'Tis the Season!

Isn't it hard to believe Christmas is only next week?! Don't get so caught up in the craziness of the holiday season that you forget to get out and enjoy time with your family. Here in Lorain County you can enjoy everything from beautiful light displays to nights in the theater. Maybe you'll even start up a new tradition!

LIGHTS

There are a ton of places to check out light displays in Lorain County that give even the Griswolds a run for their money!

• Holiday Lights at Carlisle Reservation (12882 Diagonal Road LaGrange,OH 44050) also runs until New Year's Eve, excluding Dec. 24  and 25, with a 1/2 mile paved loop with movie themed light displays along the way. The Holiday Express will also run every day through another decorated trail. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays 6-9pm and Fridays & Saturdays 6-10pm. Admission is free, but please bring a nonperishable food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

• Holiday Lights at Finwood Estate (799 North Abbe Road Elyria,OH 44035) will be on display every night until Jan. 5, and after you check out the awesome display you can head inside for hot chocolate and cookies! Guests are asked to bring nonperishable food items that will be donated to the Elyria Hospitality House.

• Miller Nature Preserve (2739 Center Road Avon,OH 44011) is decked out until Jan. 6, excluding Christmas and New Years Day, from 10 am to 6 pm. 

• Lights on the Lake is nightly at 6pm until Dec. 31 at Lakeview Park (1800 West Erie Avenue Lorain,OH 44052).

SHOWS

If you're a fan of the performing arts, maybe checking out one of these great shows in more your style.

• "The Nutcracker" will be performed at LCCC's Stocker Arts Center by Ohio Dance Theatre, Northeast Ohio’s professional ballet company on Dec 20 at 10am, Dec 20 & 21 at 7:30pm, and Dec 22 at 2pm. For tickets call Stocker Arts Center Box Office at 440-366-4040 or visit their website.

• Songs for the Season will be performed by the Oberlin Choristers at Finney Chapel in Oberlin, Ohio at 7:30 pm on Dec. 21.  

• The TrueNorth Christmas Concert will be celebrating the season with their Chorale, Symphony and Big Band at Avon Lake United Church of Christ (32801 Electric Boulevard Avon Lake,OH 44012). Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for students.

•  The Lorain Palace Theater ( 617 Broadway Lorain,OH 44052) presents Charles Dickens’  ”A Christmas Carol”  December 20 & 21 at 7pm. Adults tickets are $10, children are $7. 

OUT AND ABOUT

We still have you covered even if a holiday show isn't your cup of cocoa! Check out these other great events going on in and around Lorain County!

• Christmas on the Farm with Bonnie Brae Elk Farm is on Dec. 21 and 22 is sure to be a great time for you and your family. Wagon rides to go out and feed the elk are $10 for all ages. Call (440) 647-3232 or (440) 647-4593 for your reservation. 

• The historian in your family will be excited about the Burrell Christmas program and tour on Dec. 21 from 12 pm-3 pm. The scheduled shuttle transport every 20 minutes beginning at the French Creek Nature Center. Drop-in activities at the Nature Center will be ongoing.  Preregister for tours at www.metroparks.cc or call 440-458-5121 by Dec 20.

• The Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is in the holiday spirit with their 3D Winter Wonderland Christmas Walk-Thru starting every day in December at noon. Enjoy the light show, XD Motion Theater Movie “Sleigh Ride”, Roller Skating Rink, 3D Blacklight Mini Golf, Bounce Houses, 3-level Play Area, Haunted House, and Arcade for a fun filled afternoon!

SANTA

You can't go the whole season without visiting the man in red himself! Here's where to find him this year. 

Miller Nature Preserve & Conservatory from LCMP

• Santa will be at Lakeview Park for brunch on Dec. 21 from 10 am-2 pm. Tickets are $15 per person ($5 or kids 5 & under) and include a carriage ride around Lakeview Park, breakfast buffet, one family photo with Santa, a craft, and a chance to shop at Santa’s gift shop.

