What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of July? For us, fireworks! While there are several firework displays happening this month, there's also a lot of other events taking place as well.
From a jazz & ribs fest to the Ohio State Fair, here's a list of fun things to do near and around Hocking College this July.
ATHENS COUNTY
Athens Fabulous Fourth
July 3 & 4 • Times vary
Athens, OH
Celebrate Independence Day in Athens, OH! Enjoy a cruise-in, a pageant, patriotic music, a 5k walk/run, a parade and fireworks!
July 4th Celebration at Robbins Crossing
July 4 • 4PM — 6PM
Robbins Crossing (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Join the Robbins Crossing staff on July 4th and take part in holiday crafts and games. Kettle corn and draft soda will be sold in the General Store.
Thunder in the Valley
July 4 • 10PM
Hocking College (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Thunder In The Valley is a fireworks display that's choreographed to music on Wild Country 107.7 FM and is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Hocking Hills. The show will kick off at 10PM, but head over to Robbins Crossing beforehand from 4PM - 10PM where you can take part in holiday crafts and games.
Outdoor Movie Night: Hook
July 12 • 9PM — 11PM
Robbins Crossing (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Bring your friends and family to Robbins Crossing to enjoy a free outdoor movie. The movie that'll be playing will be Hook. Concessions will be sold during the movie. All are welcome to attend and are free to bring chairs & blankets.
Ohio Brew Week
July 12-20
Athens, OH
Enjoy this 9-day festival of Ohio brewing & fermenting with hundreds of beers, select ciders, meads, and more!
Blacksmithing Class
July 14 & 21 • 12PM — 2PM
Robbins Crossing (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at blacksmithing? Head to Robbins Crossing for a 2-hour beginners class and experience what it takes to work with metal. Classes cost $30 and those interested can RSVP to Jason Szostek at szostekj@hocking.edu.
Amesville Fireman's Festival
July 19 & 20
Amesville, OH
Come out and enjoy kids games, bingo, music, a classic car show, and a parade on Saturday.
Cooking Class: Italian Pasta Making
July 20 • 9:30AM — 2:30PM
The Lodge (15770 OH-691— Nelsonville, OH)
Bring Italy to you with this Leisure Learning pasta making class! Participants in this class will dive deep into regional Italian pasta, making several types of dough from scratch. You'll learn how to use a pasta roller, as well as how to create rustic shapes by hand. On top of that, we'll dress up the pasta with divine homemade sauces and summer vegetables. Cost is $55 per person. (NOTE: Class is limited to 12 and must have a minimum of 8 to run.)
Live Music: Chatham Rabbits
July 26 • 6PM — 8PM
Robbins Crossing (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Husband-wife duo Chatham Rabbits bring a traditional folk sound with a clawhammer banjo and sweet harmonies. Sarah & Austin McCombie have been playing music since they were children. Sarah was also a former member of folk group the South Carolina Broadcasters. Now, both are pursuing their music careers full time as Chatham Rabbits. Bring your family, friends, and a picnic and enjoy a lovely evening of traditional folk music. Cost to attend is $10.
Cyanotype Workshop
July 27 • 12PM
Robbins Crossing (3301 Hocking Parkway — Nelsonville, OH)
Head to Robbins Crossing to create your very own mini cyanotype, a photographic medium invented in 1842! The process takes about 30-45 minutes. Workshop cost $10 per participant.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Pickerington July 4th Celebration
July 3 & 4 • 4PM — 11PM
Victory Park (100 Lockville Rd. — Pickerington, OH)
Bring the whole family to enjoy an evening of fireworks on Wednesday, July 3 followed by a parade the next morning, July 4.
Lancaster-Fairfield County 4th of July Celebration
July 4 • 10AM — 11PM
Fairfield County Fairgrounds (157 E. Fair Ave. — Lancaster, OH)
The day will start with the annual parade leaving from the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. There will be events all throughout the day at the fairgrounds, concluding with the fireworks show at 10PM.
Picktown Palooza 2019
July 11-13 • 5PM — 12AM
Sycamore Creek Park (Pickerington, OH)
Picktown Palooza is a 4-day celebration of the community that offers a variety of fun and entertainment. Whether it's the carnival rides, the 10+ food vendors, the national entertainment line-up, the Freedom 5k and kids' fun run, or the car & bike show, the Palooza has something for families and individuals of all ages. Special guest Lance Bass will host the POP 2000 Tour at the Picktown Palooza Friday, July 12.
Picktown Palooza Car & Bike Show
July 13 • 12PM — 4:30PM
Epiphany Lutheran Church (268 Hill Rd N. — Pickerington, OH)
The Picktown Palooza Car & Bike Show, sponsored by AAA Ohio Auto Club, is a fabulous display of classic and antique cars and motorcycles! The show is open for viewing from 12PM - 4:30PM and awards will be announced at 4PM.
Lancaster Festival
July 17 — July 27
Downtown Lancaster (Lancaster, OH)
The beginning of a celebration of music and the arts. A wondrous burst of music, art and family fun with excitement all over town. The schedule of events includes an art walk, and live performances by Sara Evans and KANSAS.
Canal Winchester Blues & Ribfest
July 26 & 27 • 12PM — 11PM
Downtown Canal Winchester (Canal Winchester, OH)
A 2-day summer street celebration featuring live blues music, world-class ribs, a wide variety of quality non-rib food options, children's activities, fan-cooled dining areas, and a beer & wine garden for blues/rib-loving guests 21 & over.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Red, White & BOOM!
