Make your New Year's Plans in Lorain County-Indoors or Out

Staying local for New Year’s Eve? No plans yet? No worries—here are a few celebration spots for you to choose from in the area.

Grab some friends and bowl in the New Year with Rebman Recreation! Rent-a-Lane from 10am to 10pm at $20 per hour, minimum of 4 per lane with complimentary shoes or for $49.95 enjoy a large pizza and pitcher or pop for 2 hours. Perfect for groups or families.

Feast on fine food for NYE! Matus Winery invites you to New Year’s Eve Dinner by Rotuno’s and entertainment by Minor Adjustment at $40 per person. Dinner includes Prime Rib, Pork Loin, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Almondine, Shrimp Cocktail, Roll, & a Bottle of Wine. Reservations required, call or email to reserve your seat.

Skate in the New Year at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center & Skateworld in Sandusky! The family friendly New Year’s Eve Skate & Dance Party provides both general and VIP admission options for you including skate rental, party favors and more. Party from 8:00pm through the night. For more info, contact Skateworld at 419-625-0212. 

Start the party early at North Park Arena! Ice skating is open to the public from 1-3:30pm on New Year’s Eve Day. Just $4 for youth and $5 for adults. 

Get a head start on your 2011 workout plan with a morning hike at one of the Lorain County Metro Parks sites. Strenuous and moderate hikes offered on NYE morning at Columbia Reservation and Schoepfle Garden. For more info, check out the LCMP website.

Looking for a mini-getaway for you and your sweetie to celebrate? Two local inns have you covered!

Stay at the Inn of Elyria for their New Year’s Eve Party featuring an All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib Buffet, DJ, and New Year’s Day breakfast. Call 800-321-7333 for reservations. Cost is $219 (+tax) per couple.

Don your party hats at the Oberlin Inn New Year's Eve Gala 2010. Enjoy elegant Four Course Candlelight Dining, Open Bar 7:30-1:00am, Party Favors, Midnight Champagne Toast, Dancing and Entertainment by Elegant Entertainment.  Tastefully appointed guestroom and sumptuous New Year's Day Brunch.  Only $249 per couple (plus tax & gratuity). Call 440-775-1111 for reservations.

Whether you’re clinking glasses with friends or nestling by a fire with the one you love, bid 2010 farewell and welcome 2011 with anticipation for the coming year!

New Holiday Traditions in Lorain County

Try something new this holiday season and add a twist to your traditional celebration! Light displays, carolers, and mistletoe are a must, but why not try a few of these unique holiday activities and celebrations. 

Do-It-Yourself Holiday Décor
Design your own 20" fresh indoor/outdoor holiday wreath at the Fresh Wreath Workshop at Days of Yore Herb & Flower Farm. [12/4/10, 2pm & 6pm. $36.50 per person. 440.647.2045]

Holiday decor at Farmyard Flowers

Old Fashioned Holiday
Experience what it was like to celebrate the holidays as a pioneer! There will be a reenactment as you tour the Benjamin Bacon House Museum at Vermilion River Reservation with authentic sights, smells and sounds of a pioneer holiday. A live band performance, food, and horse-drawn carriage rides are also available. [12/4, 3-8pm; 12/5, 2-6pm]
  
An International Holiday
Celebrate the season by learning how other cultures throughout the world observe the holidays at French Creek Nature Center’s, “Holiday Traditions Around The World.” You will travel to different "countries" set up in the Nature Center. Each country will have a craft or activity and a customary holiday treat. This year's countries will include Germany, Norway, Canada, Ireland, and a few others. After traveling, enjoy a soup dinner. [12/7, 6-8pm. 440.458.5152]

A Holiday Whodunit
The Oberlin Inn hosts a Holiday Murder Mystery, complete with a dinner buffet and overnight accommodations. Reservations required. [12/11, 440.775.1111]

Holiday Wine Tasting with the Lake Erie Crushers
Do wine and baseball mix? In this case, yes! Join the Lake Erie Crushers at the All Pro Freight Stadium for Italian wines and cuisine. [12/15, 6-9pm. 440.934.3636]

A Christmas Cabaret
Back by popular demand—A Christmas Cabaret will take you on a sleigh ride of 30 songs for the season and other festive curiosities – plus evergreens like Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, Silver Bells, God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, and many more. Performances at Stocker Art Center were sold out last year, so get your tickets early! [12/17, 7:30pm & 12/18, 3:00pm; $15/Adults; $10/Children 12 & under]

Ballroom Dancing on the Lake
Dance the winter night away at Lakeview Park's Rose Cafe. Free lessens before the dance. Reservations required. [12/17, 7-10pm, 440.458.5121]


