Visit Lorain County, Ohio

Visit Lorain County's Guide to Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping isn’t always easy. That’s why we at Visit Lorain County are providing a helping hand to get you started finding the coolest, unique gifts, and enjoy your Holiday season.

First, mark your calender; a savvy holiday shopper wouldn’t miss these fun and festive shopping events:

• Through December 11th, check out the Winter Fine Art & Craft Exhibit & Sale at Stocker Arts Center on the Lorain County Community College Campus, featuring fine arts and crafts by regional artists and designers.
  


• December 4th-6th, visit Avon’s French Creek District for the 30th Annual Christmas Candlelight Walk. Shop for antiques, crafts, and gifts, then relax and enjoy some caroling, a craft show, a tree lighting ceremony, and a visit from Father Christmas himself.
  


• On December 5th, you’re going to have to allot your time carefully. Three special shopping events can’t be missed:
  
  
• Holiday on the Ridge in North Ridgeville: all-day shopping, craft shows, a tree lighting, and live nativity and theater performances at the Old Towne Hall.
  


• Jamie’s Annual Christmas Special: 200 inside vendors, free pictures with Santa Claus and hourly gift certificate drawings.
  


• Don Mould’s Holiday Open House: Free refreshments, great deals, and a visit from Kris Kringle, available at both the North Ridgeville and Amherst locations.

And for that friend or family member who has everything, might we recommend some unique gift ideas off the beaten path? Unless you’re a big fan of overcrowded malls, long lines, and jam-packed parking lots, why not try some of these ideas:

• Pick up a bottle of wine or a gift basket from one of Lorain County’s many local wineries.
  
  
  


• Browse the pottery, jewelry, and glass, wood, and metal crafts—made by local artists—at Oberlin’s Ginko Gallery.
  
  


• Outfit your family’s nature-lover with outing gear, outerwear, fishing supplies, and hunting equipment at Molnar Outdoor.
  

• Stop by Petitti’s Garden Center for Holiday florals, decorations, gardening and other home gifts.
  

• Shop the extensive wine cellar and the broad selection of gourmet sauces & food, antiques, and furniture at the Tree House Gallery and Tea Room in Avon (treat yourself to a nice lunch while you’re there).
  
  
  
  


• Get ready for baseball season with Lake Erie Crushers tickets and merchandise.
  
  
  
  
• Pick up great Lorain Lighthouse gifts at the Black River Historical Society’s Moore House Museum gift shop.
  


• Invite a friend to a performance at Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center. Check out their schedule here.
  


• Visit The Days of Yore Herb & Flower Farm in Wellington for home décor, gourmet foods, bath & body gifts, and assorted candles.
  


• Give the gift of relaxation with a spa package or spa-related gift from The Kneaded Touch in Amherst.
  


• For that art enthusiast you know, make a special trip to FAVA in Oberlin for original works of contemporary art, or to the Art Gallery at Amherst’s Sandstone Center.

But we’re willing to bet that even with all these options, you’re still not going to be done. So stumble upon some unique gift ideas of your own by visiting the area’s quaint Main Street shopping districts.

• Main Street Wellington
  


• Main Street Amherst
  


• Main Street Oberlin
  


• Main Street Vermilion
  

For more information on all the varied types of Holiday happenings in Lorain County this season, take a look at our Calender of Events. Visit Lorain County would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Holiday season!

For more information about Visit Lorain County, stop by our Tourist Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Road, Amherst, OH 44001, call us at (440) 984-5282, visit our website, follow us on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.

Labels: christmas, events, gifts, holiday lights, Lorain Ohio, santa claus, shopping

posted by Visit Lorain County, Ohio at 6:50 AM | 1 Comments |

Lorain County dining delights

With the month of November our thoughts often turn to indoor and culinary delights. This month you can find a wide variety of options for dining and trying out some fine, local wines. While you’re out shopping and enjoying the holidays here are a few restaurants and wineries to check out:

Labels: culinary, events, Lorain County dining, Thanksgiving, wineries

posted by Visit Lorain County, Ohio at 9:28 AM | 0 Comments |

Halloween in Lorain County

As the temperature drops and the leaves begin to turn, the ghouls and goblins of Lorain County come out to play. For all you thrill seekers out there, here’s where to go to find them:

• Terror in the Field: Vermilion’s Old Haunted State Street School presents a 1/3 mile corn maze at Novotney's Farm Market, across from Friendship Gas Station in Vermilion, and all too close to Lake Eeeeerie. October 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, and 31st.