• You can catch him at Finwood Estate while you're there for the holiday lights!

• On December 23 from 11:30 am- 1:30 pm Santa will be at Petitti Garden Center (33777 Chester Road Avon,OH 44011) hanging out with kids aged 5 and up. Tickets are $10 and will include a sack lunch (hotdog, chips, cookie, drink), a visit with Santa, story time, and a craft. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Bereavement Program at Stein Hospice.

Sights from a day at the Lorain County Fair

It's Fair Week here in Lorain County. Here are a few scenes from Tuesday. 

Food

Wood-fired pizza by Lorenzo's "The Beautiful Flame"

Animals

Midway

Displays and Attractions

Hauntville/Spooky Ranch display

Come out and see us in building 23 at the Fairgrounds. We'll be here all week!

The Interns Learn What's "SUP"

We Visit Lorain County interns (or "funductors") had another exciting adventure! We hit the water on Lakeview Beach in Lorain to check out stand up paddling (SUP) with Lake Erie Paddler.

Jim teaching on the beach

When Kaitlin and I first arrived on the beach, we watched Jim Lawhead, the founder of Lake Erie Paddler, teach his last class of the day to kids of the Outdoor Adventure Camp through the Lorain County Metroparks. The kids got a lesson on where to be on the board, how to paddle, and how to stand up once they got on the water. After the kids came in from their little trip around the cove, we got to chat with them for a while. One boy excitedly told us about how he loved paddle boarding so much he was asking for a board for his next birthday. Other kids talked about how they were nervous at first, but once they actually did it they realized it was much easier than they thought, and a lot of fun! We also asked the group what their favorite parts were and some of the answers were bouncing on the waves, the challenge when waves rocked their board a bit, or just everything about it!

Jim helping the kids get  settled on their boards

After watching the kids have a blast on the water, we decided to try it for ourselves! Read on for our reactions from our day on the water!

Kaitlin

The interns out on the water

Paddle boarding was so much easier than I thought it would be! I was a little nervous on the drive over, not knowing what to expect. When we first got there I took some photographs of the kids getting ready and actually paddling out on the water. It was fun to see their excitement to try something new! Seeing all of the kids falling into the water made me a bit apprehensive, but after we watched a little closer, it seemed that most of the kids who fell in were being pushed. I'm glad that Melody and I weren't into rough housing on the water! Our instructor, Julie, showed us the basics and had us go out pretty quickly. After our lesson, it seemed that the best way to get better was to practice! I had so much fun! It was great to just relax and float around out on the water. The great thing about SUP is that anyone can do it, which I found out on first hand on our trip! Out of everything to do at Lakeview beach, Melody and I definitely had the best time with Lake Erie Paddler!

Melody

Melody, Kaitlin, and instructor Julie enjoying the lake

Ok, I officially have the best summer internship there is. Going paddle boarding was one of the most fun things I've gotten to do all summer. I was a little hesitant when we first got to the beach (mostly because I had a meeting pretty soon after, and didn't particularly want to get my hair wet) but it looked so fun I couldn't justify hanging out on the beach and just watching. And, as it turned out, I managed to stay dry above my knees, so don't even try that excuse ladies! We were off after a quick lesson from Jim's right hand girl Julie, who is not only a SUP instructor but also really talented in other water sports like kite boarding and surfing! When I first pushed off I had a hard time finding my balance, but once I relaxed and settled into it, it was great! I had so much fun out on the water, and I'd love to get out there and try it again sometime. I have to admit- it's a little addicting.

There you have it! It's a pretty clear consensus; stand up paddling is an awesome way to spend a day. We officially give Lake Erie Paddler the funductor seal of approval! Check 'em out next time you're planning a family day, birthday party, or maybe even date! When you're ready to plan your day with them, make your reservation by calling 440.935.9291 or emailing lakeeriepaddler@gmail.com. 

