Summer Fun in Ohio: 31 Ways to Enjoy July

7/1: In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Cedar Point is hosting a special Star-Spangled Celebration this summer. Each night features a fireworks display, stilt walkers, live entertainment and more leading up to the showstopping Light Up the Point event July 4. June 29–July 4. sixflags.com/cedarpoint

7/2: Bring the family to Cincinnati’s Smale Riverfront Park to take part in Smale Family Fun Days. Kids will delight in the bounce houses, puppet shows, petting zoos, live music and free ice cream during the first Thursday of each month all summer long. June 5–Aug. 7. cincinnati-oh.gov

7/3: Every Fourth of July weekend, more than 400,000 visitors gather in Columbus for the largest fireworks display in the Midwest: Red, White & Boom! The free event features a street festival, live music and a glorious display of fireworks.
redwhiteandboom.org

7/4: Enjoy a Fourth of July concert under the stars at Cuyahoga Falls’ Blossom Music Center. The Salute to America Concert features the Blossom Festival Band performing patriotic tunes and marches. The event concludes with a fireworks display immediately following the performance. clevelandorchestra.com

7/5: The snow has long melted off the slopes at Boston Mills Ski Resort, and the peak of summer ushers in the annual Boston Mills Artfest. Held over the course of two weekends, this event features 300 different artists from roughly 35 states sharing their work. June 27–28, July 4–5. bmbw.com

7/6: Head to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to meet your favorite Reds mascots and players during Reds Day at the Zoo. Rosie Red, Gapper and Mr. Redlegs will all be in attendance. Visitors can take part in a Q&A session at 11 a.m. at the Wings of Wonder Theater. cincinnatizoo.org

7/7: Watch the legendary story of the Shawnee leader come to life on stage during “Tecumseh!” at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre. With captivating sounds, visual effects and music, it’s no surprise that this performance is one of the most popular outdoor theater productions in the country. June 4–Sept. 6. tecumsehdrama.com

7/8: Spend a day hiking at Toledo’s Wildwood Preserve Metropark. The centerpiece of this 493-acre park is its historic manor house, formerly home to the Stranahan family. With eight trails traversing meadows, prairies, woods and a boardwalk, there’s enough here to fill a day of exploring. metroparkstoledo.com

7/9: Learn more about the technology and machinery behind the agricultural practices of yesterday during Greenville Farm Power of the Past. The event features displays and demonstrations, including steam- and animal-powered vehicles, as well as truck and tractor pulls, a flea market, kids events and more. July 9–12. greenvillefarmpower.org

7/10: LilyFest brings a lively celebration of arts and music to the Bishop Educational Gardens in Rockbridge. Shop from more than 60 local makers selling garden art pieces, pottery, jewelry, leather goods and more while surrounded by 3 acres of beautifully curated garden space. July 10–12. lilyfest.com

7/11: Country music fans, get ready. The Country Concert music festival returns to Fort Loramie for its 45th year, bringing three days of top-tier musical acts, including headliners Jason Aldean, Alabama and Riley Green, as well as dozens of other artists. July 9–11. countryconcert.com

7/12: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is planning a slate of America 250-themed events throughout the summer. Spend a day in the sun at Deer Creek State Park during the America 250 Deer Creek Beach Bash, featuring live entertainment, opportunities for outdoor recreation and more. ohiodnr.gov

7/13: Pet, feed and interact with the adorable animals at Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery. Buy cones of feed or carrots to give to the more than 100 animals at the largest petting area in Holmes County. Look both indoors and outdoors to find horses, miniature ponies, alpacas and sheep. hershbergers
farmandbakery.com

7/14: Strap on your skates and get on a roll at the 1,000-foot loop trail at Toledo’s Glass City Metropark. Opened in 2023, The Ribbon offers opportunities for traditional or inline skating, as well as two playgrounds and a water play area. metroparkstoledo.com

7/15: Since 1973, the Valley Gem Sternwheeler has been toting passengers along the Ohio River. Today, the Valley Gem offers scenic and narrated sightseeing tours on the water, and the Major/Riviera hosts special dinner theater cruises on select nights. valleygemsternwheeler.com

7/16: Enjoy three days of live entertainment in the form of music, comedians and speakers during Alive Music Festival, held at Atwood Lake Park in Mineral City. The event draws more than 40 performing artists in the Christian music genre, including this year’s headliners: Skillet, Josiah Queen and Lauren Daigle. July 16–18. alive.org.

