Things to Do

Events

Dawes Arboretum – Ohio 13, three miles north of I-70.

Night Hike: Bats, Owls and Squirrels, Oh My! – from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, August 17. Cost: Non-members – $7; Members – $5. Come explore The Arboretum at night and learn about the many nocturnal creatures that call it home. Discover interesting information about bats, owls and flying squirrels and learn to separate the facts from myths. The program concludes with a hike to look and listen for these night-loving critters throughout the Deep Woods, using specialized equipment, such as The Arboretum’s electronic bat detector.

Preservation Series: Preserving Your Family Textiles – from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 18. Cost: Non-members – $15; Members – $10. The Arboretum Archivist will demonstrate techniques that focus on the needs of a typical family’s historic textile collections. Such items include quilts, flags, wedding dresses, baby clothes, hats, shoes, and purses. Participants will learn how to properly store and care for their textile collections, as well as have a behind-the-scenes look at some of the historic textiles in the Arboretum’s archival collections. Participants are encouraged to bring small items (no more than 2, no larger than 2_2_ folded) that have specific preservation needs. Participants will take home an archival kit including an information sheet, muslin, archival tissue, artifact tags, white gloves, and a pencil.

Light up the Night! – Glow Little Caterpillar – from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, August 24. Cost: Non-members – $15; Members – $10. Looking for a new experience? It’s hard to believe, but at night, when exposed to black light, some caterpillars glow! These glowing beauties can also be photographed. Participants will meet on the Visitors Center deck to be shuttled to a unique outlying property. From there we will explore along woodland trails and field edges with black light flashlights to not only find what glows but identify them as well.

The Visitors Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. For more information visit www.dawesarb.org

Granville Farmers Market – Granville.   Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon on North Main Street between Broadway and College streets. All kinds of good thing to eat and drink.

Hartford Fair – Croton. “The Biggest Little Fair in the World” returns for the 160th year August 4 -11. Featured entertainment: Friday, Aug. 10 – Harness Racing – Noon & Rough Truck Contest – 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 11 – Harness Racing – Noon & Championship Horse Pull at 7 p.m. Admission: General (age 8 and over) – $7. Ride tickets are additional. FREE parking. For a detailed schedule, visit www.hartfordfair.com

38th Annual Mopar Nationals – National Trail Raceway, Hebron. Mopar Heaven returns August 10 – 12. Everything MOPAR with 3000 cars that represent all eras of the Chrysler brands, featuring classics, muscle cars, the high-performance new models and AMC’s for a one of a kind everything Mopar weekend. This year’s tribute is to the Plymouth Road Runner & 1968! 1968 was the introduction of the all New Plymouth Road Runner. It was offered with only two engines, 383 & 426 Hemi. The Nats will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary with a special display of all the years of the Road Runner starting with 1968-1974, 1975, and 1976-1980.

Admission: One day pass is $25, Two Day is $40 and a Three Day is $45. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult admission. Gates open at 8 am and close at approximately 8 pm. For more information visit http://www.moparnats.org

Ice Cream Social – Glenford. The Hopewell Methodist Church’s annual ice cream social is set for 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, at the Gower Road, Glenford church. Homemade chicken noodles, baked beans , sloppy joes, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, pie, cake, and ice cream.

Buckeye Lake Tour of Homes – Buckeye Lake Winery, Fairfield Beach. The 33rd annual Buckeye Lake Tour of Homes is set for Sunday, August 12. Water and weather permitting, the tour will be via pontoon boats departing from the Buckeye Lake Winery to tour six Buckeye Lake homes – two island homes, the classic lighthouse home, two newly remodeled cottages and one original remodeled home. Tours start from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.     Advance tickets at $20 are available for purchase prior to July 24. Day of tour tickets are very limited and cost $25. Ticket requests must be received no later than July 30, 2018. Mail checks to: BLACA, PO Box 1106, Buckeye Lake, OH. 43008

Tour de Buckeye Lake – Buckeye Lake Winery. The second annual Tour de Buckeye Lake is set for Saturday, August 25. The Bike Buckeye Lake event offers three distinct bicycling courses (12, 25 or 38 miles) around beautiful Buckeye Lake. Ride begins and ends at the Buckeye Lake Winery (13750 Rosewood Dr., Thornville 43076). Pre-registration is $35 per rider via www.bikebuckeyelake.org. First 200 riders registered receive a goodie bag from local businesses. Ride day registration is $40 per rider and begins at 9 a.m. at The Winery. Post-ride party at the winery with live music, excellent lunch cuisine and fine beverages.

Millersport Lions Sweet Corn Festival – Lions Park, Millersport. The Sweet Corn Festival returns for its 72^nd year August 29 – September 1. The Grand Parade steps off at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29, proceeding down Lancaster Street to Chatauqua Boulevard to Lions Park. Thursday, August 30, features the Sweet Corn Festival Queen pageant at 7:30 p.m. Friday’s featured entertainment is Dylan Scott at 8:30 p.m. Saturday wraps up with Mark Chesnutt at 8:30 p.m. followed by the Grand Prize Drawing for $10,000 at 11 p.m. Sweet corn, rides, and great food and treats from area non- profit organizations including pit beef sandwiches and fresh donuts. Hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. FREE admission; parking is $10.

