Author: Bryce Riggs

Destination Seneca County has announced that the Heritage Festival Parade, sponsored by Brian Bower – loanDepot, will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10 AM in downtown Tiffin. The parade will take place during Heritage Festival weekend that kicks off Friday, September 15 and runs through Sunday, September 17. The theme of this year’s parade is, “Honoring Yesterday’s Pioneers, Celebrating Today’s Heroes”, with Connor Whaley serving as the Grand Marshall of the parade.

In February of 2021, at the age of three, Connor was going to multiple doctor visits for seemingly unrelated issues. He didn’t want to eat, had trouble sleeping and was very irritable. He had intermittent fevers as high as 104.5 degrees, yet all his tests would come back negative. His parents were stumped, but after three weeks of symptoms, on March 12, they requested bloodwork. They were told multiple times it wasn’t necessary, but they kept pushing, and it was good they did. Within a half hour of bloodwork, they were told to pack a bag and get to Nationwide Hospital as soon as possible. Bloodwork, plus a bone marrow biopsy, confirmed their son, Connor, had B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 

In May 2023, Connor rang the bell after nearly 800 days of intensive treatment. At this year’s parade Destination Seneca County will honor Connor and the thousands of children and families that are impacted across the country as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Children and families that have been impacted by Childhood Cancer are asked to sign up to walk along Connor in the parade at www.DestinationSenecaCounty.org/Parade.

The Heritage Festival Parade route will begin on South Washington Street at St. Joseph Catholic Church and go through the intersection at Riverside Drive. The parade will begin promptly at 10 am. All are welcome to participate in the parade and can register at www.DestinationSenecaCounty.org/Parade. Parade participants are asked to be registered no later than September 8, 2023. 

The Ritz Theatre Presents The 2023-2024 Season!

The Ritz Theatre is proud to announce another outstanding season of events for 2023-2024 consisting of music, comedy, community theatre, family entertainment and movies. The season includes celebrated artists such as Amy Grant, Kenny G, Clint Black, Micky Dolenz and Foghat and so much more. Subscriptions for all events on The Ritz Theatre’s 2023-2024 season go on sale beginning July 10 and individual event ticket sales begin August 7. For ticket and subscription information contact The Ritz Theatre Box Office at 30 S. Washington St., downtown Tiffin, 419-448.8544 or info@ritztheatre.org. Information is also available online at ritztheatre.org.

Micky Dolenz

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 7:30pm  – Micky Dolenz IS the voice of The Monkees. The unmistakable performer that moved a generation and led this pop culture phenomena to a dozen Top 20 singles, four #1 albums and two Emmy Awards. Having entertained audiences his entire life, Micky brings a one-of-a-kind presence to the stage, drawing on his background in television, film broadcasting and Broadway. The Monkees had three #1 singles, “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer” (both with lead vocals by Micky) and “Daydream Believer.”

Amy Grant

Friday, October 20, 2023 | 7:30pm – Conventional wisdom has it that Amy Grant put Contemporary Christian Music on the map, becoming the first CCM artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit #1 on the Pop charts (“Baby, Baby”), and the first to perform at the GRAMMY Awards. Since then, Grant has been strumming her way through a thirty-plus year adventure as a singer-songwriter, author, television host, and speaker. Early on, Grant’s iconic voice became instantly recognizable in both the Christian and pop worlds. Over the years, she has sold more than 30 million albums world-wide, including three multi-platinum, six platinum, and four gold. Her chart performance has also been consistent throughout her career, boasting six #1 hits, 10 “Top 40” Pop singles, 17 “Top 40” Adult Contemporary tracks and multiple Contemporary Christian chart-toppers. In recognition of such success, Grant has received six GRAMMY Awards and 26 Dove Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a star on the Music City Walk of Fame. Additionally, she was most recently inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

RaeLynn

Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 7:30pm – Two-time ACM “New Female Vocalist” nominee RaeLynn continues to carve her unique lane in country music with her gift for storytelling through songwriting, accented by a one-of-a-kind, electric personality. Her most recent 2023 release “It’s Happening Right Here” is the human trafficking awareness featured title track from the Original Documentary by Operation Underground Railroad. She released multiple new songs in 2022 including “I Love My Hometown,” “If God Took Days Off” and “Raisin’ Me A Country Girl,” amassing over one billion total career streams which includes “God Made Girls,” “Lonely Call” and “Queens Don’t.”  

 

 

Clint Black

Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 7:30pm – It is one of the most storied careers in modern music. Clint Black surged to superstardom as part of the fabled Class of ’89, reaching #1 with five consecutive singles from his triple-platinum debut, Killin’ Time. He followed that with the triple-platinum Put Yourself in My Shoes, and then a string of platinum and gold albums throughout the ’90s. Perhaps most impressively, Clint wrote or co-wrote every one of his more than three dozen chart hits, including “A Better Man,” “Where Are You Now,” “When My Ship Comes In,” “A Good Run of Bad Luck,” “Summer’s Comin’,” “Like the Rain” and “Nothin’ But the Taillights,” part of a catalog that produced 22 #1 singles and made him one of the most successful singer/songwriters of the modern era. Along the way, Clint has sold over 20 million records, earned more than a dozen gold and platinum awards in the U.S. and Canada including a GRAMMY, landed nearly two dozen major awards and nominations, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

The Hit Men | The Ultimate Rock Concert

Saturday, November 4, 2023 | 7:30pm – Relive Rock’s greatest hits with The Hit Men – five fantastic musicians who have shared the stage with legendary artists, including members of Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Wings, Alan Parsons, Billy Joel, Sting, Elton John, Journey, The Who and Cream.   In this Ultimate Rock Concert, The Hit Men celebrate their associations with these mega-stars, share their first-hand experiences as eyewitnesses to rock history, and perform classic hits you know and love…  “Layla”, “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “I Want To Know What Love Is”, “Feels Like The First Time”, “Eye in the Sky” and many more… just the way you remember them!

With backstage stories, multi-media and top of the charts classic rock hits from so many different rock legends, a performance by The Hit Men is like seeing 10 Rock Legends for the price of one!  Come hear the soundtrack of your life.  Come see The Hit Men.

 

Kenny G

Friday, December 15, 2023 – Over a career that spans four decades, Kenny G has become the most successful instrumental artist of the modern age and has racked up an enviable list of accomplishments that includes more than 75 million albums sold and more than 1.5 Billion global streams, seven Top 40-charting singles, 17 GRAMMY nominations, and collaborations with a remarkable array of artists including Aretha Franklin, Katy Perry, Frank Sinatra, Kanye West, and The Weeknd. The show features a mix of holiday hits and fan favorites infused with Kenny G’s captivating and distinctive blend of R&B, pop, Latin, and jazz. Hit songs include “Songbird,” Silhouette” and “The Moment.”

