Tis' The Season To Visit Wayne County

Thanksgiving is almost here and  Black Friday lingers in the near future. You know what that means...CHRISTMAS!  Time for listening to carols, snow ball fights, hot cocoa, and awaiting Santa’s arrival. I love the holidays so much I don’t wait for Thanksgiving to come around to start getting into the Christmas Spirit. My Christmas tree is up, lights are illuminating the house and presents are being bought. This is my favorite time of year! I love the heart warming atmosphere that comes along with families singing carols and enjoying each others company as they reminisce on the year that has passed by.

I recently asked some locals what they would recommend as a fun winter activity to someone who is visiting the area.

Shirley Warth - “Family Tradition of walking through Glen Miller Park during the celebration of lights and enjoying hot fudge cake afterwards”

Katrina Harris - “Going to look at Thistlewaite Falls when ice has begun to form and snow is on the banks! So beautiful, but you have to be careful about ice on the path/steps!”

Betty Voit - “Christmas in the Depot Celebration.”

Amanda Harris - “ Driving around in your PJs with your family & some hot cocoa while looking at Christmas lights around the city.”

David Roe - “Sledding is the best when you take all the grandkids at once down the hill!”

Do you have family coming to visit for the holidays? Wayne County has many quaint and family-friendly towns with glistening trees lite up lining the streets and many unique local shops and restaurants.

Wayne County has lots of unique seasonal activities and events taking place this time of year. Here’s a partial list of Wayne County events that are related to the holiday season. Learn more about these events and many others scheduled throughout the season by visiting our online list of events.

Cambridge City Wonderland
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Main Street & Creitz Park, Cambridge City
5-9 p.m.
765-478-5352
The Christmas Wonderland will offer: Antiques and unique crafts/collectibles, a lighted parade, snow ball fights, petting zoo, live nativity scene, strolling carolers, a double decker bus, craft bazaar, carriage rides and much much more! Bring the whole family and don't miss out on the fun!

Old Fashioned Christmas Festival
Historic Depot District , Richmond
Tuesday Evenings in December
5 - 9 p.m.
765-939-3325
You will feel the spirit of the season as you stroll through our historic neighborhood aglow with twinkling lights and luminaries. Enjoy: Carriage rides, ride the double-decker bus, visit santa, live reindeer, cookies, hot chocolate and much more!

Warm Glow Christmas Open House
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 6-8, 2013
Warm Glow, 2131 N. Centerville Rd., Richmond
9am-7pm
765-855-2000
Come to the annual Warm Glow Candle Co. Christmas Open House! It's more than a sale, it's an EVENT! Join us for great sales, wine and gourmet food tasting, live holiday music, free photos with Santa, local artisans, live reindeer on Sunday and so much more!!

Holiday Parade
Saturday, December 7, 2013
East Main towards South 10th, Richmond
4 p.m.
765-962-8151
The 24th Annual Holiday Parade theme this year is "Holiday Dreams". Bring the whole family and enjoy the festivities as you watch the floats travel through uptown Richmond

Celebration of Lights
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Glen Miller Park, 2414 East Main Street, Richmond
5 - 9 p.m.
765-983-7425
Our traditional luminary display will delight the whole family. In addition there will be carriage rides, entertainment, a candy cane hunt for the kids, a bonfire, and concessions. Santa will even be there, so bring your camera!

Winter Activities in Wayne County

It may not officially be winter yet but with the temperatures dropping down to the 30’s lately, I’m already looking for some winter activities to do in Wayne County. This year has seemed to go by quite quickly and I can’t believe it’s almost November already!

In preparation for the cold weather up ahead, I’m compiling a list of 50 fun winter activities in Wayne County. With the help of our social media followers, blog readers, and locals I am working towards the goal of having a list of activities that will cure the winter blues.

