Local Fun, Food, And Festivities This July

Summer is here, and while our summers may be looking a little different this year, there are events for everyone’s comfort level on our calendar. Thousands and thousands of visitors make road trips to our area each year, but many visitors are staying close to home this year. This could be the best summer to explore like a visitor in your own backyard since our attractions, restaurants, and stores need local support more than ever. These events are a great way to fill your summer with fun and help our local businesses thrive again.

Our top attractions are creating new events to adapt to the latest challenges to 2020. Have you always wanted to get your car on the track at Mid-Ohio? Now you can get some track time in for your qualified street car at Open Test & Tune (July 16, ) at The Mid-Ohio School at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. An upscale flea market meets farm market, The Picker’s Market (July 11) at Vintage Peddler Marketplace will be full of all the vintage junk, architectural salvage, barn and shed cleanouts, and farm market goodies pickers missed when the Vintage Peddler was cancelled. As they prepare to launch live stage shows again, The Renaissance Performing Arts Association is offering a Drive-In Film: Airplane (July 10) in their back parking lot, now called The Ren Backlot.

This month has plenty of options for family fun. Send your kids to UMADAOP’s free Virtual Summer Camp (July 1 – Aug 7). Have you taken your kids to explore Kingwood Center Gardens lately? Brand new for 2020, Free First Monday (July 6) at Kingwood Center Gardens means everyone gets into Kingwood for free. Shelby Bicycle Days (July 9, 10, 11) at Black Fork Commons will look different this year with many virtual activities, but the parade is still on! Enjoy a family-friendly outdoor movie at the Downtown Shelby Movie Series (July 10) at Black Fork Commons. Christmas in July (July 17-19) at Pleasant Hill Lake Park promises a weekend full of family-centered activities.

Get out on the water! Kayaking is a great way to get some exercise after being cooped up for months. Pleasant Hill Lake is offering Moonlight Kayaking (July 3), Free Kayak Try It (July 11), Learn to Kayak (July 12), and Twilight Kayaking (July 24).

See some fireworks! Ontario’s Boom Festival (July 4) at Marshall Park will feature the largest and longest fireworks show ever put on in Richland County. In neighboring Ashland County, you can watch the Ashland Rotary Fireworks (July 4) at Community Stadium.

Learn something new! Local artist, Robin Shoup Wilson is teaching Palette Knife Painting – Flowers (July 11) at Mansfield Art Center. Hear tales of the paranormal at the Public Ghost Walks (July 17, 25) at the Ohio State Reformatory. This 2-hour guided tour will take you through the most haunted parts of the prison in the dark.

Explore local cuisine. Food Truck Friday (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) in Downtown Plymouth will host food trucks and specialty food vendors in the downtown area every Friday through September 4. A local food tradition, stop by the Shiloh Ox Roast (July 24) at the Shiloh Fire Department. The full line up of food will be served from 11 AM till it’s gone. Sample local brews and wines at Pour One Nine Beerfest (August 1) at The Legacy at Possum Run. This year’s event will have over 25 of Ohio’s best brews to choose from.

July Live Music – PLEASE CHECK OUR CALENDAR BEFORE EVENTS, AS EVENTS CHANGE QUICKLY

Coma Love (July 4), Ryan Otis Bandy Public (July 11), Tom’s Kitchen Table (July 18), Syvelt Public (July 25) at Hudson and Essex
Live Music (July 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 30, 31) at The Vault Wine Bar
Ricky Mitchell (July 10) at The Happy Grape
Just Jazz Duo (July 10), Mike Bryce Duo (July 11), Taylor Schlupp (July 17), Josh Gilbert (July 18), Steve Brown (July 24), Larry Elefante (July 25) at The Phoenix Brewing Company
Low E (July 10) at The Blueberry Patch & 1285 Winery
Ontario Concerts in the Park (July 14, 28) at Marshall Park
July Final Friday Concert Series (July 31) at The Brickyard