Fairfield County boasts an event-filled summer in 2024, providing plenty to do within a short drive for local residents, plus a wealth of good reasons for other central and southeast Ohio residents to visit Lancaster and Fairfield County.
So many fun and exciting events are on tap this summer in Fairfield County that it wasn’t easy to whittle the list down to a few main attractions. This article covers four of the main events, but there are many more. (The website for the Fairfield County Visitors and Convention Bureau, aka Visit Fairfield County, offers complete summer (and year-round) event listings.
Buckeye Lake’s 75h Anniversary
On Saturday, June 8, Buckeye Lake, Ohio’s oldest state park, will celebrate its 75th anniversary with an all-day event at the park’s Liebs Island Boat Ramp. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., attendees can enjoy a large car show, an art show, crafters, food trucks, and live music.
Buckeye Lake is among the most popular day-use destinations in Ohio, though that likely wasn’t envisioned in the early and mid-1800s when, after the damming of the South Fork of the Licking River and completion of related engineering projects, the new reservoir served as one of several “feeder lakes” for Ohio’s canal system.
At the end of the canal era (when railroads took over most freight-hauling duties), the big reservoir began drawing tourists from other parts of Central Ohio. In the mid-20th century, the park’s now-closed amusement park and dance hall drew thousands of yearly visitors. The biggest attraction, of course, was the 3,100-acre lake, with its ample opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, and other outdoor recreation. All of that is still going strong at Buckeye Lake.
Bottoms Up in Lancaster
The event-filled Bottoms Up festival takes place from Friday to Sunday, June 21-23. Bottoms Up is “the nation’s first event dedicated to the celebration of midcentury barware culture,” according to Visit Fairfield County.
Presented by Lancaster’s Gay Fad Studios, Bottoms Up will feature dozens of events, big and small, highlighting barware designed and produced during the mid-20th century. Visit Fairfield County notes that the city of Lancaster and state of Ohio are ideal hosts for this unique three-day event: “It’s situated in the heart of Ohio, a state that’s historically significant as a major producer of midcentury glassware. Sparked by the revival of Gay Fad Studios and growing interest in midcentury barware, this event provides a real experience from Ohio’s Glass Town.”
Gay Fad Studios urges attendees to “settle into a walkable downtown with events and activities that shatter expectations.” The assortment of activities during Bottoms Up includes “a vendor show, cocktail events, three different midcentury museum exhibits, couture fashion show, vintage car show, classes, and presentations with a special guest artist not to be missed.”
That guest artist is none other than Shag (Josh Agle), a celebrated painter, designer and illustrator based in Southern California. A Shag pop-up store during Bottoms Up will feature his signature midcentury work, a limited-edition print based on the event, and Shag glassware by Gay Fad Studios.
One of the major draws of Bottoms up will be an evening of fashion and philanthropy 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Hosted by the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio (DACO), the gala will “celebrate how the arts enrich the human experience through passion and imagination.”
The event will include signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music by the Steve Cox Jazz Trio of Lancaster. Couture by five renowned Ohio-based designers will be displayed during the fashion show.
The Lancaster Festival
The biggest event on the Fairfield County/Lancaster summer calendar is the Lancaster Festival, “an annual celebration of art, music and community.” The event takes place in Lancaster between July 18 and 27.
The nonprofit festival prides itself in providing more than three-quarters of its different events at no charge, though the big music nights are ticketed, paid events. Events will include workshops, classes, exhibits, live music, and other activities for people of all ages.
Marquee music events include a variety of renowned performers as well as the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, a 60-member professional orchestra.
The Lancaster Festival opens on Thursday, July 18, with a 40th anniversary celebration at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption. It will include highlights from the previous 40 openings nights with performances by soloists from the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption Chorus, among others.
ArtWalk, considered downtown Lancaster’s biggest night, takes place Friday, July 19. Many locals consider it the true kickoff to the annual arts and music festival. Attendees can stroll through downtown’s historic area while enjoying various juried exhibitions of regional and local artists in 30-plus downtown venues. Guests can enjoy live music at various stops along the way.
Restaurants will be open for business, with many offering outdoor stations for hungry attendees. An assortment of food trucks will line the streets as well – and those who want to enjoy an outdoor beverage can do so legally in the DORA zone (designated outdoor refreshment area).
Featured evening music events during the Lancaster Festival include Wilson Phillips, Monday Night Jazz, Rockin’ the Eagles, and Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience. All of the events except for the Rockin’ the Eagles concert at the Eagles Event Center in Lancaster will be held at the Wendel Concert Stage on Ohio University’s Lancaster Campus.
The grand finale of the Lancaster Festival will feature acclaimed country singer/songwriter Lee Brice taking the Wendel Concert Stage on Saturday, July 27, with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra. The orchestra will open the evening at 8 p.m. with the Lancaster High School Percussion Ensemble, performing a salute to legendary movie composer John Williams.
Other events during the Lancaster Festival include Festival Fair Day, Café Concerts, AHA! Children’s Museum, Out and About with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, the Happy Hour Music Series, Children’s Corner, Noon at the Square, and much more.
For a full schedule and other information, go to Visit Fairfield County’s Lancaster Festival page or www.lancasterfestival.org/.
Wands & Wizards Weekend
Magic will sweep into Fairfield County (and beyond) the weekend of Aug. 8-10 when Wands & Wizards Weekend returns for another appearance. Businesses and organizations from across the county will celebrate “all things enchanting and mystical” with specials and events.
Participants can sample specially brewed potions at a local restaurant, take part in a scavenger hunt for “fantastical creatures,” or even attend a class to make their own magic wand. Most of the Wands & Wizards Weekend events are free and for all ages, though a few will be ticketed and/or have limited space.
The Fairfield County District Library launched Wands & Wizards Weekend in 2018. Since then, it has evolved into a three-day weekend event. Last year, Pickerington Village hosted its first Wizard Faire during Wands & Wizards Weekend.
Many Other Summer Events in Lancaster-Fairfield County
Among the dozens of other events in Lancaster and other Fairfield County communities are the Summer Concert Series, the 53rd Annual Tour of Homes, the Wine & Woodies Antique and Classic Boat Show on Buckeye Lake, the DACO Gala: An Evening of Fashion & Philanthropy, Fireworks at Buckeye Lake (July 3), Picktown Palooza in Pickerington, the Eastern Woodland Native American Celebration, Pub Paddle on Buckeye Lake, the Truck-Tractor Toy Show, Tour de Buckeye Lake, Lancaster Brew Fest, the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival, the Lithopolis Honey Fest, and the Corvette Gathering.
Sources
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/events/buckeye-lakes-75th-birthday-celebration/
https://thebuckeyelake.com/history.php
https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/buckeye-lake-state-park
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/events/category/bottoms-up-events/
https://gayfadstudios.com/bottomsup/
https://www.shag.com/
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/events/the-daco-gala-an-evening-of-fashion-philanthropy/
https://www.lancasterfestival.org
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/events/the-40th-annual-lancaster-festival/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1313976389283370
https://visitfairfieldcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Wands-Wizards-Fact-Sheet.pdf