Lorain County Independence Day Festivities- 2013

Independence Day is coming up fast and I'm sure many are trying to plan how to spend your holiday. Which leads to the ultimate question of what is going on in the area for you and your family to enjoy? Hopefully the following will give you some great ideas for family fun!

July 3rd

• The Avon Lake Fireworks will be at dusk at Weiss Field (33401 Webber Rd, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012)

• The Oberlin Fireworks will be at dusk at the Hamilton Recreation Complex (225 West Hamilton Road, Oberlin, Ohio 44074)

• In downtown Wellington there will be an ice cream social at 6 pm, a performance by The Patriots Community Band at 7 pm on the steps of the Town Hall, and fireworks at dusk at the Lorain County Fairgrounds. As a Wellington native, I recommend bringing a blanket and watching the fireworks from the top of the above ground reservoir. The fireworks reflection in the water really adds to the show!

• The Lorain Port Fest kicks of at 5 pm at the Black River Landing (421 Black River Lane, Lorain, Ohio 44052). Fireworks are at 10 pm. You can even go on a fireworks cruise! Tickets are $20. Click here for a full schedule of events.
  
  
  

• What better way to celebrate America's independence than by watching America's favorite past time? The Lake Erie Crushers are playing with a special pre/post game concert. More details here. 

• North Ridgeville will be having their annual Party in the Park. Family friendly activities will start at 7 pm and continue until the fireworks at dusk. 

July 4th

• The Grafton Fireworks will be at dusk in Willow Park off of Grafton Road

• Cedar Point will be lighting off fireworks at 10:30 pm in addition to the rest of their 4th of July celebration

• The Lake Erie Crushers will be playing another game (7:05 pm), which will end with a fantastic fireworks show. 

• The 94th Annual Rochester 4th of July celebration will be at the Eagle Street Park and Fire Station. This event has a ton of fun things going on, including a parade at 10:30 am and fireworks at dusk. Check out the complete schedule. 

• Wellington's celebration continues on Thursday with a parade at 3 pm and many other games and events throughout the day. 

Feel free to check out our calendar of events for more fun things happening in Lorain County. Have a wonderful holiday!

~Melody

P.S. If you know of any events in the county that aren't mentioned, please let us know in the comment section!

The Funductors First Adventure: Common Ground Center

Wow, this internship definitely had an exciting start to it! Our orientation was at Common Ground- The Cindy Nord Center for Renewal in Oberlin. I had never been to Common Ground before, so I had no idea what to expect when I pulled in the parking lot. My only clue was the email I got saying to wear comfortable shoes, so I at least knew it wouldn't be a typical day in the office. After a few minutes inside meeting the other people in the Leadership Lorain County Internship Program and getting some paperwork out of the way, we were headed outside to the gorgeous 21-acre grounds to see what was planned for us the rest of the day.

The first activity on the agenda was a game to teach us how to plan and work together as a team to accomplish a task. We had to hold the funnels you see above (with our pinkys always touching each other) and use every one to get a golf ball into a bucket. You can see Kaitlin third from the end on the left side working together with the rest of the team.

Next we were in the woods with a whole new goal. We had to pass all the interns (there are about 30 of us) from one place to another, the only catch that there was a "sleeping spider" and we couldn't just walk. We had to climb across in a net, which as you can see, was pretty far off the ground. We had to pick each other up into the net, make our way across, and help each other down on the other side. Above is Kaitlin being lifted up, and below you see me (Melody) making my way to the other side. 

It was a little scary getting lifted up, but knowing I had people spotting me ready to catch me if I fall and hearing their encouragement made it a lot of fun. 

We played a few other games that day, but this next one was definitely my favorite. Can you guess what we were doing by the picture? 

What you can't see is the two diverging tightropes we were walking on. The further we moved along the wider the distance got, and the more we had to lean on each other to keep from falling. It was really fun to push ourselves to trust people we had just met to make it as far as possible on the ropes. Two boys in our group made it to the end, being almost parallel to the ground! And you can see again the spotters we had to take away some of the nervousness and focus on how much fun it was. 