Licking County River Round Up – Licking County streams. Save the date – Saturday, September 8 – for Licking County River Round Up. The Park District and the River Round Up Committee welcome all willing volunteers and sponsors to help with this river trash clean-up. The goal is to clean litter from as many waterways throughout Licking County as possible. There are clean-up locations across Licking County both on land and water. Please visit and register at lickingswcd.com.

Music

Concerts on the Green – Bryn Du Mansion, Granville. The FREE summer concert series returns for its 37th Season. All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. on the back lawn of the Bryn Du Mansion, 573 Jones Road, Granville. A food truck will be available at each concert. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Visit granvillerec.org for more information and alternate locations for inclement weather.

• August 19: Reaganomics (80s rock). The Columbus-based Reaganomics are the area’s most electrifying eighties show.

The Bellwether Music Festival- Renaissance Park, Waynesville, OH. The Bellwether Music Festival is a two-day, two-stage alternative music festival with available camping August 10-11, at Renaissance Park in southwestern Ohio, just outside of Waynesville. The festival will feature music by sixteen acts on two stages including MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Echo & The Bunnymen, Local Natives, Dr. Dog, The Psychedelic Furs, Whitney, Japanese Breakfast, Allah-Las, Bob Schneider (with band), Erika Wennerstrom, Alex Lahey, Dawg Yawp, Speaking Suns, The Cordial Sins and Carriers. None of the performances will overlap, so attendees can see each set in full! Music starts daily at 2 p.m. and ends by 11 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.bellwetherfest.com. Two-day tickets are $94 with in & out privileges, single day are $55 and camping starts at $120.

1. Graham Brown – Ohio Valley Opry, Twin City Opera House, McConnelsville. Nashville county music recording star, T. Graham Brown, performs at 4 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, at the Ohio Valley Opry. As a recording artist, songwriter, performer and producer, Brown has scored multiple number one songs in the country, blues, and gospel fields.  He has hit the Billboard, Cash Box, and Christian Music charts 35 times with hits such as “I Tell It Like It Used To Be”, “Hell and High Water”, and “Darlene.”  He also wrote the multiple award winning “Wine Into Water,” which has been recorded over a hundred timed by artists all over the world. Brown has performed on the iconic stage of the Grand Ole Opry hundreds of times, and this will be his third appearance on the Ohio Valley Opry show.

In addition to T. Graham Brown, the Ohio Valley Opry regulars will be performing, including The Clark Family, Matt Coleman, Mike Morrison, and comic, Uncle Doofus.  Curt Guisinger will also be appearing.

For tickets, or for more information, log onto www.OhioValleyOpry.com, or call the office at 740-525-9218.

Hotlicks Blues Festival – downtown Granville. The 19^th annual festival returns Saturday, September 1. Music from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. featuring: Shemekia Copeland, John Primer, Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers, Silky Ray with Sean Carney, The Guitar Company and Doug Hart Band. FREE admission. Beer, drinks and food available. Bring a lawn chair.

Lost Lands Festival – Legend Valley, Thornville. Lost Lands returns for its second year September 14 – 16, featuring 1,000,000 watts of bass, two full-size main stages and three times more “giant f#%king dinosaurs.” Performances by Excision all weekend long plus Flux Pavilion, Ganja White Night, Illenium, Jauz, Nero, Nghtmre, Rezz, Ruski, Slander, Snails, Zomboy and many more. For more information, visit http://www.lostlandsfestival.com/

Theater

“Pippin” – Weathervane Playhouse, Newark. “Pippin” closes the 2018 season. Performances: Thursday, August 2; Friday, August 3; Saturday, August 4; Tuesday, August 7; Wednesday, August 8; Thursday, August 9; Friday, August 10; and Saturday, August 11, all at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, August 4 at 2 p.m. With a beautifully theatrical and emotional score by Grammy and Oscar winner, Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Godspell,” “Children of Eden”), “Pippin” is the story of a young prince, who is in search of his own meaning and truth. Heir to the throne, Pippin seeks meaning in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh, and the intrigues of political power only to find these excursions and triumphs to be unfulfilling. Throughout the show, the Leading Player, much like a puppeteer, manipulates Pippin’s experiences, and Pippin must decide whether or not to become what society believes is extraordinary. In the end, Pippin discovers that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day. Tickets are available online or at the Box Office. Individual ticket rates are $37 for adults, $35 for senior citizens, $26 for students with ID and $15 for children (12 and younger). All Tuesday evening performances are General Admission and cost $19.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.weathervaneplayhouse.org or call 740-366-4616. Weathervane Playhouse is located at 100 Price Road in Newark, Ohio 43055.