I’ll start the list off with one of my favorites: Sledding at Roosevelt Hill in Glen Miller Park. Growing up, this was always a must do in our house. We would often bundle up in our warm coats, throw on a couple layers of socks along with our snow boots and head out the door on our way to the park. Upon arrival you can enjoy the sounds of laughing children and the ear shattering screams as they make their way to the bottom of the hill. My favorite memory of sledding here was when we had my mother go down the hill when I was younger and she managed to sled all the way to the bottom of the hill and over the road down below. Great memories are made during this activity!

I am enlisting the help from all our social media followers, blog readers and Wayne County locals to help us complete this list. Send your favorite winter time activities to communications@visitrichmond.org or leave a comment on our facebook https://www.facebook.com/visitrichmondin . The best will be chosen and added to a new Winter Activities brochure that can be handed out to visitors who are looking for something fun to do in the cold. A select few answers will be chosen to win a small prize based on their creativity. 

Halloween in Wayne County

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love the fun costumes and haunted houses and now that I am the mother of a toddler, I am even more excited to celebrate this fun-filled day. When most people think of Halloween they picture the children having all the fun but Wayne County has some really exciting Halloween events both parents and children will enjoy. I have a 2 year old boy and here are some of his favorites from last year:

Thursday, October 24, 2013
Malloween: Trick or Treat Night
Richmond Square Mall, 3801 National Road East, Richmond
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Malloween has always been a fun event to attend in Wayne County and I can remember attending this with my parents when I was younger. This event is a safe alternative to trick-or-treating and a free fun-filled family event. Kids can safely trick-or-treat throughout the Richmond Square Mall.

Saturday, October 26, 2013
Halloween Howl
Wayne County Fairgrounds, 861 North Salisbury Road, Richmond
5-8 p.m.
765-983-7420
Growing up this event was always a must do in my house except it was located at the High School’s Tiernan Center back then. How many of you remember that? Halloween Howl will have candy, fun, games, candy, prizes, candy, and contests. This event is free!

Sunday, October 27, 2013
Gateway Vineyard Fellowship Harvest Party
3361 State Road 227 North
4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
I took my son to this harvest party last year when he was only 1. He absolutely loved the petting zoo! They had a baby zebra! How cool is that? They have games for kids of all ages, trunk or treat, hay rides and more. It’s Fun for the whole family!

Monday, October 28th, 2013
Safety Village Trick or Treat
Safety Village, 498 NW 18th St., Richmond
5 p.m. -6:30 p.m.
765-962-9502
Another stop that I took my son to last year was Safety Village trick or treat and he had so much fun! Kids of all ages will enjoy walking around safety town as they gather candy and learn about trick or treat safety. There will be a not so scary haunted house, fortune teller, fun Halloween music and more.

Parents be sure to help your children into their cutest outfits, grab the trick or treat bucket, and don't forget the camera as you head out to these family fun events!

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Homerun Haunt
McBride Stadium, 201 NW 13th St, Richmond
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 

Thursday, October 24, 2013
Malloween: Trick or Treat Night

Richmond Square Mall, 3801 National Road East, Richmond

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Halloween Howl
Wayne County Fairgrounds, 861 North Salisbury Road, Richmond
5-8 p.m.

Sunday, October 27, 2013
Gateway Vineyard Fellowship Harvest Party
3361 State Road 227 North
4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday, October 28th, 2013
Safety Village Trick or Treat
Safety Village, 498 NW 18th St., Richmond
5 p.m. -6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Christ United Church Fall Festival 

6-8 p.m.

Christ United Church 3430 Backmeyer Road.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Williamsburg Trick or Treat
5-8 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Webster Trick or Treat
5-7 p.m.

Thursday, October 31, 2013
Trunk and Treat
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
First Church of the Nazarene,1600 Chester Blvd, Richmond

Thursday, October 31, 2013
Hagerstown Trick or Treat
6 - 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 31, 2013
Richmond Trick or Treat
5-7 p.m.
      
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Centerville Trick or Treat
5-7 p.m.

Thursday, October 31, 2013
Fountain City Trick or Treat
5-7 p.m.

Help us kick off our Enchanted Fairy Trail!