Christmas on the Farm

Head out to Bonnie Brae Elk Farm and take a wagon ride to feed elk, then enjoy a warm  cup of chili or cocoa in the barn. $10 per person. [12/18,19, 20, 440.647.3232]

Bonnie Brea Elk Farm

Kwanzaa Celebration

Celebrate African heritage and culture at Harrison Cultural Community Centre at part of the week-long Kwanzaa celebration. Public invited. [12/28, 6:30pm; 440.244.0359 or 440.244.0367]

Don’t forget to shop these local spots for that distinctive gift—

Ginko Gallery

Uncommon Objects

The Tree House Gallery and Tea Room

Petitti Garden Center

Holiday decorations at Petitti Garden Center

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Chinese New Year, Lorain County is full of fun unconventional and traditional holiday celebrations for your family. Kick your “bah hum-bug” attitude, and enjoy the winter wonderland of northern Ohio! For more holiday events, visit our Calendar of Events page.

Visit Lorain County wishes you and your family a happy, healthy holiday season!

For additional information, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Road, call us 1-800-334-1673, visit the website, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Autumn Activities You Don't Want To Miss!

As fall nears its end, make the most of these harvest happenings before the seasons change! Cozy up for a cup of cider, explore the fall colors outdoors, get creative with your costume for this year’s best harvest parties, and of course—get spooked! Read on for details.

Pick Your Own Apples!

Monday - Saturday, 9am-6pm through Halloween; free admission

Apple picking at Millers Apple Hill is an experience you won't want to miss. After you stock up on cider and apples at the orchard, let your kids roam Pumpkin Land. The play area has two hay mazes, scarecrows, farm animals and plenty of pumpkins.

Hay Rides for Pumpkin-Picking

Saturdays & Sundays through the end of October, 12-5pm; $6.00

Take a weekend hay ride to pick a pumpkin from Fitch’s Farm Market.

Fall Hay Wagon Rides and Corn Maze

October 23 & October 24 at the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12-5pm; Corn maze $1 per person

Experience fall with free wagon rides pulled by draft horses, then follow up on an adventurous walk through the adjacent corn maze! 

Halloween Fair

Fridays & Saturdays, 5-10pm through Oct. 30 at Carlisle Visitor Center; free admission, fee for food & games  

Haunted hike, train ride, food, games live music and magic. 

Bugle Days

October 23, 10am-5pm & October 24, 12-5pm

Hear Bonnie Brae Elk Farm’s bull elk haunting bugle and take a wagon ride to see them up close. Stay warm with a cup of elk chili.

Jamie's Annual Halloween Day

October 30 from 8am-4pm at Jamie’s Flea Market

Trick or Treat for children under 12 and scavenger hunt for adults. 

Fall Country Tour

October 22 & October 23, 10am-5pm; Sunday, October 24, 12-5pm

Enjoy Wellington’s countryside with this self-driving tour of many unique and lovely shops. Contact Black River Antiques in Wellington for more information at 440.647.9424.

Wellington Farmers Market

Saturdays through October 30, 9am-2pm; corner of 

North Main St 

and 

Taylor St 

in Wellington

The Market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, chicken, turkeys, honey, and home made baked goods, jams and jellies from local vendors. For more info, contact Main Street Wellington.

Stay Active In Autumn

6th Annual Inland Trail Marathon/Half Marathon & 5K

Race begins at 8:00am on October 24 

Support the Murray Ridge Levy by running or walking the course along the scenic Inland Trail of Lorain County Metro Parks, beginning at Murray Ridge School.

Full Moon Hike

November 21 at 5:30pm, Wellington Reservation

Search nature for the sounds and sights of fall under the full moon light.

Wine & Dine

Halloween & Costume Party

October 30; call 440.774.9463 for details

Dress up for Matus Winery’s Costume Party. Live music at 8pm.

Field Trip to Schoepfle Gardens

October 23, 12pm at Vermilion Valley Vineyards; call to make your $10 reservation

Spend the day at Schoepfle Gardens! Local professor, David Benzing will guide the field trip and oversee on-site exercises, such as “green pruning” and grape harvesting and processing. Experience the colors and splendors of fall. Lunch included.

Halloween & Star Gazing

October 30 at Vermilion Valley Vineyards

Experience Halloween fun, great wine, lasagna dinner from Lorenzo's, and live music by Acoustic Junkies starting at 7pm. View the Halloween night sky with telescope.                                                                   

Eerie Experiences

Masquerade Murder Mystery

October 30 at Oberlin Inn; call to reserve, $79 per person

Sleuths and spooks come together for a fun-filled Murder Mystery dinner. Package includes Superior overnight accommodations, Lavish Buffet with Prime Rib and Chicken Picatta. Costumes recommended!