7/17: In 2005, a local restaurant owner had an idea to bring people and brewers together. The idea became Ohio Brew Week, an annual summer event that welcomes visitors to Athens to sample craft beer from across Ohio. The event includes unique offerings from local breweries and talks from industry experts. July 10–18. ohiobrewweek.com

7/18: In 1969, Ohioan and astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon. This historic achievement is celebrated each year in Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta. The Summer Moon Festival features events around town and at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. July 14–19. summermoonfestival.com

7/19: Experience a seven-day celebration of art and music at the Lancaster Festival. This community event offers concerts, workshops, exhibits and classes for all ages. Headliners for this year include country-pop group Lady A and tribute performer Elton Rohn. July 18–25. lancasterfestival.org

7/20: Visit Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs to take part in the festivities during Cowtherine’s Carousel Round and Round Celebration Week. Enjoy miniature golf, batting cages, Cowvin’s Fast Slide, wagon tours and more in honor of the anniversary of the carousel’s grand opening. July 20–26. youngsdairy.com

7/21: Introduce little ones to the wonders of nature during Five Rivers MetroPark’s Tike Hike series. Be prepared to get a little messy, as this event invites children ages 3 to 5 to stop by Sugarcreek MetroPark to explore the 618-acre park’s tallgrass prairie, woodlands and Sugar Creek. metroparks.org

7/22: Friends and families gather at Cincinnati’s Burnet Woods for the Clifton Cultural Arts Center’s Wednesdays in the Woods summer concert series. Play lawn games, make crafts at the Kids Art Corner and listen to live music. This date features a performance from local Cajun music group The Hot Magnolias. June 3–Aug. 12. cliftonculturalarts.org

7/23: Ohio’s Grand River Valley is home to some of the greatest wine growers and producers in the state due to its unique climate. Make stops at more than 30 wineries to enjoy award-winning wines ranging from cabernet franc and pinot noir to riesling and chardonnay. ohiowines.org

7/24: Make a splash at the Celina Lake Festival this summer. Taking place on the shores of Ohio’s largest inland lake, this festival features a car show, amusement rides, live music and the return of the famous Amphicars, vehicles that can traverse both land and water. July 24–26, celinalakefest.com

7/25: First held in 1962 as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, the Cincinnati Music Festival brings three days of music from some of the greatest artists in the genres of R&B, jazz, soul and hip-hop. This year’s headliners include Charlie Wilson, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. July 23–25. cincymusicfestival.com

7/26: Held along the Scioto Mile in our capital city, the Columbus Jazz & Rib Fest offers a relaxed environment to enjoy all manner of barbecue and festival fare from over 30 food vendors, as well as the smooth, soulful sounds of jazz music throughout the weekend. July 24–26. hotribscooljazz.org

7/27: Kirtland’s Penitentiary Glen Reservation offers many ways for kids to play and engage with nature. Children can dig, crawl and create at Nature Play, a nature-inspired playground where imagination can run wild. Be sure to stop and see the animals before heading home. lakemetroparks.com

7/28: Catch the three-time Grammy Award-winning pop-rock group Train as it makes a stop at Blossom Music Center for the “Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere” tour. The show celebrates the birthday of this album and includes performances of hits like “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey Soul Sister.” blossommusic.com

7/29: What would summer in Ohio be without the Ohio State Fair? This 12-day event features agricultural and craft displays, unique festival food and live performances for all ages, including For King + Country (Aug. 3) and “Weird Al” Yankovic (Aug. 5). July 29–Aug. 10. ohiostatefair.com

7/30: With over 16,000 animals representing more than 600 species, the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium offers a great place to explore all walks of life, from the smallest treefrog to towering elephants. In addition to seeing the animals, visitors can take part in an aerial course, interactive animal encounters and more. toledozoo.org

7/31: Celebrate local arts and community in Zanesville during the Y-Bridge Arts Festival. This spirited event sees dozens of art vendors selling their wares, as well as food trucks, art activities hosted by the Zanesville Museum of Art, live music and more. July 31–Aug. 1. artcoz.org