Nobodies of Comedy

Saturday, January 27, 2024 | 7:30pm – You’ve never heard of them. But hey, they’ve never heard of you either! Here’s your chance to see the funniest up-and-coming comedians in America. We’ve hand-picked these comics from the best unknown talent from across the country and rolled them into one hilarious show. They may be a bunch of nobodies. But not for long! Don’t miss this chance to see tomorrow’s stars of comedy today. (Intended for mature audiences only)

 

Chicago Transit | The Best of Chicago

Saturday, March 9, 2024 | 7:30pm – There are a lot of bands doing a tribute to the band Chicago, but back in the early ‘90s, when Powerhouse decided to put together their Chicago Transit tribute act, they were the first in the world to do so.  And they remain today as the longest running Chicago tribute band and the only one to carry four lead vocalists, just as the band Chicago does. The band, with its 3 piece horn section, five piece rhythm section and four lead vocalists is able to cover all the Chicago material from the early horn-dominant classics like ‘Make Me Smile’, ’25 or 6 to 4’ and ‘Saturday in the Park’ to the later, softer, keyboard-oriented ballads like ‘If You Leave Me Now’.

 

Here Comes the Mummies

Friday, March 22, 2024 | 7:30 PM – Back by popular demand, Here Come the Mummies is an eight-piece funk-rock band of 5,000 year-old Egyptian Mummies with a one-track mind. Their “Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave” is sure to get you into them (and possibly vice versa). Since their discovery, HCTM has opened for P-Funk, Al Green, and Cheap Trick; rocked Super Bowl Village; become a regular on The Bob and Tom Show; been invited to play Summer Camp Music Fest, Common Ground, Voodoo Fest, Musikfest, Summerfest and Riverbend; and sold tickets by the thousands across large swaths of North America. Some say they were cursed after deflowering a great Pharaoh’s daughter. Others claim they are reincarnated Grammy-Winning studio musicians. Regardless, HCTM’s mysterious personas, cunning song-craft and unrelenting live show will bend your brain and melt your face (Intended for mature audiences only).

The Four Freshmen

Friday, April 12, 2024 | 7:30 PM – One of America’s oldest active vocal groups have been bringing a jazz sensibility to the classic American songbook in their own special way for 75 years. With a tight four-part vocal blend, sort-of-like barbershop, by harmonically similar to jazz, The Four Freshmen deliver a fresh take on every tune from swinin’ up-tempo arrangements that make a quartet feel like a big band to dreamy crooner-style ballads. The Freshmen sound, both classic and sophisticated, yet young and hip, is equally adept at winding back the clock for older audience members as it is at entrancing younger members with its energetic and authentic blast from the past style. Hits include “Graduation Day,” Day by Day” and “It’s a Blue World.”

 

Foghat

Saturday, April 20, 2024  | 7:30 PM – Foghat live performances show why the band is still around and why they will be able to keep on rockin’ as long as they want to play! Their music is timeless, and touring is part of their DNA. Foghat’s live show is as intense as ever with the incredible energy and musicianship that one would expect and hope for from a seasoned band with such a long musical history and they are bringing their fans along for the ride. Foghat fans are everywhere and their audience consists of all ages. From the young who play Guitar Hero III and know all the lyrics to “Slow Ride,” to the Dazed and Confused generation of 30-40 somethings and the ‘boomers’ who bought Foghat’s first vinyl or 8-track. Looking out at the audience and seeing all generations rockin’ to Foghat is very gratifying to the band. Other hits include “Fool for the City” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You.”

 

Toledo Symphony Brass Quintet

Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 7:30 PM – The Toledo Symphony Brass Quintet creates the perfect ceremonial sound: two trumpets, a French horn, trombone, and tuba. Together, they ensure a commanding performance from Sousa to Purcell’s Trumpet Tune.

 

 

 

 

Friday Night Live

October 13, November 10, December 22 – 2023 | January 26, February 9, March 8, April 19, May 3 – 2024: Fridays at 7:30 PM – Looking for something to do on a Friday night? The National Theatre at The Ritz will host an eclectic selection of artists in an unplugged performance environment. Each Friday Night Live will feature two or three regional entertainers that may include a folk singer, a jazz musician, an aspiring singer/songwriter or some other style of artist who is passionate about the opportunity to showcase their talents. Join us for a glass of wine in this casual, intimate setting. These events will take plane in The National Theatre.

 

 

Monday Night at the Movies

Before television, movie complexes and the internet – there were movie theatres. Grand movie palaces were built with great excess including elaborate interior design, conditioned air and the incredible ambiance that became an important part of the movie-going experience. Built in 1928 to capture the huge demand for “talkies,” The Ritz Theatre became “the” place to see movies in Tiffin. Take a Monday evening to enjoy a nostalgic journey down memory lane with the movies that played an integral role in the history of The Ritz.

October 16, 2023 – North by Northwest (1959)

November 20, 2023 – To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

December 18, 2023 – Bells of Saint Mary’s (1945)

January 22, 2024- The Maltese Falcon (1941)

February 19, 2024 – Philadelphia Story (1940)

March 18, 2024 – On the Waterfront (1954)

April 15, 2024 – Gaslight (1944)

May 13, 2024 – A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

The Fostoria Area Historical Society and the St. Wendelin Parish are partnering for a third straight year to host Heritage Day featuring the St. Wendelin Mini-Fest in downtown Fostoria on July 29.

The Fostoria Area Historical Society will be hosting their free car show with classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles, a DJ, and a antique show from 11 AM to 3 PM on Main Street. The Governor’s Choice, Audience Vote, Longest Distance, Oldest Ride, and Best Modern (after 1998) will awarded to participants. Participants can register online here or they can download a paper registration form off here. The registration fee is $10 and goes back to supporting the mission of the Fostoria Area Historical Society.  The society will also be hosting free museum tours throughout the event. 

The St. Wendelin Parish will be hosting their Mini-Fest from 11 AM to 11 PM and serving their famous bratwurst  and beer, along with other food vendors. They will have kids activities, free bouncy houses, a $3,000 grand raffle, and live music from 7 to 11 PM by SugarCreek. Tickets for the grand raffle are $1 each, $5 for 6 or $10 for 14 and be purchased at the St. Wendelin Parish office.

For more information, please visit www.Stwendelin.org/heritage.

Destination Seneca County and the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce have announced the launch date of their Slice of Seneca County Pizza and Geocaching Trail for June 17, 2023. The trail allows residents and visitors to explore Seneca County one slice at a time by supporting six different pizza eateries to redeem a Slice of Seneca County t-shirt or locating 19 pizza-related geocaches to receive a limited-edition and trackable two-piece geocaching coin. Participants can choose to complete each individual portion of the trail or both together.

Destination Seneca County has again partnered with Geocachers Anonymous, a group of geocaching enthusiasts in Northwest Ohio, to launch the Slice of Seneca County Geocaching Trail. In September of 2021, Destination Seneca County launched the first geocaching trail in Northwest Ohio that saw more than 200 geocachers travel more than 20,000 miles to complete it.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) and online clues to help participants find caches, or hidden containers.

Participating locations include Smitty’s Pizza and VC Attica Cameo in Attica, Sauber’s Stumble Inn in Bascom, Domino’s Pizza, Fostoria Pizza Palace, Marco’s Pizza, and Red’s Pizza in Fostoria, Big C’s Smokehouse & Pizza in Green Springs, Left Field in New Riegel, Fat Head’s Family Restaurant in Republic, and Domino’s Pizza, Fort Ball Pizza Palace North and South, Heavenly Pizza, Jac & Do’s Pizza, Marco’s Pizza, Napoli Pizza, Reino’s Pizza & Pasta, and VC Tiffin Cameo in Tiffin.

