Ohio residents are very fortunate to have so many places to visit and enjoy during the summer and fall. Here are just a few of the fun summer activities for older adults in Ohio.
Coshocton County, Ohio
Take a trip into the past by visiting Roscoe Village, a port town on the banks of the Ohio and Erie Canal. When you visit, you can enjoy “costumed interpreters, traditional craft demonstrators and horse-drawn canal boat rides” as if the year was 1830.
For small admission fee, you can explore fully restored period buildings in a living history tour led by costumed actors. Be prepared to navigate the cobblestone sidewalks. Throughout the season, there are festivals, lectures and other educational programs; gardens to enjoy; live entertainment, including theater; and much more. You can find upcoming special events here.
While there, take a ride down the canal that “connected New York City and the Hudson River to Cleveland and the Great Lakes, and from Cleveland to Portsmouth and the Ohio River.” You’ll travel in style on the horse-drawn canal boat, Monticello III. You can see a model of the boat and the canal, complete with locks, in the Roscoe Village Visitor Center, and can board a ride at the Coshocton Lake Park Recreation Complex. Plan for a 45-minute float while the captain shares the compelling story of its history. “Take in fresh country air and enjoy the beautiful woodland surroundings along the waterway.”
For more information:
- Read this excellent article, “Life On the Tow Path”
- Call 1-800-877-1830
- Visit www.RoscoeVillage.com
- Visit www.VisitCoshocton.com
Canal rides are available through Labor Day Tuesday-Friday, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Rides are available on Saturday and Sunday at those times, plus at 4 p.m. From Labor Day through the third week in October, rides are available on the weekends. We recommend that you call before traveling to make sure there have been no schedule changes.
Festivals Galore
There are plenty of festivals and fairs to enjoy in August and September, many of them free. Here are just three worth exploring.
If you’re a fan of woodcarvings, put the Merry-Go-Round Museum’s Wood Carver Show on your calendar. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at 301 Jackson St. in Sandusky, you can watch more than 20 woodcarvers exhibit their skills and discuss techniques. If you’re feeling young at heart, you can ride the indoor antique carousel for just $1. For more information, call 419-626-6111.
If you enjoy jazz, consider the Wooster Arts Jazz Fest, held in downtown Wooster from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. You’ll appreciate the traditional New Orleans-style parade, with live music played all day long. Eat delicious food and also browse art from more than 80 artists. Find more information here.
Also consider the outdoor theater in Schiller Park (German Village) in Columbus. From Aug. 11-Sept. 4, An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. These free performances started more than 20 years ago by an amateur group and have evolved into professional performances. Find more information here.