• Halloween Fair: From 5–7 this autumn fair at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor’s Center is family friendly; the bewitching hour begins at 7. The fair includes a spooky trail (see pic below) music, games, and food. October 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th, and 31st.

• North Ridgeville’s Spookville: From 4 to dusk it’s all fun and games in Spookville, with face painting, crafts, applesauce making, and pumpkin carving. But after dusk the 1/4 mile Haunted Trail opens and the terror begins. Located in South Central Park, October 17th.


• Ghost Watch at the Moore House: The Moore House, location of the Black River Historical Society, invites unbelievers to view a REAL ghost hunt conducted by a team of experts from the Ohio Researchers of Banded Spirits (don’t believe this exists, do you? Check out their website. Crazy!). Adults only, $25 Limited tickets. During the ghost hunt, cemetery tours, food, and a bonfire will be available outside for Halloween lovers of all ages. October 24th.

If blood-curdling, teeth-chattering terror isn’t your style, there are still plenty of other ways to enjoy the season in Lorain County. For instance, check out:

• Pumpkin Land: While you stock up on cider and apples at Miller’s Orchard, let your kids roam this fun, autumnal play area. Two hay mazes, one well-lit and one dark, scarecrows, farm animals and plenty of pumpkins. Open through Halloween.





• Halloween Campout: Findley State Park is getting in the holiday spirit with this festive campout festival. For only the regular camping fees, campers of all ages can enjoy movies, games, a costume pet parade, trick-or-treating, hay rides, a scarecrow contest and delicious pot-luck soup. October 9th and 10th.


• Fall Hay Wagon Rides and Corn Maze: Come to the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center for the quintessential fall experience. Traditional, horse-drawn hay rides leave every 15 minutes until 3:30 PM. The Corn Maze measures a whopping 4 acres. October 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th.


• North Ridgeville Tot-Trick-or-Treat: Bring the kids to North Ridgeville’s City Hall for a night of safe trick-or-treating. Lots of candy to be had. October 30th.


• Halloween at Jamie's Flea Market: Start your Halloween day off right with a trip to Jamie's Flea Market. Trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under and scavenger hunts for a chance to win Jamie’s Gift Certificates.

And finally, let these special events attest to the fact that Halloween isn’t just for the younger kids:

• Monster Mash Bone Bash: The costume party of the year, at Matus Winery in Wakeman. Dress to impress. Previous award winners have included pirates, hippies, and ghosts--but you can top that. October 31st.


• Masquerade Murder Mystery: The Oberlin Inn presents a murder mystery evening, complete with superior overnight accommodations, lavish dinner buffett, and an entertaining Murder Mystery. Costumes, apropos the holiday, are highly recommended. October 31st. Call the Inn at 775-1111 for reservations.

Visit Lorain County wishes you and your family a happy, safe, and sufficiently spooky Halloween!

For more information on happenings in Lorain County, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Road, call us 1-800-334-1673, visit the website, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Labels: 2009, Corn Maze, events, farmers market, Halloween, Haunted Houses

posted by Visit Lorain County, Ohio at 8:16 AM | 0 Comments |

Festival Season is HERE in Lorain County!

June marks the beginning of Festival Season in North Central Ohio. There is no doubt that we like to celebrate in Lorain County. You name it, we have a festival for it: hot air balloons, fairies, fish, duct tape, chalk, and that's only during the month of June! Our festivals keep going all summer long: cheese, corn, quilts, woolybears...

Columbia Homecoming Festival photo by Terri Biasci-Biacsi Photography

Stop in Visit Lorain County's Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Rd, Amherst, OH to pick up a June-December 2009 Events Calendar or click here to have one mailed. Have fun this June!!

Labels: events, fun, Lorain County Visitors Bureau, travel, vacation

posted by Visit Lorain County, Ohio at 6:45 AM | 0 Comments |