Passports can be downloaded online and printed out by visiting www.SenecaPizzaTrail.com, or be picked up at the front desk of Hampton Inn of Tiffin starting on June 17, 2023. All passports of the Slice of Seneca County Pizza and Geocaching Trail must be turned in at the Hampton Inn of Tiffin to redeem the geocaching coin and/or t-shirt. Once completed and turned into the Hampton Inn of Tiffin, participants will receive 25% off a room stay that night (contingent on room availability).

The East Green Summer Concert Series has selected “The Soul of Ohio” as its 2023 theme.

Six concerts presented every other Saturday evening at the Frost Kalnow Amphitheater in downtown Tiffin are featuring exclusively Ohio artists who are making an impact locally, regionally and nationally. The free concerts begin at 8 p.m.

The East Green Summer Concert Series full season is sponsored by Reineke Family Dealerships. The series was organized as a nonprofit organization to promote fine arts, the performing arts and music education while engaging the community as determined by the board of directors. The East Green park is managed in conjunction with Tiffin Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, visit www.eastgreenconcerts.com.

Liquid Crystal Project w/Dre Peace

June 17 ▪ 8 PM

The season kicks off June 17 with the East Green’s first-ever celebration of Juneteenth, the U.S. federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Following a ceremony involving community leaders, the concert will feature the Columbus soul-jazz band Liquid Crystal Project, along with vocalist Dre Peace. Dre Peace is a Dayton native who has toured in 48 states, appeared on Broadway as young Simba in “The Lion King,” and performed for two presidents, according to a news release from the East Green Summer Concert Series. From central Ohio, Liquid Crystal Project is known for a soulful sound that fuses jazz and hip hop, having released four albums and developed a loyal international following during their tours of Europe. Together LCP and Dre Peace will perform a variety of music ranging from classics from the 1970s to modern neo-soul hits.

 

 

Honey & Blue

July 1 ▪ 8 PM

Taking the East Green stage July 1 will be the Columbus band Honey and Blue. The duo performs a blend of pop and soul. Fronted by the singer/songwriter duo of Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber, Honey and Blue has a 10-year history of credits that include Good Morning Columbus, NPR radio, Columbus Jazz and Ribs Festival, Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Ann Arbor Summer Festival: Top Of The Park, Stonewall Pride Festival and Columbus Arts Festival. They’ve opened for Postmodern Jukebox, Bettye Lavette, Aloe Blacc and Charlie Hunter, who also served as producer of their most recent album entitled, “Bloom.”

 

  

Regina Sayles Band

July 15 ▪ 8 PM

The series continues on July 15 with Tiffin native Regina Sayles heading an allstar band in a tribute concert to local musician and Sayles’ first bandmate and co-writer Kyle Beidelschies, who passed away in November at the age of 42. The band will play classic rock, country and modern popular songs, and will feature musicians from around the region along with friends of Beidelscheis.

Sayles is based in eastern Pennsylvania, where she has built a career as a dynamic singer/songwriter and most recently, studio producer. Her sound blends pop, jazz, rock and country, and she performs more than 100 shows each year around the Northeast and Midwest. Sayles has opened for female folk pioneer Tret Fure and folk icon Ani DiFranco, and she played as a featured artist on the 2019 Melissa Etheridge Cruise. Her two recent singles “Better With Your Love” and “Rollin’ in the Hay” have earned her national attention, and she has released two full albums and anticipates an EP release in the coming year.

 

Emmaline

July 29 ▪ 8 PM

Jazz singer and songwriter Emmaline is to be on stage July 29. The release said she is one of the fastest-rising stars in the music industry. At 24 years old, she has grown from a social media star while a student at Cincinnati College and Conservatory of Music to starring in the 2023 Hollywood feature film “Sweetwater,” in which she plays 1950s nightclub singer Jeanne Staples and performs alongside legendary artists Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo, Terri Lyne Carrington and Dianne Reeves.

Now based in Nashville, Emmaline is “a throwback in the best of all possible ways,” having been called the modern-day equivalent to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Blossom Dearie. As a solo musician and leader of her own jazz band, Emmaline has opened on tour for Chaka Khan, collaborated with funk icon Bootsy Collins and headlined clubs nationwide. She was featured in Rolling Stone and American Songwriter and has accumulated more than a half-million followers on social media for her videos and EPs of original music.

 

Jared Mahone

August 12 ▪ 8 PM

Columbus-based singer-songwriter Jared Mahone and his band visit the East Green stage on Aug. 12. Known as the forerunner of the Midwest “garage soul” movement, Mahone transformed hometown open mic night into a career as a nationally touring independent musician. His songs and storytelling create a sense of intimacy and meaning. His upbringing in a touring family band fed his musical appetite with the writing of Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Sting, and resulted in his own brand of original pop art. Mahone was recognized in 2013 as the Verizon Indie Icon, appeared as a featured musical guest on Katie Couric’s ABC talk show and was named Best Male Artist in the 2014 International Acoustic Music Awards. In spite of his national notoriety, the release said he dismisses fame-chasing in favor of a troubadour-style career meeting new supporters one handshake at a time.

Da Land Brass Band

August 26 ▪ 8 PM

The season closes on Aug. 26 with Da Land Brass Band, Cleveland’s modern brass band collective known for their energy and ability to “get the party started.” Formed in 2016, Da Land features a modern take on New Orleans street bands with a high-energy funk sound, and the band is bridging the gap between musical tradition and and a vision for the future. Boasting original tunes, funky adaptations of classic songs and true roots New Orleans music, Da Land members dedicate much of their time to educational outreach programs that teach children the joy of performance and showmanship through practical improvisation and live music master classes. The band is made up of some of Cleveland’s best jazz musicians, including alumni of Heidelberg University.

The Tiffin Flea Market, sponsored by the Seneca Junior Fair Foundation, will begin its 45th year of operation at the Seneca County Fairgrounds located at 100 Hopewell Avenue in Tiffin, OH this weekend. The Tiffin Flea Market was established in 1978 and has gained the awesome recognition and reputation as being the largest show in Northwest Ohio. People come from far and near to visit this very successful flea market. Market goers can expect anywhere from 250 to 400 dealers per show and dealers can expect anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 customers to walk through the gates! 

The Tiffin Flea Market will be open on Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm and Sundays 9 am to 3 pm during market weekends and will take place rain or shine! Explore everything the Tiffin Flea Market has to offer as you wander through the main strip of the fairgrounds and check out all the dealers inside buildings as well. The Seneca County Fairgrounds is a handicap accessible venue and features shaded areas, easy walking paths, and a bustling atmosphere full of excitement and energy that can be enjoyed by all! There is free admission and parking, great food available, and hidden treasures just waiting to be found. Make an adventure of exploring the largest flea market in Northwest Ohio, the Tiffin Flea Market! 

 2023 Market Dates: 

• April 29-30
• May 20-21
• June 10-11
• July 1-2
• August 19-20
• September 16-17
• October 7-8

Flea to Seneca County this 2023 season and explore everything that’s waiting for you! 

The Downtown Tiffin community is excited to announce the return of the popular Barking Lot Party on May 18, 2023. The event will take place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the parking lots behind the Laird Building, Croghan Colonial Bank, and City Lot 7.  The 3^rd Thursday event will feature live music, local food vendors, and activities for the entire family, including pet friendly specials and giveaways from multiple local businesses.

“Our Third Thursdays are always popular events.  On the next one, we welcome our furry friends to Downtown Tiffin,” said Mayor Dawn Iannontuono.