A Fairy Exciting Event will be taking place on Saturday, October 12, 2013. Wayne County will be filled with fairies of all ages! You will witness little girls and boys frolicking throughout the County in fairy attire as they make their way to various locations in search of the enchanted fairy doors, homes and gardens hidden within.  

The Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau invites you to put on your best fairy costume and enjoy an enchanted day full of excitement and fun as we celebrate the launch of our Enchanted Fairy Trail! Kids of all ages can stop by the Welcome Center, 5701 National Road East, where they can pick up an Enchanted Fairy Trail bag, create a fairy halo, participate in the fairy costume contest and enjoy delicious fairy themed snacks. From there, families will receive an Enchanted Fairy map designating over 14 stops with hidden fairy doors, gardens, and homes. Each location will have various fairy themed activities for children to participate in including; coloring contests, face painting, fairy dust tattoos, fairy themed crafts, snacks, games, fairy necklaces and much more.

The Enchanted Fairy Trail has been a big hit since its launch last month. Currently featuring 50 small enchanted dwellings, the Enchanted Fairy Trail provides a glimpse into the mystical world of fairies. Peeking through some windows you may spot a fairy bed, kitchen, or a fairy itself. Built with a colorful array of materials, the fairy doors throughout Wayne County gives families and children of all ages an exciting chance to explore the community in a unique fashion. Children can leave small gifts or write letters at some locations that have fairy mail boxes, allowing direct interaction with the fairies and bringing a smile to every child’s face.

Where: Celebration begins at The Old National Road Welcome Center, 5701 National Road East, Richmond. 

When: Saturday, October 12, 2013 

Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Call: 765-935-8687
visitrichmond.org

Win 2 Tickets To See Sweet Honey In The Rock

Looking for something to do now that summer is coming to a close? September is full of fun family festivals that offer something for everyone. Cambridge City Canal Days, Heritage Festival at The Wayne County Historical Museum, and the Gennett Walk of Fame Music Festival are all occurring during the weekend of Friday through Sunday, September 6 – 8, 2013.

The Cambridge City Canal Days is a two day event, September 7 & 8, packed with vendor booths, arts & crafts, antiques, and much more. There is a parade and duck race for the kids and parents can relax as they walk through and enjoy the scenic view Cambridge City has to offer.

The Heritage Festival at The Wayne County Historical Museum is a two day festival, September 7 & 8, full of exciting activities for the whole family including a Civil War re-enactment, rope making, a blacksmith shop, horse drawn carriage rides, and old-time music.

Downtown Richmond and the Whitewater Gorge Park will be a buzz with music from live bands performing on Friday and Saturday, September 6 & 7, 2013. This family friendly event offers an enjoyable afternoon filled with music from multiple bands from across the nation.

Internationally acclaimed and Grammy award winning African American female acappella ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock will be performing at Earlham College during the Walk of Fame Music Festival. They offer a diverse array of music including; Blues, African, Jazz, Gospel and R&B. The ensemble’s goal is to educate, entertain and empower its audience through their singing and the use of American Sign Language throughout their performance. You do not want to miss the unique opportunity to listen to this ensemble during their 40^th anniversary season as they fill Richmond with their beautiful music.

 

Tickets to the concert are $15/person. If you would like to enter to win 2 free tickets for Saturday's concert at 4 p.m., all you need to do is email us why you would love to see Sweet Honey In The Rock in 100 words or less to communications@visitrichmond.org. Please include your name and contact number. One lucky winner will be able to enjoy a relaxing, fun filled afternoon listening to this amazing ensemble. Drawing will take place Thursday, September 5 by 3:00 p.m. and winner will be notified via email/phone.

Friday, September 6, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 4 p.m.

Earlham Campus, Goddard Auditorium, 801 National Road West, Richmond

For more information call Earlham Box Office 765 983-1474 or Starr Gennett (765) 962-2860. No tickets sold at door.                  

