Artistic Endeavors

With its abundance of artistic venues, the Heritage Circle celebrates and embraces creativity and expression in its communities.

Built in 1846, the Delaware County Cultural Arts Center delivers a royal architectural statement and a variety of artistic offerings, including classes, public exhibits and a gallery shop. Nearby, Ohio Wesleyan University’s Richard M. Ross Art Museum is a former post office beautifully restored to house the school’s permanent collection and rotating exhibitions. Ohio Wesleyan also hosts the Performing Arts Series, bringing highly acclaimed performers to Delaware audiences, as well as opera, theater and dance productions. Additionally, the Delaware Arts Festival, featuring juried works of more than 170 exhibitors, is held annually in Historic Downtown Delaware the weekend after Mother’s Day.

Newark’s Midland Theatre is another Heritage Circle landmark. Though it deteriorated as it sat empty for years, the Midland was reborn in 2000 after a multimillion dollar restoration project.Now, it’s attracting many old favorites, including singers Wayne Newton and Bobby Vinton.

In the Knox County community of Mount Vernon, the legacy of Daniel Decatur Emmett is celebrated each year at the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival. In addition to performances of the 19th century composer’s songs, the festival features oodles of arts, crafts and family-friendly activities. During the festival, tours of America’s oldest theater, the 19th century Woodward Opera House, are available.

During the summer concert season, top musical acts make their way to the Germain Amphitheater in southern Delaware County. Jessica Simpson, Tim McGraw and the Dave Matthews Band are a sampling of the many musicians who have entertained fans at Germain. To catch some up-and-coming acts during the warmer months, stop by the Reynoldsburg Summer Concert Series at the Livingston House & Museum. Also take advantage of the Reynoldsburg Community Band’s regular performances throughout the summer on the lawn of the Senior Citizens Center.

Looking for something a bit more refined? The Central Ohio Symphony performs five times a year at Ohio Wesleyan University in the city of Delaware, including a Fourth of July lawn concert. The Westerville Symphony Orchestra presents the music of Brahms, Beethoven and other noteworthy composers at its home in Cowan Hall on the campus of Otterbein University. More classical sounds can be heard at Kenyon College, where the Knox County Symphony performs.

Head to Union County to catch more music courtesy of the Marysville Parks & Recreation Department’s Concert in the Park series at the American Legion Park or the Community Concert Series in the Marysville High School auditorium. Artistic shops in Marysville, About the House and After Five, are great places to find the unique works of local artists.

Each summer in Pickaway County, a variety of musical genres are explored from the Summer Concert Series at Braeburn Farms to the popular Ted Lewis Music Festival to the Ashville Gazebo Gatherings. Families enjoy hearing a variety of musical groups including smooth jazz, Celtic and pop. If a flare for the dramatic is more your speed, check out Circleville’s Roundtown Players featuring local acting talent and bringing professional- caliber performances to the stage.

The historic Reese-Peters House in Lancaster is home to the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. The Center offers three different art exhibitions annually, yearround children and adults’ art classes, and daily tour of the Reese-Peters House. Future exhibitions will feature renowned artists such as Jenny Holzer, Russel Wright and many others.

If a trip to the zoo isn’t on your itinerary, the next best thing might be a visit to the Animals by Arleta Museum and Gallery in Marysville. There, visitors are surrounded by one-of-a-kind reproductions of exotic animals in this unique meeting place. The soft-sculpted creatures include a 14-foot-tall giraffe and more than 80 other life-size animals.

One of the biggest events each summer in Fairfield County is the Lancaster Festival, where people of many different cultures and walks of life display their artistic creations. Street painting, orchestral concerts and plays are among the engaging attractions that take place during the festival.

Worthington provides creative outlets for talented locals as well as special guests with its summer Sunday evening Concerts on the Village Green and Olde Worthington Art Festival, which is ranked as one of the top 200 arts festivals in the country. Neighboring Westerville’s Uptown Art Stroll and Gallery-for-a-Day offers artlovers the opportunity to get out and enjoy a two-mile trek around the city’s Historic Uptown District and Otterbein College area to view the wares on display at a variety of art galleries. The Westerville Symphony at Otterbein College is a beloved local institution, providing Central Ohio with the finest in symphonic music as well as arts education. Look for performances throughout the year where you’ll hear works by such luminaries as Handel, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Enjoy such performances, along with the Westerville Community Band and others, at the Westerville Community Amphitheatre all summer long. The annual Westerville Music & Arts Festival is a Midwest favorite of more than 180 musical, print, and visual artists who participate and the thousands that attend.

Art & Cultural Events

April
Gourmet Cooking Weekend, Newark, 1-800-788-8008
Wander Westerville Tour & Chair is Art, Westerville, 1-800-824-8461

May
Delaware Arts Festival, Historic Downtown Delaware, 1-888-DEL-OHIO
Scrapbook Lovers Weekend, Newark, (740) 788-8008
Ted Lewis Music Festival, Circleville, 1-888-770-PICK

June
Olde Worthington Art Festival, Village Green, Downtown Worthington, (614) 885-8237
Danville-Howard Turkey Festival, Danville, 1-800-837-5282
Sacred Threads International Quilt Show, Reynoldsburg, (614) 866-4888
Tecumseh! (June-August), Chillicothe, 1-866-775-0700

July
Music & Arts Festival, Heritage Park, Everal Barn, Westerville, 1-800-824-8461
Lancaster Festival, Lancaster, 1-800-LAN-FEST

August
Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, Mount Vernon, 1-800-837-5282
Worthington Fine Arts Festival, Worthington Square, 1-800-997-9935
Gazebo Gatherings (Music Concert), Ashville, 1-888-770-PICK

September
Art in the City, Newark, (740) 345-0046
Festifair and Hot Air Balloon Show, Marysville, 1-877-473-4314
Gallery for a Day, Uptown Westerville, (614) 882-7709

November
The Castle Arts Affair, Delaware County Cultural Arts Center, Delaware, (740) 369-ARTS

December
Central Ohio Symphony Holiday Concerts, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, 1-888-999-COSO