City Lot #7 will host food trucks, community vendors and No Eileen DJ, Paul Grover.  The lot will be closed off from parking, although all other city lots will be open for public parking.  The event is free and open to all ages.  Disclaimer: If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs, children or strangers, please do not bring them to the event. All dogs must be kept on a leash.

The 3rd Thursday series will continue throughout the summer, with events taking place each month.

3rd Thursdays are sponsored by UIS Insurance & Investments, Reineke Family Dealerships and Destination Seneca County. 

For more information about the Barking Lot Party and the 3rd Thursday series, visit www.downtowntiffin.org/events or on Facebook here.  Event chaired by Tyler Shuff. 

The remaining Third Thursday Series will consist of:

Fête de la Musique | June 15 – Originated in France, Fête de la Musique (also known as “Music Day”) is a celebration of music where people take to the streets to perform live music. Community members and their families are encouraged to walk around Downtown Tiffin and enjoy the music while shopping and supporting our local retailers and eateries from 5 to 7 pm.

At 7 pm everyone is invited to the East Green Amphitheatre to enjoy more live music. The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library will be hosting a ‘make your own instrument’ workshop from 2 – 4 pm and the Tiffin Community Foundation will offer an opportunity for children to participate in making music in Cherry Alley as part of the activities for the evening.

Christmas in July | July 20 – Enjoy the sites, sounds, and smells of the holiday season in downtown Tiffin while enjoying the summer weather with our Christmas in July Third Thursday event. City Lot #7 will feature live music from Paul Grover, “No Eileen”, and Santa’s Heroic Helpers! You’ll have the chance to check out a police vehicle, fire engine, and more! It is also rumored that Buddy the Elf may be making an appearance.

Taste of Downtown Tiffin | August 18 – Enjoy specialty food items from local restaurants where tickets will be sold for $1 each. Also be sure to stay for the Thursday Night Tunes concert at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater.

Seneca County Young professionals’ Downtown Tiffin Pizza Party | September 21 – Bring the whole family to enjoy a taste of Tiffin and Seneca County! The event will take place throughout Downtown Tiffin. Attendees can purchase $2 tickets that can be redeemed for a pizza from any vendor. Half of each ticket sold will go toward charity. 

Halloween Trick-or-Treat | October 20 – Bring the kids for the annual downtown trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 pm. Then grab your friends for an early Halloween fun night out. Shop, grab a drink… and maybe dinner and dessert too!

Join us for a unique experience at Seneca Caverns – Ohio’s Greatest Natural Underground Adventure as they kick off their 2023 season on Saturday, May 6! Their hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday with the last cave tour departing at 4:00 pm. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day they are open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm with the last cave tour departing at 6:00 pm. Seneca Caverns is located at 15248 East Township Road 178 right outside of Bellevue, Ohio.

Get a peek at what is under the ground that we walk on every day. Walk the natural stone steps and pathways that will lead you through seven rooms or levels. Feel the temperature cool as you progress into the cavern. The largest room is 250 feet in length. At the lowest level, 110 feet below the surface, see Ole’ Mist’ry River; the crystal-clear flowing stream which is part of the vast groundwater system underlying the surrounding region. You will be amazed as you enjoy this very unique tour!

Seneca Caverns has been retained close to its original, natural, wild state, this subterranean tour is truly a unique and educational experience you will always remember.

After the tour, try your hand at mining just like they did in frontier days at the Seneca Mining Company. This “gem” is a fully operational sluice with flowing water. Here you can pan for gemstones, minerals, crystals, arrowheads, and fossils.

Seneca Caverns may be the only cave of its kind open for public visitation. Seneca Caverns is a Registered Natural Landmark by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Seneca Caverns is open from May through October, rain or shine. Visit www.SenecaCavernsOhio.com to plan your underground adventure!

The Seneca County Museum is proud to announce the start of its third year of the Museum Speaker Series, beginning Thursday, April 27th at 7:00 pm. The free event, with donations welcome, will feature Museum Director Theresa Sullivan presenting, “Let’s Celebrate the Cronise Sisters!”

Doors open at the museum, 28 Clay St., at 6:30 pm.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Nettie and Florence Cronise becoming the first and second female attorneys, respectively, in the State of Ohio. This milestone was achieved nearly 50 years before women were nationally given the right to vote. Furthermore, 2023 marks the 180th anniversary of Nettie’s birth and the 100th anniversary of her death, making it a fitting time to learn more about these pioneering sisters.

In 1873, the Cronise sisters broke new ground by becoming the first women admitted to the Ohio Bar. At that time, Ohio laws did not provide for the admission of women attorneys. Nettie applied to the district court on April 4th, 1873, and despite vigorous opposition, leading local attorneys, including William Harvey Gibson and George Seney, supported her application. Six months later, Florence, Nettie’s younger sister, was admitted. Together, the sisters opened the first female-owned law practice in Ohio, N. & F. Cronise.

Sullivan’s program promises to shed more light on the fascinating lives of these two trailblazing women, who defied societal norms and paved the way for generations of women lawyers to come.

For more information, please contact the Seneca County Museum at (419) 447-5955 or visit their website at www.senecacountymuseum.com.

Tiffin Parks & Recreation is excited to announce that Thursday Night Tunes, sponsored by Croghan Colonial Bank,  will return for Summer 2023!  They have a full line-up of great artists who will be taking the stage every Thursday night starting in June and running through September.

Thursday Night Tunes are free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend! Grab a chair or blanket to sit on, a DORA to drink, and bring the whole family to enjoy Thursday Nights in the beautiful Downtown Tiffin. All Thursday Night Tunes will be held at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater East Green at 155 East Market Street in Tiffin and will begin at 7pm. Check out the full schedule below!  

June 22nd, 7 to 9pm: Bigfoot’s Brother

June 29th, 7 to 9pm: Chad Solo

July 6th, 7 to 9pm: The Tuesday Crowd

July 13th, 7 to 9pm: No Eileen

July 20th, 7 to 9pm: The Eric Sowers Band

July 27th, 7 to 9PM: Mike Risner Music

August 3rd, 7 to 9PM: Flattop Republic

August 10th, 7 to 9PM: Maria Diem

August 17th, 7 to 9PM: Band Bash

See you there!  

The Tiffin Glass Collectors Club is pleased to announce that they will host the 36th Artistry in American Glass Show and Sale. The show will take place at the Tiffin Middle School (103 Shepherd Drive, Tiffin, OH 44883) on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 10AM to 5PM and Sunday, June 18, 2023 from 10AM to 3PM. The popular glass show has been a longstanding tradition.

Glass dealers from several states will join local and area dealers at this popular glass show that attracts collectors from all over the United States. The fine tableware and decorative ware that was produced at the Tiffin Glass factory from 1892 to 1980 will be offered for sale along with other quality glassware from fellow dealers.

Admission to the show will be $5.00. The show is in a handicapped accessible facility with free parking. Lunch and snacks are available for purchase and door prizes will be awarded throughout the show.

Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Tiffin Glass Museum & Shoppe (25 – 27 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH 44883) where over a thousand pieces of glassware and memorabilia items from the old factory are displayed. The retail shop offers Tiffin glass and other fine glassware for sale. Extended hours of 11AM to 5PM will be observed during the weekend.