The Enchanted Fairy Trail - A Magical Adventure For The Whole Family

As a young child did you ever fantasize about being in a fairy tale and seeing mystical beings? Wayne County is turning into a fairy tale of its own. All across Wayne County fairy doors, houses, and gardens are magically appearing in various locations and businesses. Currently there are 50 fairy families who have come to call Wayne County home. Maybe it’s our chocolate trail, historic architecture or the wonderful scent from the rose gardens, whatever the reason these fairies sure seem to love Wayne County!

These small enchanted dwellings offer a glimpse into the mystical world of fairies. Peeking through some windows you may spot a fairy bed, kitchen, or a fairy itself. Built with a colorful array of materials, the fairy doors throughout Wayne County offer families and children of all ages an exciting chance to explore the community in a unique fashion. Children can leave small gifts or write letters at some locations that offer fairy mail boxes, allowing direct interaction with the fairies and bringing a smile to every child’s face.

The Enchanted Fairy Trail, available early August, takes visitors on a fun adventure through Wayne County. Originating in Ann Arbor Michigan, the first fairy door appeared in Richmond at the Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History in late 2012. Museum director Heather Lerner brought the idea with her when she moved to Richmond from Ann Arbor. The Fairy house at Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History is made from an old snake box and is decorated with snake vertebrae, a unique display you don’t want to miss.

Visitors will need to pick up their Enchanted Fairy Trail passport in early August at The Wayne County Welcome Center, 5701 National Road East - Richmond. Once they have located 80% of the mystical dwellings, they can return their passports to the Welcome Center for a magical commemorative gift. This free, year round opportunity will provide hours of fun and excitement for everyone, young and old.

Glen Miller Park, A Summer Must See

Young and old, Glen Miller park is the place to be this summer! Driving through you can spot children playing, locals gathering spring water, ducks being fed, and people in general enjoying the great outdoors and everything Glen Miller has to offer.

The Richmond Parks Department has been hard at work recently with spring clean up. A recent visit to Glen Miller revealed a wonderful new foot bridge, new benches, and trash cans, the park looks amazing! The new foot bridge attracts my attention immediately; the ability to walk across part of the lake and take in the pure beauty of the surrounding area really creates a calming atmosphere. I love the peaceful aspect the lake has to offer and I could watch the fountain for hours as the ducks wade by waiting to be fed by the local children.

My son of course loves Glen Miller Park, the huge play ground that offers both a toddler area and school age area really attracts his attention as well as mine. As a mother I feel much safer knowing that the different spaces offer age appropriate play, no longer will I need to worry about dangerous falls or older kids pushing. Come summer, Glen Miller Park is his favorite place to go on a hot day.  In 2011, a splash pad was installed for children to get a chance to cool off and enjoy the water free of charge. My son loves running through and screaming with joy as he cools off in the chilly water.

Grandparents will enjoy spending time alongside their grandkids and reminiscing on their memories of themselves at the park as children.  The park has changed a lot in recent years and new things are added frequently, making the park a hot spot for locals to enjoy and spend countless hours at.

Did you know that Richmond is often referred to as “Rose City”? Located inside Glen Miller is the Richmond Rose Gardens. Stop by in the summer months for an opportunity to take in the sweet aroma of roses planted here. Stroll along the walk ways and take in the pure beauty as butterflies flutter by you and the sounds of birds enlighten your ears. After a stroll through the park and garden, sit and relax in the gazebo and rest your feet.

Also at Glen Miller park stands one of twelve Madonna of the Trail statues. Built in commemoration of pioneer mothers, they were installed in each of the 12 states along the Historic National Road which extends from Cumberland, Maryland to Upland, California. Standing 10 feet high on a base that is 6 feet high and weighing 5 tons, this statue is hard to miss, located on the corner of N 22nd Street & East Main Street. 

Glen Miller Park has plenty to offer for children, adults, and nature enthusiasts. Open dawn to dusk the park is open for countless hours of fun. Located at 2514 East Main Street be sure to stop by and enjoy a nice sunny day at the Park.