It’s said that George Washington celebrated Independence Day in 1778 with an artillery salute and a double ration of rum for his soldiers. Today we mark the holiday in much the same way—with fireworks and, for many of us, with libations, in honor of our nation. Our state has pulled out all the stops in celebrating our nation’s 232nd birthday this week. From patriotic concerts to old-fashioned fairs there is something to inspire everyone to put on their best red, white and blue clothing and proudly wave the flag.
Unless otherwise noted below, all photos courtesy of the events or organizations featured.
Fairs/Festivals Huzzah! Knights gallop past at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire in the recreated medieval village of Avaloch, in Rock Creek. Wear a costume for theme weekends like “pirate invasion” or “roman holiday,” July 5–Aug. 10. MORE>
Museums/Galleries California Art Rediscover influential works by this husband and wife duo during “California as Muse: The Art of Arthur and Lucia Mathews,” at the Akron Art Museum through Sept. 7. MORE>
Music/Theater Patriotic Tunes Celebrate the holiday with An American Salute, a concert by the Blossom Festival Band including a salute to our armed forces and the “1812 Overture,” at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, July 3–4. MORE>
Other Events Botanical Baking If your creativity in the kitchen has been lacking, get some tips (and sample dishes) during the cooking series Gourmets in the Garden. Local chefs take over the Cleveland Botanical Gardens every Wed. through Sept. 3. MORE>
Sponsored Event:
7/2/2008 - 11/5/2008
NE
Cleveland
Music/Theater
Cleveland Sessions This concert series, taking place every other Wed., features the area's most popular bands and artists. The latest in web technology, webcasting and blogging allows concert attendees to relive their favorite concert moments and communicate with their favorite bands via blog posts at www.cleveland.com/sessions. Video archives and live webcasts of the concerts are also available on the site. MORE>
Fairs/Festivals Boat Bash Ahoy, boys and girls. The family friendly Festival of Ships brings boats so tall their masts and sails seem to scrape the sky, along with a variety of related activities, to the water’s edge in Sandusky, July 4–6. MORE>
Museums/Galleries Advance Art Sneak a peek at the future of the region’s art scene during “ARTOLEDO,” an exhibit of up-and-coming young artists at the 20 North Gallery in Toledo, through July 27. MORE>
Music/Theater Song and Dance American tourists stumble upon a small Scottish town with a big secret during the classic musical “Brigadoon,” at the Huron Playhouse in Huron, July 1–5. MORE>
Other Events Afternoon Tea Experience the ritual of afternoon tea at one of historic Dillon House’s Victorian Teas, complete with fine china, lace tablecloths and entertainment, in Fremont on July 2. MORE>
Fairs/Festivals Period Patriotism Honor our country’s independence during the Glorious Fourth: Independence Celebration with a vintage baseball game, a pie-eating contest and ice cream at Ohio Village, across from the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus, on July 4. MORE>
Museums/Galleries Art History Discover how the history of the arts and crafts movement has influenced modern design during “The Artist’s Hand: Dard Hunter and the American Arts and Crafts Movement,” at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster, through Aug. 31. MORE>
Music/Theater Scioto Sounds A chorus of horns fills the air when the British-style Columbus Brass Band performs an outdoor concert at Scioto Park in Dublin as part of the Sundays at Scioto Concert Series, July 6. MORE>
Other Events Loony Liberty Anything goes during the Doo Dah Parade, which invites anyone to dress up in a crazy costume and march along at this unusual Independence Day tradition, on High St. in Columbus. MORE>
Sponsored Event:
7/4/2008 - 7/4/2008
CE
Grove City
Fairs/Festivals
Blast at Beulah Enjoy a ground and aerial fireworks show with a free concert by McGuffey Lane. Activities for children include jump houses, face painting and more. Concessions are available. MORE>
Fairs/Festivals Fair Weather Much merriment will be on hand at the Clinton County Fair, which includes a demolition derby, harness racing and plenty of farm animals at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Wilmington, July 5–12. MORE>
Museums/Galleries Historic Service The service of African Americans in the U.S. Marshals is recognized in the exhibit “The President’s Men: U.S. Black Marshals,” at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, through Aug. 15. MORE>
Music/Theater Mistical Music Dance along to your favorite Motown hits when Jammin in July: The Mistics brings the group to Winton Woods park in Cincinnati as part of the summer concert series, July 5. MORE>
Other Events Light Up Balloons A rainbow palette of hot air balloons lights up the sky during the 9th Annual Larosa’s Balloon Glow, which also includes rides, entertainment and fireworks at Coney Island in Cincinnati, July 3. MORE>
Sponsored Event:
7/3/2008 - 7/5/2008
SW
Dayton
Fairs/Festivals
CityFolk Festival Family-friendly festival with three stages of multicultural music and dance, free activities for kids, performance workshops, and a wide range of ethnic and festival foods. MORE>
7/5/2008 - 7/20/2008
SW
Lebanon
Other Events
Muggles Express Join the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad on the Muggles Express train ride and costume contest — Harry Potter style. Ticket price includes train ride, costume contest, a feast at The Golden Lamb Restaurant and magical activities. MORE>
Fairs/Festivals Chicken Party Gorge yourself on chicken wings in a wing eating contest, play “chicken bingo” and sample wings from area restaurants during the Marietta Wing Thing in the Lafayette Hotel parking lot in Marietta, July 5. MORE>
Museums/Galleries Pottery Paradise View 30 pieces of pottery made by mostly Ohio artists in the exhibit “American Studio Pottery: 1930s–1980s,” at the Zanesville Art Center, through Aug. 10. MORE>
Music/Theater Old Time Music The venerable Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, which started out as a military band back in 1923, brings its tunes to Zane’s Landing Park in Zanesville on July 6. MORE>
Other Events Night Rider See the Hocking River like you’ve never seen it before—at night, during a Torchlight Canoe Trip—followed by a bonfire and music on the shore. The boats leave from the Hocking Valley Canoe Livery in Logan, July 5. MORE>
Photo Credits: California as Muse: Arthur F. Mathews, Monterey Cypress, 1933, oil on canvas, 38 1/4 x 34 1/4 in., with Furniture Shop frame, painted wood, 48 x 44 in., Collection of the Oakland Museum of California, gift of Concours d’Antiques, Art Guild 66.196.15; The Artist’s Hand: Stained glass window of Typographer by Dard Hunter in the late 1920s.