About the Tiffin Glass Museum & Shoppe

The Tiffin Glass Museum honors the heritage established by the men and women of Tiffin’s “Glass House”. Through preservation and education, the museum safe-guards glassware made by the artisans from the factory’s nearly hundred-year history. Museum preservation work includes acquiring memorabilia and historical documents from the factory’s beginnings in 1889 until its closing in 1984. Gift Shoppe features products from the original Tiffin Glass Factory where beautiful stemware, tableware and decorative ware was produced from 1889 to 1980. In addition to the large selection of Tiffin Glass, other fine glassware, collectibles, and books are offered for sale in the multi-dealer cabinets.

Come downtown for the first Third Thursday of 2023, The Artist Stroll! On April 20th from 5 to 8 pm you are invited to visit, shop, and support local makers, musicians, and artists in our community! Each stop features an artist and a unique door prize for you to enter with a chance to win that night! From steampunk jewelry makers, to folded books, or live paintings, expect to see a lot of very inspiring and incredible work.

City Lot #7 will feature No Eileen DJ, Paul Grover and the Tijuana Taco Food Truck! City Lot #5 will have High Voltage Coffee Truck! 2023 Third Thursday’s are sponsored by UIS Insurance & Investments, Reineke Family Dealerships, and Destination Seneca County.

Featured Stops: Cabin Creations Art Supplies, The Community Kitchen, Clover Club, Bailiwicks Coffee Company, The Deli Cafe at Frost Village, FroZone, Jolly’s, Kesler & Co., The Laird Arcade Brewery, Level Up, Pan Yan Bookstore, Reclaim It, Reino’s Pizza & Pasta, The Renaissance of Tiffin, Rose & Co. Mercantile, Simply Susan’s, The Social Cigar, Soul Boutique, SSG Ink, Tiffin Art Guild and Gallery, Tom Rodgers Flowers, and Washington Street Outfitters.

The remaining Third Thursday Series will consist of:

Barking Lot Party | May 18 – Enjoy a pet friendly evening  in downtown Tiffin! Take a walk through downtown for pet friendly specials at local businesses. There will be music, giveaways, and fun throughout all of downtown!

Fête de la Musique | June 15 – Originated in France, Fête de la Musique (also known as “Music Day”) is a celebration of music where people take to the streets to perform live music. Community members and their families are encouraged to walk around Downtown Tiffin and enjoy the music while shopping and supporting our local retailers and eateries from 5 to 7 pm.

At 7 pm everyone is invited to the East Green Amphitheatre to enjoy more live music. The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library will be hosting a ‘make your own instrument’ workshop from 2 – 4 pm and the Tiffin Community Foundation will offer an opportunity for children to participate in making music in Cherry Alley as part of the activities for the evening.

Christmas in July | July 20 – Enjoy the sites, sounds, and smells of the holiday season in downtown Tiffin while enjoying the summer weather with our Christmas in July Third Thursday event. City Lot #7 will feature live music from Paul Grover, “No Eileen”, and Santa’s Heroic Helpers! You’ll have the chance to check out a police vehicle, fire engine, and more! It is also rumored that Buddy the Elf may be making an appearance.

Taste of Downtown Tiffin | August 18 – Enjoy specialty food items from local restaurants where tickets will be sold for $1 each. Also be sure to stay for the Thursday Night Tunes concert at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater.

Seneca County Young professionals’ Downtown Tiffin Pizza Party | September 21 – Bring the whole family to enjoy a taste of Tiffin and Seneca County! The event will take place throughout Downtown Tiffin. Attendees can purchase $2 tickets that can be redeemed for a pizza from any vendor. Half of each ticket sold will go toward charity. 

Halloween Trick-or-Treat | October 20 – Bring the kids for the annual downtown trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 pm. Then grab your friends for an early Halloween fun night out. Shop, grab a drink… and maybe dinner and dessert too!

Homegrown Fun & Flavor Await You

Farmers Markets for 2023 have been announced and this year features more vendors, fresh themes, and the access to local goods that you love and rely on! Both the Fostoria Farmers Market and the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market are excited to welcome the community for the 2023 Market Season! Continue reading to see all the market dates and mark your calendars!

Fostoria Farmers Market

Exciting news! In addition to the Saturday Fostoria Farmers’ & Artisans’ Markets, they now have three Thursday late afternoon/evening markets in 2023!

Mark your calendars and plan to join them on Main Street from North Street to Center Street and the area of East North Street to the first alley, along with The Parkette.   Check back throughout the season to see what special activities will be happening at each market!

Thursday, May 4, 4 to 8 PM, “Celebrating Moms & Kids”, sponsored by Geary Family YMCA

Saturday, May 20, 9 AM to 1 PM, “Let’s Go Gardening”, sponsored by Don Cochran, Realtor – Dye Real Estate & Land Company

Saturday, June 17, 9 AM to 1 PM, “Celebrating Dads & Kids”, sponsored by Clouse Construction Corp.

Saturday, July 15, 9 AM to 1 PM, “Good Old Summertime”, sponsored by Great Lakes ACE Hardware

Thursday, August 3, 4 to 8 PM, “Harvest Happenings”, sponsored by Mennel

Saturday, August 19, 9 AM to 1 PM, “Healthy Living”, sponsored by ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital

Thursday, September 7, 2023, 4 to 8 PM, “Seek Seneca County”, sponsored by Destination Seneca County

Saturday, September 16, 9 AM to 1 PM, “Creative Arts & Crafts”, sponsored by Fostoria Community Arts Council

For more information, including the Market Rules and Vendor Application, see www.fostoriaohio.org/fostoria-farmers-market. See what vendors are participating by following Fostoria Farmers’ Market on Facebook.

Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market

The Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market will take place on Madison Street in between South Washington and Jefferson Streets this year. Some markets feature special themes which offer even more fun for all! Sutton Bank is the proud sponsor of the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market and is excited to bring another season full of local products. Dates and themes include:

May Markets

• Saturday, May 20, 9 AM to 1 PM – Teacher Appreciation
• Saturday, May 27, 9 AM to 1 PM – Community Garden Planting 

June Markets

• Saturday, June 3, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, June 10, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, June 17, 9 AM to 1 PM – Lake Life / Happy Father’s Day
• Saturday, June 24, 9 AM to 1 PM 

July Markets

• Saturday, July 1, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, July 8, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, July 15, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, July 22, 9 AM to 1 PM – Christmas in July
• Saturday, July 29, 9 AM to 1 PM 

August Markets

• Saturday, August 5, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, August 12, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, August 19, 9 AM to 1 PM – Sunflower Market
• Saturday, August 26, 9 AM to 1 PM 

September Markets 

• Saturday, September 2, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, September 9, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, September 16, 9 AM to 1 PM – Heritage Festival
• Saturday, September 23, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Saturday, September 30, 9 AM to 1 PM 

October Markets

• Saturday, October 7, 9 AM – 1 PM 
• Saturday, October 14, 9 AM to 1 PM 
• Friday, October 21 (Time TBA) / Saturday, October 22, 9 AM – 1 PM – Harry Potter
• Saturday, October 28, 9 AM to 1 PM – Trick-or-Treat

The Market will take place every Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM and will feature vendors offering local produce, hand crafted goods, and local businesses and organizations! During the third weekend of each month, JAM’s Monthly Markets, located at 145 Madison Street, will still be open and operating during the Farmers Market. You can get to them by taking Main Street to Jefferson Street. Just another opportunity to spend some quality time in downtown Tiffin and support our community! For more information about the market and to stay up to date on upcoming announcements, follow the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe on their website at www.tiffinsenecafarmersmarket.com. If you’d like to join the market as a vendor, please email manager@sccommonground.org.