Hunt for Ghosts at the Moore House Museum

October 30, 7-9pm or 9:30-11:30pm; $25 per adult

Hunt for ghosts with a team of experts from the Ohio Researchers of Banded Spirits (ORBS) at the Moore House Museum.  There will be guided tours of Charleston Cemetery, weather permitting.  Space limited. Call to reserve tickets at 440.670.6624 or 440.245.2563.

Terror in the Field

October 22, 23, 29 & 30, 7-11pm at Novotny’s Farm Market; $10 adults, $7 children under 48"

Vermilion's Old Haunted State Street School presents "Terror in the Field."  Watch every eerie step you take in this exciting and scary "haunted" corn maze.

Ghostly Manor & Ghostly Gauntlet

Fridays & Saturdays 7pm-12am, Sundays 7-10pm through Oct 31

Escape the nationally ranked indoor haunted house, which has doubled in size for 2010. Discretion is advised for children under 10.

Visit Lorain County wishes you and your family a happy, safe, and sufficiently spooky Halloween!

For more information on happenings in Lorain County, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Road, call us 1-800-334-1673, visit the website, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Saving the Oberlin Gasholder-Honoring Oberlin's Underground Railroad History

Underground Railroad Center Project 
Community Update
Saturday, September 11, 2010

Ever wonder what the interesting round building behind the Oberlin McDonalds is? This is your chance to have a peek inside! The City of Oberlin’s Underground Railroad Center Implementation Team will be hosting a community update on Saturday, September 11th at 11am at the site of the Gasholder Building (the roundhouse structure, directly behind McDonalds), South Main Street in Oberlin.

Join the Implementation Team for an update on the not-too-distant future of the Oberlin Underground Railroad Center and park-and-ride project. there will be a short program comprised of a brief history of the efforts to establish this historic center, a local musical arrangement, an appreciation presentation, coupled with conceptual drawings and a limited tour of this unique architectural structure.

For more information on the project, contact the City of Oberlin at 440.775.7217 or check out the website at www.cityofoberlin.com

Visitors exploring Oberlin’s Underground Railroad visit the future home of the Oberlin Underground Railroad Center. 

View Oberlin Gasholder Building in a larger map

Lorain County Fair continues through Sunday

The weather forecast for Wellington is gorgeous this weekend, perfect for a trip to the Lorain County Fair! Scheduled entertainment throughout the weekend includes NTPA Tractor Pull on Friday night, Combine Derby/Pick-up Truck Derby Saturday night and Demolition Derby on Sunday night. If your looking for something a little different, there is a full schedule of entertainment all day, each day. Entertainment includes livestock auctions, pie and cookie baking contests, live music, fiddle contest, motocross racing and much more. And don't forget to stop by our booth in building 23 to ask for your copy of the Lake Erie Access Guide! Here are some scenes from our visit to the Fair today.

Lorain County - Home to some of the best North Central Ohio Lake Erie beaches!

There is still plenty of time for summer swimming fun, and with the warmest water of any Great Lake, Lake Erie is an ideal beach location. Nestled in the north central shoreline of Ohio, Lorain County is home to some of the best beaches on Lake Erie. Whether you are interested in swimming, a family picnic, or simply sightseeing, Lorain County’s shoreline has it all. From Vermilion’s Main Street Beach in the The Harbour Town 1837 Historic District, to Veterans Memorial Park in Avon Lake, there is something for everyone. With so much to do, what are you waiting for?

Photo by Mark Teleha

Main Street Beach, located in the quaint historic downtown of Vermilion allows visitors to take advantage of the fantastic sunsets and lake views with their large observation deck located on the beach. The Vermilion Lighthouse and Inland Seas Maritime Museum provide an entire fun-filled day.

Lakeview Park stands as one of Lorain County’s most dynamic parks. With a beautiful stretch of sandy beach to go along with many amenities such as gazebos, picnic shelters, a playground, and a Bathhouse home to the popular Rose Café, this park is ideal for everyone. These 20 acres of lakeside land are also home to exciting recreation such as sand volleyball and lawn bowling. Stop by for spectacular sunsets and views of the Lorain Lighthouse or a look at the Historical Rose Garden, a landmark in Lorain County. Spend the night in Lorain and experience even more excitement. Grab dinner after a day at the beach at Jackalope Lakeside Bar and Rotisserie and depart from there on a Sunset Cruise. The opportunities are endless!

