First, the bad news: we only have one more month left of summer break. Less if you attend Riverside or Indian Lake schools, which starts back up on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, respectively.
But there’s some good news! The Logan County Visitors Bureau isn’t ready to say goodbye to warmer weather quite yet, so they’re filling the first week of August with county-wide entertainment.
Logan County Tourism Week: Summer Sendoff starts Saturday, Aug. 1, and runs through next Saturday, Aug. 8. And, the Bureau claims, “we’re celebrating with a full week of local fun, family-friendly activities, sweet deals, outdoor adventures and summer memories across Logan County!”
Jamison Thornton, bureau director, wants to encourage the community to support these local tourism opportunities, pointing out how important the industry is to Logan County. In fact, he says, one out of every 11 jobs is related to tourism.
“We have a really robust tourism economy,” Thornton explained, “that’s higher than many areas in Ohio. This is a chance to remind people of all we have to do here.”
That includes many activities that are free not only during tourism week, such as our three splash pads at Lions Park in West Liberty, Harmon Park in Bellefontaine, and next to the municipal building in Russells Point; along with two farmers markets and the Logan County History Center.
While many of the locations are familiar from previous tourism weeks, we have a few new ones this year—Decode Zone, which is offering 25 percent off an escape room experience by appointment this Saturday and Sunday ONLY; $4 for putt-putt at Putt & Play in Bellefontaine, 12 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6; and Blue Jacket Dairy is entering the fun with 50 percent off one package of their homemade cheese from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also on Thursday.
You can download and print the whole schedule with complete details at experiencelogancounty.com/tourism week or pick up a free passport at the Bureau office, 100 S. Main, Bellefontaine. In the meantime, here are a few highlights:
Saturday, Aug. 1
• 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Logan County Farmers Market, Bellefontaine
• 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Rock the Lake at Old Field Beach
• 7:30 p.m.: Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World (Holland Theatre ticket required)
Sunday, Aug. 2
• 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.: $2 pool passes at Indian Lake Adventures/Camp Brewing, Huntsville
• 12 – 6 p.m.: $2 putt-putt at SpeedZone, Lakeview
Monday, Aug. 3
• 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Free putt-putt at THE Root Beer Stand, Russells Point
Tuesday, Aug. 4
• 1 - 4 p.m.: Free history scavenger hunt at the Logan County History
Center, Bellefontaine
• Free buttercream cookie at City Sweets & Creamery, Bellefontaine, with passport coupon
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – West Liberty Day
• All day: Free scoop of ice cream at Stoner’s Ice Cream Parlor with passport coupon (one per family)
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Free gem mining with tour purchase at Ohio Caverns
• 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Free activity at Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek
• 12 – 2 p.m.: Free splash pad party at Lions Park with hot dogs, popsicles and games
Thursday, Aug. 6
• All day: Free donut at The Donut Shop, Russells Point, with passport coupon
• 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Free historic boat tours with Spend-A-Day Marina, Russells Point Harbor
• 12 – 5 p.m.: $4 putt-putt at Putt & Play, Bellefontaine
• 5 – 9 p.m.: Taste of Bellefontaine (tickets can be purchased online through Downtown Days Bellefontaine)
Friday, Aug. 7
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Free Friday in the Park, Brown Park, Bellefontaine
• 1:30 – 4 p.m.: $5 for parent-led pony rides plus free miniature golf, 16 years and under, Marmon Valley Farm
• 4 – 8 p.m.: Free kids crafts at Indian Lake Brewing Company
• 5 – 7 p.m.: Free Indian Lake Farmers Market, Russells Point
Saturday, Aug. 8
• 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Logan County Farmers Market, Bellefontaine
• 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Wacky Boat Races, Lakeview Harbor (sign up with Downtown Lakeview)
• 2 – 4 p.m.: Behind-the-scenes tour at the Holland Theatre
• 5 p.m.: Hot Summer Nights Cruise-In, downtown Bellefontaine
And available throughout tourism week:
• Indian Lake Tiny Museum, Lakeview – free admission
• The Depot, Lakeview – free Indian Lake postcard
• Indian Lake Outfitters, Lakeview – $10 drop-in archery lessons
• Downtown Bellefontaine free scavenger hunt
• Axe Quacks, Bellefontaine: special deals Tuesday – Friday