Bloomville Development Group Enhancement Committee Farmers Market

Check out the Bloomville Development Group Enhancement Committee Farmers Market to access fresh and local goods right in your own backyard! 

Come see what all of their local vendors have to offer. Happening on Sunday, May 7th and then the second Sunday of the month June – September from 11am-2pm. Located on Liberty Street and downtown Bloomville.

If you make, bake, create, or grow items and you’d like to be one of their vendors please contact bdg.enhancement@gmail.com or 419-618-2621.

Market Dates: 

• Sunday, May 7
• Sunday, June 11
• Sunday, July 9
• Sunday, August 13
• Sunday, September 10

Hundreds of residents and visitors enjoyed the weekend exploring their own backyards for the first annual Be a Tourist in Your Own Town event. Thank you to all of our experiences and attractions for their participation and support of this event!

Spring is officially here, and it will soon be time again for movies under the stars. The Tiffin Drive-In Theater will be opening its gates for the 2023 season on Friday, March 31st, with the release of the Dungeons & Dragons by Paramount Pictures. This will mark the 74th year for the theater, which opened in June of 1949.

The theater has undergone a two-year renovation, beginning with two new drive-in screens in 2020, and a total rebuild of the theater’s concession stand and projection facility in 2021. The 50s retro style concession stand was dubbed the Moonlite Diner after the new facility opened in April of 2022.

The building also houses the movie projection system, which consists of two state-of-the-art laser projectors, including Screen 1’s unit, which is the newest, brightest, sharpest, most powerful laser cinema projector in the world.

“The movie presentation on our drive-in screens is the best in business,” said owner Michael Cole. “And before and during the show , we have a wide menu of quality foods and refreshments, served to you by a great crew of local kids whom we are very proud of.”

The theater continuously strives to improve the experience. An example this season is the addition of a new TurboChef pizza oven. It will allow the theater to offer quality made-to-order pizzas prepared onsite, and bake them in only three minutes.

“Speed is so important to us on a busy night,” Cole said. “The new combo of quality ingredients and the new oven really improves our pizza game.”

Plans are also underway to erect a new children’s playground on the property. Families will be able to bring their kids and let them run off steam before the show at dusk. The theater projects completion of the project sometime in the fall.

The Tiffin Drive-In Theater is a two-screen drive-in, with double features on each screen every show. The sound is delivered by FM radio signal, which you can tune in on your car radio or portable radio.

More information about opening weekend will be announced on the theater’s Facebook page, and on their website at www.tiffindriveintheater.com. You can purchase advance tickets on the website, or at the box office the evening of the show.

Through April and part of May, the theater will be open on Friday and Saturday only. Beginning on Memorial Day weekend, it will be open Fridays through Tuesdays. Shows through April start at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial Day weekend will also mark the season opening of the Moonlite Diner’s daytime schedule, which will feature a new daytime menu of melts and other diner favorites.

Destination Seneca County has announced that Seneca County had a record high in lodging tax collections in 2022, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by 5.2%. The lodging tax collection for 2022 was $160,854.72 compared to the previous high of $152,951.62.

Lodging taxes are charged to travelers when they book accommodations in hotels and motels throughout the county. These taxes serve as the funding source for Destination Seneca County, with the money being used to promote the community.

“Our team is thrilled to see the consistent growth of lodging tax dollars in our community, with four of the last five quarters exceeding previous record highs in terms of lodging collections. I have always been a strong believer that it takes everyone working together to create the environment that makes others want to live, work, play, and visit here. The numbers speak for themselves and we’re looking forward to working with our partners to continue the growth that we saw last year,” said Executive Director Bryce Riggs.

“Seneca County is home to so many opportunities and experiences, this positive trend is just one indicator of the great things that are happening in our community and a promising sign for the future,” said Seneca County Commission President Anthony Paradiso.

The Renaissance of Tiffin will be hosting Tiffin’s first Spirits of Ohio tasting on February 4th from 3 to 5 PM.  

Guests will have an opportunity to sample different spirits from four Ohio distilleries:  Western Reserve Distillers (Lakewood), Cleveland Whiskey, Iron Vault Distillery (Galion), and Everwild Spirits (Sandusky).   Representatives from each distillery will be present to share information about their distillery and types of spirits.

Tickets are available to anyone 21 years of age or older at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/oh–tiffin/spirits-of-ohio/. The $40 ticket includes tasting of all spirits provided and an entrance to win raffle prizes.  Single tastings will also be available for $5 “a la carte” samples.

If you’re looking for a hidden gem nestled in downtown Tiffin, look no further than the Tiffin Glass Museum and Shoppe, that will be celebrating their 25th anniversary this year! The museum and shoppe, located at 25-27 S. Washington Street, is set to reopen their doors for 2023 on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12 PM to 4 PM. 

New this year will be four additional cases that will include stemware, 1970’s glass, and special glassware that will be rotated throughout the course of the year. The shoppe will also be featuring monthly specials with the first special being 10% off candle holders in the month of February. The museum and shoppe will have a ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 2, to celebrate their anniversary, but will also be planning special events throughout the year that you are invited to take part in! 

The Tiffin Glass Museum opened in November of 1998 and now displays more than 1000 pieces of Tiffin Glass. The exhibit presents examples of the glassware produced at the Tiffin factory from its beginning in 1889 through 1980. Visitors come from across the world to see the glassware, and in the past year, they had more than 1,400 visitors from 32 states and six foreign countries.

The Tiffin Glass Museum honors the heritage of the original workers in Tiffin’s Glass House. With preservation and education, they focus on maintaining a collection of historic glassware from the factory’s almost one hundred year history. The museum focuses on preservation work, including acquiring glass, historical documents, and memorabilia from the Tiffin Glass Company and all its iterations. 

In July 1888, A.J. Beatty & Sons glass factory in Steubenville announced it would be relocating to Tiffin. The city of Tiffin offered five years of natural gas, $35,000 in cash, and land valued at $15,000. In September 1888, construction of a three-furnace glass factory at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Vine Street began. Production continued until January 1, 1892, when A.J. Beatty & Sons merged with the United States Glass Company and the Tiffin factory became one of nineteen factories under the U.S. Glass name.  

Check Out These Other Glass Destinations to Visit

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The Tiffin factory—Factory R—was destroyed by a fire barely two years later, and the factory was rebuilt. After changing hands a few times, the factory shut down on May 1, 1980. 

Volunteer Paul Coffman said the museum is definitely a “can’t miss” spot in the community due to the variety of pieces made. 

“The variety of glass made comes from all genres, with a concentration in stemware,” he said. “People don’t realize how big the factory was.”

The glass factory peaked in the 1920s, Coffman said, in terms of production. 

“900 employees were making about 100,000 handblown pieces a week,” he said. 

To identify a piece of Tiffin Glass, one can find various paper labels that were used intermittently through the 1970s, along with an acid stamp. 

Volunteer Nancy Coffman said that when people get through to the end of the tour, they realize the draw of the museum. 