July 3 • 10PM
Downtown Columbus (Columbus, OH)
Red, White & BOOM! is not only Ohio’s largest fireworks display, but the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the Midwest. BOOM! celebrates country and community, promotes civic pride and honors America’s heroes, our military and veterans. This free event is for all to enjoy.
Westerville Music & Arts Festival
July 13 & 14 • 10AM — 4PM
Westerville Heritage Park & Everal Barn (60 N. Cleveland Ave. — Westerville, OH)
The 46th Annual Westerville Music & Arts Festival will include over 130 local and national artisans, over 30 performances on three stages, and 20 food trucks and vendors. The cost to attend is $1. Kids age 10 & under are free.
Franklin County Fair
July 13-20 • Times vary
Franklin County Fairgrounds (4100 Columbia St. — Hilliard, OH)
Enjoy acres of fun at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, OH this summer! Find your favorite foods, rides, massive monster trucks, high flying pirates, log rolling lumberjacks, speed racing swine, music on the main stage and much more!
Free Movie Night: Mary Poppins
July 19 • 8:15PM
Columbus Commons (160 S. High St. — Columbus, OH)
Round up the whole family and head to the Commons for free movies under the stars. The featured film for the month of July will be Mary Poppins.
Jazz & Ribs Fest
July 19-21 • 11AM
Bicentennial Park & Genoa Park (Downtown Columbus, OH)
This highly anticipated summertime tradition offers both jazz and rib connoisseurs the finest in music and BBQ. With the addition of 33-acres of parkland along the Scioto Mile, the revitalized downtown riverfront provides the perfect location for hot ribs and cool jazz. The festival offers three days of continuous live performances while BBQ pit masters serve up sizzling ribs and more.
Ohio State Fair
July 24 — August 4 • Times vary
Ohio Expo Center & State Fair (717 E. 17th Ave. — Columbus, OH)
Enjoy a variety of activities and exhibits, including interactive educational displays, sporting competitions, a fine arts show, free stages with amazing hypnotists, impressive magicians and wholesome kids' entertainment, exotic animals in the free petting zoo, a farm animal delivery room, helicopter rides, roving performers, youth agricultural competitions, horse shows, an 8-acre natural resources park with free kiddie fishing, wildlife, and much more! The Midway will also feature more than 60 exhilarating rides that are sure to excite you, while Kiddieland is home to rides geared toward parents riding with small children.
HOCKING COUNTY
July 12-14 • 10AM
Bishop Educational Gardens (13200 Little Cola Rd — Rockbridge, OH)
This is the ultimate festival for flower and art lovers. Lilyfest is held annually at the Bishop Educational Gardens and features multiple flower gardens cared for by local gardeners. Lilyfest also features the works of over 70 artists in a juried art show. Meander around the gardens while listening to music on multiple stages.
July 13 • 7:30PM — 9PM
Clear Creek Metro Park (185 Clear Creek Rd. — Rockbridge, OH)
Bring your furry friend along on this rugged 3.5-mile backcountry hike to view Lake Emily.
July 13 • 7:30PM — 9:30PM
Hocking Hills Adventures (31251 Chieftain Drive — Logan, OH)
Imagine canoeing under the bright full moon with the river current gently pushing you along. Explore the river with your significant other while paddling in and around some of the most scenic sections of the Hocking River. Cost is $45 per canoe and the buses typically depart at 7:30 p.m. in the summer months.
John Glenn Astronomy Park (20294 S.R. 664 — Logan, OH)
Jupiter is just three degrees to the left of the moon on July 13! Earth has one natural moon, whereas Jupiter has at least 79 and four of those can be seen by amateur telescopes. Come out to see if you can spot it.
Edible Plant Hike
July 20 • 9AM — 11AM
Clear Creek Metro Park (185 Clear Creek Rd. — Rockbridge, OH)
Take a 2-mile rugged hike to learn what wild edible plants are available in the summer, then afterwards try some samples.
PERRY COUNTY
New Lexington 4th of July Celebration
July 4 • 1PM — 10:15PM
Arethusa Springs Park (426 Fowler Lane — New Lexington, OH)
The New Lexington 4th of July Celebration will include a parade, a children's pageant, dunk tank, music, prizes, fireworks, and more.
Perry County Fair
July 15-20
Perry County Fairgrounds (5445 State Route 37 W. — New Lexington, OH)
Head to the Perry County Fair and enjoy rides, fair food, a demolition derby, motorcross, a tractor pull, drag racing, local arts, livestock, and much more.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Red, White & Blues Fest
July 5
The Lafayette Hotel (101 Front St. — Marietta, OH)
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society invite you to bring a lawn chair and kick off the holiday weekend with great blues music at Red, White & Blues Fest. Admission is $5 cash at the gate.
Marietta Riverfront Roar
July 12-14
Downtown Marietta (Marietta, OH)
The Marietta Riverfront Roar is held annually the second weekend in July. Come enjoy the best in tunnel boat racing and get to see the boats close up. Meet the drivers and crews, all for free!
Marietta Sweet Corn Festival
July 19 & 20 • Times vary
Muskingum Park (Marietta, OH)
A family-oriented event that is free to attend. Profits from the sale of roasted sweet corn benefit graduating seniors entering the field of agriculture.
Lockapalooza
July 21 • 9AM — 5PM
Valley Gem Sternwheeler (601 Front Street — Marietta, OH)
Your day will start with breakfast served on your way to the hand operated lock at Devola. Then return to Marietta and have lunch as you travel up the Ohio to Willow Island lock and dam. The lock systems are very different experiences and this is an opportunity to see both up close. You will then return to the landing around 5PM.