Century Park, located in Lorain is another great beach destination. Equipped with a snack bar, restrooms, showers, picnic shelters, grills, a playground as well as fishing access, you can’t go wrong!

Miller Road Park is yet another great location on Lake Erie’s Shore. This park’s 14 acres of land include a boat launch, fishing pier, gazebo, picnic pavilion, playground, restrooms, beachfront access to the lake including a handicap accessible ramp, and a ¼ mile walking path. During the summer it is also home to a summer concert series that is great for all ages. Spend the entire day and tour the historic Peter Miller House Museum located on the park premises.

Photo left: Courtesy of Holly Miller

 The Sheffield Lake Community Park and Boat Launch is one of Lorain County’s most exciting new additions. Thanks to recent renovations, a new handicap accessible fishing pier and a free two lane boat launch are available for everyone to enjoy. Complete with ample parking, a beautiful sandy beach, and tables and chairs close by; this is a park you can’t miss!

Photo courtesy of Sheffield Lake

Veterans Memorial Park is not only a beautiful beach, but it is also full of entertainment and history. With its lifeguard-staffed beach, this is an ideal swimming location. Also notable are its Veterans memorial, Lake House, historic Folger Home, and the Avon Lake Boat Club.

For those water enthusiasts who would prefer an indoor location, Splash Zone is perfect for you. This water park is complete with an indoor 8 lane pool, a tot lagoon, a 6,000 square foot outdoor pool with daring waterslides, outdoor concession stand, playground, fitness center, aerobic center, party room, and a field house with a three lane rubberized walking track and four volleyball/basketball courts. No matter the weather or time of year, Splash Zone is one of Lorain County’s most exciting and fun-filled adventure locations.

For more information on Lorain County, visit our website, email us at visitors@visitloraincounty.com, call us at (440) 984-5282, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on outdoor adventure in Lorain County, visit http://www.backroadsandbeaches.com/

A Summer of History in Lorain County

From historical landmarks, to art; Lorain County, OH is the heart of many significant historical movements and events, as well as home to many important historical figures. The Lorain County Historical Society and Museum, the Spirit of '76 Museum, and the North Ridgeville Historical Society and Museum are just three of the many historical landmarks Lorain County has to offer. Spend some time this summer exploring north central Ohio’s historical roots. Who says learning has to stop during the summer?

The Lorain Historical Society, itself, has an appealing history that dates back to over 120 years, when it was established in 1888. In 1975 the Lorain Historical Society purchased a former mansion known as the Hickories in Elyria, OH to use as the headquarters for the museum and historical society, where it remains today.

Photo courtesy of The Lorain County Historical Society

This home once belonged to Arthur L. Garford, local inventor, industrialist, politician, and philanthropist. Visitors can tour the museum Tuesday through Friday, 1–4pm and Saturday, 1–3pm. The Lorain Historical Society provides information on Garford’s past and influence upon Lorain County, as well as various educational programs and art displays that relate to the overall history of Lorain County.

The Spirit of ’76 Museum in Wellington, OH serves as an important historical tribute to Archibald Willard and his painting “Yankee Doodle”, now known as “The Spirit of ‘76”. The museum includes over 4,000 artifacts from the surrounding time period including Revolutionary and Civil War artifacts. The museum is open April 1–October 31, Saturday and Sunday, 1–3:30pm. (Photo courtesy of Town of Marblehead, MA)

Visitors will learn the history behind the local artist and how his painting has transformed into American and Revolutionary iconography and regarded as the nation’s most inspirational painting of all time.

Spirit of '76 Museum photo by Rona Proudfoot

Another facet of Lorain County’s history can be found in North Ridgeville, OH. Visitors can experience local history by touring the historical society’s museum, located on the first floor of the Olde Towne Hall.

The extensive collection of artifacts and mementos including farming/agricultural items, military items, antique furniture, historical papers, photographs, etc. were gathered over the years from area residents. The museum is open on the last Sunday of every month (except December) from 2–5pm. Also available for touring is the historic Jaycox School, a one-room school house on Jaycox Rd., also open on the last Sunday of every month (April–October) from 2–5pm. The North Ridgeville Historical Society is currently celebrating their bicentennial anniversary with special programs and events through October 2010. (Olde Towne Hall courtesy of North Rideville Historical Society)

Jaycox School photo courtesy of North Ridgeville Historical Society

For more information on Lorain County, visit our website, email us at visitors@visitloraincounty.com, call us at (440) 984-5282, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information on other historical organizations or museums in Lorain County, take a look at our member directory.