“It’s a hidden gem in our community,” she said. 

 Paul Coffman said the key to telling the story of Tiffin Glass was focusing on the people. 

“The hidden gems are the stories of the people who made them,” he said. 

In addition to the museum, the gift shoppe features products from the original glass factory, along with other glass collections, collectibles, and books available for purchase. Donations of glassware, time, and memorabilia are welcome. They also greatly appreciate monetary donations. Building is handicapped accessible with parking in the rear. Group tours are also available.

For more information, call 419-448-0200, visit their website or Facebook page.

Arlington Acres has announced that they have been selected as a 2023 ­­winner of The Knot Best of Weddings and 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®, both accolades representing the highest-and most-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot and Wedding Wire.

To determine the winners, The Knot & Wedding Wire analyzed millions of its user reviews across various vendor categories—planners, venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more—to find the highest-rated vendors of the year. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that engaged couples should consider booking for their own unique weddings.

Wedding professionals who win The Knot Best of Weddings WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Awards are members of WeddingPro, a leading B2B wedding brand. As the largest marketplace and community for wedding professionals, WeddingPro connects businesses with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors who are planning weddings on The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as with hundreds of thousands of pros in the industry.

Arlington Acres is a charming, historic bank barn set on a working modern farm just outside of Tiffin, Ohio. The farm grows corn, soybeans, wheat, pumpkins, and sunflowers. The old barn offers a timeless space full of beautiful, hand cut barn beams, and romantic lighting that can be set up for a ceremony or a reception.

Brand NEW in 2023 is the white pavilion attached to the barn that is bright and modern, perfectly combining sleek white lines to the old-world charm of the original barn. Arlington Acres can accommodate weddings with guests up to 250. The lower level of the barn is full of modern amenities needed to prepare for your special day, including our modern bridal suite, groom room, bathrooms, and catering prep space. Outside of the barn there is a lush, spacious lawn next to an old silo. The silo and the barn are the perfect backdrop for a ceremony, yard games or a reception on the lawn. Find Arlington Acres online at www.arlingtonacresoh.com and follow along on social media: Facebook.com/arlingtonacresoh and @arlingtonacresoh on Instagram, Tik Tok and Pinterest.

For more information about The Knot Best of Weddings and this year’s winners, please visit https://www.theknot.com/vendors/best-of-weddings. To learn more about the Couples’ Choice Awards®, visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.

Destination Seneca County, in partnership with the Tiffin Municipal Arts Commission (TMAC), the Fostoria Community Arts Council (FCAC), and Ballreich’s Potato Chips, announced the launch of the first annual Sights of Seneca County Official Chip Contest earlier this year. Seventeen submissions were received from the Seneca County community and voting for the Sights of Seneca County Official Chip Contest is now open.

Voting is open now until December 12, 2022. Community members will vote on their favorite design and favorite flavor. The top design choice and top flavor selection with the most votes will be combined to become the official chip of Seneca County. Community members can vote for their favorite design and flavor at www.ChipVote.com.

The winner of the Sights of Seneca County Official Chip Contest will be announced to the public the week of December 19, 2022, with all participants made aware prior to that announcement. The winner of the official chip contest will receive a $500 cash reward sponsored by the Tiffin Municipal Arts Commission and the Fostoria Community Arts Council.

The community is encouraged to share their favorite design via social media and word of mouth to help promote voting. The Sights of Seneca County Official Chip Contest chips will be available for sale at participating locations and online. A portion of the proceeds from purchased bags will go back to the Tiffin Municipal Arts Commission and the Fostoria Community Arts Council to support arts in the Seneca County community.

Questions regarding the contest can be directed to Marisa Stephens, mstephens@destinationsenecacounty.org, or can be answered by calling the Destination Seneca County office at 567-220-6387.

The Seneca County Young Professionals have announced that the 2022 Downtown Tiffin Pizza Party will take place on Thursday, September 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, as part of Downtown Tiffin’s Third Thursday Series.

Guests can stroll through the largest pizza party ever in Downtown Tiffin and redeem $2 tickets for a pizza-related item from participating vendors. Half of each ticket will go to The Community Kitchen Project. While guests are downtown, they can stop by a drink/DORA vendor for a beverage to-go.

This year’s event will include a record high of 15 participants: Clover Club, Domino’s Pizza, The Elks Lodge #94, The Empire, Fort Ball Pizza Palace, FroZone Tiffin, Heavenly Pizza, Jac & Do’s, Jolly’s, JT’s Bagel Bar, Marco’s Pizza, Napoli Pizza, Reino’s Pizza & Pasta, Simply Susan’s, and The VC Tiffin Cameo.

There will be live music with No Eileen from 5:00 to 7:30 PM in City Lot #7 sponsored by Bailiwicks Coffee Company, JT’s Bagel Bar, Simply Susan’s, and Tom Rodgers Flowers. Beth Mattia from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in City Lot #5, and Thursday Night Tunes featuring Poobah from 7:30 to 9:00 PM at East Green Amphitheater.

The remainder of the Downtown Tiffin Third Thursday lineup includes: 

Halloween Trick-or-Treat | October 20 – Bring the kids for the annual downtown trick-or-treat from 3:30-5:00. Then grab your friends for an early Halloween fun night out. Shop, grab a drink… and maybe dinner and dessert too!

Copper Mare Ranch, located at 6090 N. SR 53 right outside of Tiffin, is set to host their first rodeo on July 23 that will bring up to 75 contestants from across the country that ride in the International Professional Rodeo Circuit. Gates will open at 4 PM and presale tickets are $15 and free admission to kids ages 5 and younger. To purchase presale tickets, click here. Tickets at the gate are $20. Events for the evening include bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, team roping, and steer wrestling.

Copper Mare’s Rocket Donkey Diner, featuring Meatwagon BBQ, will also be providing a variety of options for food throughout the night.

The ranch sits on the family farm just north of Fort Seneca. Copper Mare Ranch is an equine event center that offers three levels of boarding, riding and rodeo-style clinics and open rides. The new 20,000-square-foot indoor arena and 37,000-square-foot lighted outdoor area.

Horses boarded at the state-of-the-art facility have access to large stalls, professional feeding plans, daily turnout, as well as indoor and outdoor wash bays. Owners of horses boarded at Copper Mare Ranch will be invited to take advantage of a heated and air-conditioned rider’s lounge, and no grounds fees for shows. The ranch also has a veterinary tech on site with support from the owners who live on the grounds.

The Owner, Grant Fatzinger, has an extensive 15-year rodeo background that ranges from bull and bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, and two-man ranch sorting. Heather Clouse is the Director of Operations. She is a registered veterinary technician with more than 15 years’ experience in the equine industry.

Join us in Downtown Tiffin for the Sweet Summertime Third Thursday on July 21. Sweet treats and sweet deals will be available all evening long at businesses in Downtown Tiffin!

Sweet Summertime kicks off at 4 pm. There will be food trucks in City Lot 5 and City Lot 7 beginning at 5 pm, along with music from No Eileen in City Lot 7. The Tiffin Municipal Arts Commission will set up on Court Street for the Court Street Market beginning at 5 pm for a collaboration of artist, crafters, makers, and handmade goods. The Downtown Car Cruise begins at 5 pm. Live music starts at the East Green Amphitheater at 7 pm with the Cherry Bombs. The splash pad will be open from noon to 9 pm and JAM’s Market will be open for the weekend at 145 Madison Street. JAM’s Market brings together small businesses, boutique vendors, artists and crafters for a unique shopping experience.