Kaitlin and I had a blast at Common Ground, and I would spend another day there in a heartbeat. I would absolutely recommend signing up for any of their day camps for kids or their adult programs. If we had such a great time in one afternoon I can only imagine what a full week would be like!

~Melody

*All photos were taken by Leadership Lorain County

Meet our Summer Funductors!

Melody and Kaitlin heading out for another adventure.

Meet the 2013 Visit Lorain County Summer Funductors (aka "Interns"), Melody Reams (pictured left above) and Kaitlin Jackson. Melody and Kaitlin are part of the Leadership Lorain County internship program. Melody is currently attending Ohio State University majoring in Marketing. She is a graduate of Wellington High School and resides in Wellington. Kaitlin is a student at Ohio University who is majoring in Commercial Photography and Middle Childhood Education. She is a graduate of Firelands High School and resides in Oberlin.

Melody and Kaitlin will be exploring all the nooks and crannies for summer fun in Lorain County this summer and blogging about their experiences. Keep an eye on the blog. You never know what they might find and share!

Catch of the Day Specials are Off the Hook!

Cork’s and Stubby’s, Amherst

Whether you’re observing Lent or just want to take advantage of all the great seafood this season has to offer, Lorain County has an abundance of yummy options. Check some out below:

Quick and Delicious Restaurant
All you can eat fish Wednesdays and Fridays
Seafood clams, shrimp, catfish are .50 off during Lent.
311 S. Main St, Oberlin
440.774.1973

Smitty's Place
Fridays - perch sandwich - $7.25 and perch dinner  $12.50
368 E. Bridge St, Elyria
440.323.9708

Fish Fries

Matus Winery 
Unky Ray’s Fish Fry – March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29th  5:30pm
Perch dinner includes 1/2lb. yellow perch, french fries, coleslaw & garlic toast $15
1/2 perch dinner (includes fries & slaw) $9
Jumbo shrimp dinner includes 8 jumbo shrimp, french fries, coleslaw & garlic toast $12
Perch sandwich platter (includes fries & slaw) $12
Chicken tenders platter (includes fries & slaw)  $10
Clam chowder $4/bowl
15674 Gore Orphanage Rd, Wakeman
440.774.9463

Paper Moon Winery
Fish Fry - March 1
Perch, fries, cole slaw, roll $13
Reserve by calling 440.967.2500 or online here.
2008 State Road
Vermilion, OH 44089

A few other suggestions:

Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant

On Fridays, check Fligner’s Facebook page to see what great special they are offering. You will likely see fish lunch specials.

Another delicious dining experience with a menu full of seafood and Friday Lenten specials is the Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant. Best to check their Facebook page for current info.

And here are a few local restaurant suggestions for restaurants that are well-known for their delicious seafood year round:

Cork's and Stubby's 
209 S. Main St.
Amherst, OH 44001
(440) 984-7430
(440) 984-7432
Fine and Casual Dining: Shrimp, Scallops, Crabcake, Salmon, Catch of the Day, Walleye

The Feve Bar & Grill 
30 S. Main Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
(440) 774-1978
Grouper Basket, Crab Cakes, Multiple vegan and vegetarian choices

Moosehead Grill 
7660 Leavitt Rd
Amherst, OH 44001
(440) 985-7429
Salmon, Walleye, Tilapia

Nemo Grille 
36976 Detroit Road
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-0061
Website
Fine Dining: Sea Scallops, Salmon, Chilean Sea Bass

Strip, A Steakhouse 
36840 Detroit Rd.
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-9900
Fine dining: Salmon, Ahi Tuna, Catch of the Day, Chilean Sea Bass

Stubby’s Pub & Grub 
114 Antioch Dr.
Elyria, OH 44035
(440) 365-7882
Lake Erie Perch Dinners

Bon appétit!