Summer Fun in Ohio: 7 Ways to Enjoy the First Week of September

9/1: Meet the animals of Discovery Zoo, a daily event hosted by the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton. Each afternoon, visitors have the chance to meet with zookeepers who showcase and educate them about different kinds of animals. boonshoft.org

9/2: What started as an unclaimed green space in Delaware is now a vibrant 2.2-acre park. At Boardman Arts Park, visitors can take a walk along paved paths while admiring the outdoor art pieces. New this year is the Rainbow Bridge, which serves as a place to honor lost pets. boardmanartspark.org

9/3: Touring and performing in northeast Ohio since 2009, the Liverpool Lads make a stop at The Grove Amphitheater in Mayfield Village for the city’s summer concert series. This Beatles tribute band re-creates the look and sound of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. mayfieldvillage.com

9/4: See the Cincinnati Reds take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Stick around after the game to catch a performance from hip-hop artist Ludacris as part of the ballpark’s popular post-game show series, which is included with  admission. mlb.com/reds

9/5: Celebrate Greek culture in Ohio’s capital city during the Columbus Greek Festival. Watch traditional dancers, listen to Greek folk songs, take a cathedral tour and enjoy plenty of traditional cuisine, including gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, baklava, macaroons and more. Sept. 4–7. columbusgreekfestival.com

9/6: Held each Labor Day Weekend at Summit County’s Hale Farm & Village, the Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival features a variety of local artisans selling their wares. Shop a selection of handmade jewelry, pottery, wood creations, glass works, lotions, soaps, quilts and more. Sept. 4–6. madeinohiofestival.org

9/7: Send off the summer in style at Canal Winchester’s Labor Day Festival. This free event bills itself as the oldest and largest Labor Day celebration in the state. It features live music, a car show, parade, rides and games, a quilt show, vendor market, tailgate party and more. Sept. 5–7. cwlaborday.org