Knights gallop past at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire in the recreated medieval village of Avaloch, in Rock Creek. Wear a costume for theme weekends like “pirate invasion” or “roman holiday,” July 5–Aug. 10. 
Rediscover influential works by this husband and wife duo during “California as Muse: The Art of Arthur and Lucia Mathews,” at the Akron Art Museum through Sept. 7. 
Celebrate the holiday with An American Salute, a concert by the Blossom Festival Band including a salute to our armed forces and the “1812 Overture,” at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, July 3–4. 
If your creativity in the kitchen has been lacking, get some tips (and sample dishes) during the cooking series Gourmets in the Garden. Local chefs take over the Cleveland Botanical Gardens every Wed. through Sept. 3. 
Ahoy, boys and girls. The family friendly Festival of Ships brings boats so tall their masts and sails seem to scrape the sky, along with a variety of related activities, to the water’s edge in Sandusky, July 4–6. 
Sneak a peek at the future of the region’s art scene during “ARTOLEDO,” an exhibit of up-and-coming young artists at the 20 North Gallery in Toledo, through July 27. 
American tourists stumble upon a small Scottish town with a big secret during the classic musical “Brigadoon,” at the Huron Playhouse in Huron, July 1–5. 
Experience the ritual of afternoon tea at one of historic Dillon House’s Victorian Teas, complete with fine china, lace tablecloths and entertainment, in Fremont on July 2. 
Honor our country’s independence during the Glorious Fourth: Independence Celebration with a vintage baseball game, a pie-eating contest and ice cream at Ohio Village, across from the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus, on July 4. 
Discover how the history of the arts and crafts movement has influenced modern design during “The Artist’s Hand: Dard Hunter and the American Arts and Crafts Movement,” at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster, through Aug. 31. 
A chorus of horns fills the air when the British-style Columbus Brass Band performs an outdoor concert at Scioto Park in Dublin as part of the Sundays at Scioto Concert Series, July 6. 
Anything goes during the Doo Dah Parade, which invites anyone to dress up in a crazy costume and march along at this unusual Independence Day tradition, on High St. in Columbus. 
Much merriment will be on hand at the Clinton County Fair, which includes a demolition derby, harness racing and plenty of farm animals at the Clinton County Fairgrounds in Wilmington, July 5–12. 
The service of African Americans in the U.S. Marshals is recognized in the exhibit “The President’s Men: U.S. Black Marshals,” at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, through Aug. 15. 
Dance along to your favorite Motown hits when Jammin in July: The Mistics brings the group to Winton Woods park in Cincinnati as part of the summer concert series, July 5. 
A rainbow palette of hot air balloons lights up the sky during the 9th Annual Larosa’s Balloon Glow, which also includes rides, entertainment and fireworks at Coney Island in Cincinnati, July 3. 
Gorge yourself on chicken wings in a wing eating contest, play “chicken bingo” and sample wings from area restaurants during the Marietta Wing Thing in the Lafayette Hotel parking lot in Marietta, July 5. 
View 30 pieces of pottery made by mostly Ohio artists in the exhibit “American Studio Pottery: 1930s–1980s,” at the Zanesville Art Center, through Aug. 10. 
The venerable Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, which started out as a military band back in 1923, brings its tunes to Zane’s Landing Park in Zanesville on July 6. 
See the Hocking River like you’ve never seen it before—at night, during a Torchlight Canoe Trip—followed by a bonfire and music on the shore. The boats leave from the Hocking Valley Canoe Livery in Logan, July 5. 
