowns and museums, witness fall bird migration, and enjoy the beauty of changing colors.
Visit an orchard to pick a peck of apples or sample other fresh-from-thefarm produce at a farmer’s market. Take a tour of a local winery at the peak of harvest season and taste craft beverages at a brewery or distillery on the Shores & Islands Ohio Cheers Trail .
Find your Lake Erie Love year-round at SHORESandISLANDS.com .