This event is sponsored by Reineke Family Dealerships and UIS Insurance & Investments.

The remaining Third Thursday Series will consist of:

Taste of Tiffin | August 18 – Food and drink vendors will be set-up in the parking lot between the splash pad and the library.  Most will be selling food items for $1. Many downtown retailers and restaurants will be offering specials that night as well.

Seneca County Young professionals’ Downtown Tiffin Pizza Party | September 15 – Bring the whole family to enjoy a taste of Tiffin and Seneca County! The event will take place throughout Downtown Tiffin. Attendees can purchase $1 tickets that can be redeemed for a pizza from any vendor. Half of each ticket sold will go toward charity. 

Halloween Trick-or-Treat | October 20 – Bring the kids for the annual downtown trick-or-treat from 3:30-5:00. Then grab your friends for an early Halloween fun night out. Shop, grab a drink… and maybe dinner and dessert too!

It is a holiday weekend and what better way to spend it than at the farmers market? This weekend the farmers market will have the fan favorite market bingo, potato sack races, and bean bag toss games!  Some vendors will also have 4th of July themed booths!

Market manager, Kirsten Ameling, said, “The market will be a great place to have patriotic fun this weekend!” The market will also have face painting this week done by Christie Boehler. Live music will be provided by Mark Posler.

This week vendors include: Baked by Bells, Bella Cuisine, Clay Hill Organic, Creative Pottery, Freeze Dried Ohio, Goat Milk Junction, Hope’s Landing, I Love Cupcakes, LB’s Eclectic Eats, Me and the Boys, Miss Cindy’s Cookies, Raizen Girls Cookies, Riehm Produce Farm, Sacred Soil Farm, Sweets on EDG, St. Josephs, Tiffin Elks Foundation, Tiffin Lions Cub, Windy Hill Acres, and Windy Hill Berries.

The Farmers Market would not be possible without their sponsor Sutton Bank.

Destination Seneca County has announced that Seneca County has been selected to host the 2023 Ohio Geoclash & Festival that will take place from May 31 through June 4 throughout the community, with the main event taking place at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater at the East Green in Downtown Tiffin.

Representatives from Destination Seneca County attended the 2022 Ohio Geoclash & Festival hosted in Trumbull County on June 11 where Ian Lengel, President of the Ohio Geocaching Association, officially announced Seneca County as the 2023 host community.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt that uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) and online clues to help participants find caches, or hidden containers. Destination Seneca County, in partnership with Geocachers Anonymous, launched the only geocaching trail in Northwest Ohio in September of 2021. Since the launch of the trail, more than 153 geocachers have completed the trail and have traveled more than 17,712 miles to Seneca County to do so. Destination Seneca County is currently working on a new interactive geocaching trail that will feature a new theme, caches, and locations.

Historically, the Ohio Geoclash & Festival draws in more than 500 geocachers into the host community throughout the week. The week prior to the festival the planning committee will place geocaches in the community that will allow geocachers the opportunity to explore Seneca County.

Ian Lengel said, “We’re looking forward to being in Seneca County for next year’s Geoclash & Festival. We choose Seneca County to be the first community in Northwest Ohio to host the festival because of the growth of geocaching in the area with the launch of the new trail in 2021. We host the festival to allow geocachers the opportunity to experience different areas of Ohio and we know they’ll support many of the small businesses through the duration of the festival.”

Seneca County Commission President Anthony Paradiso was excited about the announcement, “Seneca County is thrilled to be the host community for the 2023 Ohio Geoclash & Festival, and we look forward to welcoming them!”

A local tradition returns with the 2022 Summer Walk in Downtown Tiffin. The annual event will take place on June 25 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Walkers can collect summer-themed treats at 20 participating locations and explore everything Downtown Tiffin has to offer. Tickets are limited and are available at Simply Susan’s, 70 S. Washington St. (cash or check only). At ticket purchase, walkers will receive a ticket with map and a bag. Tickets can also be purchased online here.

The newly renovated Tiffin Drive-In Theater will celebrate its Grand Re-Opening Weekend over the Memorial Day holiday weekend of Friday, May 27th through Sunday, May 29th. 

The theater opened its 2022 season on April 8 after a year-and-a-half of major design, construction, and expansion to the facility. The Grand Re-Opening Weekend will serve as the new facility’s official ‘Hello’ to the community. It will also launch the theater’s Moonlite Diner daytime ice cream diner and grill and roll the theater into the summer blockbuster phase of the drive-in season.

The weekend will kick off with a ribbon-cutting event hosted by the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors on Friday at 4 pm. Gates will open for Friday’s show at 6 pm. The movie centerpiece of the weekend is the highly anticipated premiere of the all-American action-adventure Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise.  

“We’ve redesigned, rebuilt, rebranded, and reimagined the entire theater,” said new owner Michael Cole. “We wanted to carry on the tradition of the theater but create a unique facility that would allow us to take some new approaches to how to do a drive-in theater.”

The facility’s new food diner hearkens back to a 1950s eatery, complete with checkerboard floor and shiny metallic trim. Yet the cinematic presentation is generated by some of the latest and best equipment in the world.

“I think of our theater as a blast from the past with a state-of-the-art twist,” Cold said.

The prime example of this is the theater’s Screen 1 projector, the Barco Sp4k 55 laser cinema projector. The unit is the newest, brightest, sharpest, most powerful laser cinema projector in the world. And the Tiffin Drive-In Theater is the only theater in the world who has it.

“It’s really a hoot that the most powerful cinema projector in the world is right here in our little drive-in in Tiffin, Ohio!” Cole said. “But it really is true. You won’t find a better picture on any drive-in theater screen anywhere. The image it puts on that giant screen is spectacular. It’s just unbelievably sharp. The brightness gives the picture a tremendously rich color palette, and the audiences love it.”

In addition to the new building and new equipment, the facility is surrounded by a social plaza with picnic tables where customers can dine and mingle before and during the shows. The theater’s lot was also expanded by 45 parking spots to accommodate larger crowds. The drive-in’s two screens were newly rebuilt back in October of 2020, the first phase of the long-term project.

The weekend will mark the opening of the theater’s diner into a newly expanded daytime ice cream and grill eatery, introducing its new name, The Moonlite Diner. New daytime ice cream treats, and snacks will complement the existing drive-in food fare of burgers, hot dogs, pizza, pretzels, french fries, ribbon fries, popcorn, and other items of the movie-time menu. Games like cornhole and ladder golf will be available for patrons to play at The Moonlite Diner, and before the drive-in movies as well. 

“The Moonlite Diner will make the Tiffin Drive-In Theater a place of good food and entertainment both day and night,” Cole said.

Prizes such as carload passes will be raffled to early-arriving movie-goers all three nights. A pre-show radio broadcast called “Tiffin Drive-in Radio” will be broadcast live over FM 87.9. The broadcast will carry music, announcements, upcoming shows, interviews, trivia, and the prize drawings before each show.

“We are building a unique atmosphere of good-natured fun and entertainment at the theater,” Cole said. “We hope everyone comes out to experience the fun and nostalgia and just plain good times waiting for them at the drive-in.”