OAC: Spring in Amish Country

  • Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • February 15, 2012
  • 387
                        
When the crocuses start to shoot their green spikes from the tender earth and callow lambs prance about in verdant fields, it's time to escape to the peace and simplicity of Ohio's Amish country. Ohio's Amish Country is one of the top tourist destinations in the state, home to the world’s largest Amish community, offering a unique glimpse into a slower-paced life where neighbors lend a helping hand and friendly folks stop to say hello. Here are some of the top events and attractions to check out while winding through the breathtaking countryside. As you travel, be sure to stop along the way at any of the many roadside stands and home-based shops that give Ohio's Amish Country its unique flavor. You're sure to find a treasure, and you might even make a few friends. March begins with the Amish Country Spring Home and Garden Show at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton on March 1-3, showcasing the latest innovations for your home, garden and health as well as displaying some of the most well-made handcrafted furniture and cabinetry in the state. Come to get ideas for everything from sprucing up your landscaping to replacing your kitchen cupboards. March also offers one of the best-loved birding events in the country as the 12th Annual Migration Sensation at Shreve Elementary on March 24 promises a full day of events to kick off the birding season in the wildlife-rich Killbuck Marsh area. This year's guest speakers include Ken Kaufman, world-renowned birder and author of Kingbird Highway, a memoir chronicling his 1973 80,000 mile cross-country birding adventure. The day also includes five other expert guest speakers, a variety of workshops, hands-on children's educational activities, and, of course, plenty of opportunities for birding in the Marsh. The unassuming village of Charm boasts one of the most impressive stops in all of the state. Keim Lumber is not only a lumber yard, and not just a hardware store; it's a one-stop center for everything you need for that spring home-improvement project, including the kitchen sink, all housed within their beautiful newly-renovated building. April 18 - 21 brings their anniversary sale, featuring specials, giveaways, and a chance to win a $10,000 gift card to their store. No trip to the area would be complete without a stop at Lehman's in Kidron, where old-fashioned is always in fashion. On May 5, Lehman's celebrates the new season with their Spring Open House. Contained within three pre-civil-war era buildings decorated with museum-quality antiques, Lehman's is the ultimate shopping experience for the chronically nostalgic, where you'll find everything from oil lamps and pottery to tin toys and cast-iron cookware. While in Wayne County, be sure to spend some time at the 19th Annual Plant Discovery Day, also on May 5, held at the Ohio Agricultural Research And Development Center's Fisher Auditorium in Wooster. This top-notch plant and art sale surrounds visitors with hundreds of hard-to-find plants and hand-crafted creations. The event also offers exciting auctions, a bug zoo, and food vendors as well as walking tours of the Secrest Arboretum with its 85 acres of more than 2,000 plant species. When the rolling hills of Ohio's Amish Country turn a bright and vibrant yellow, it's time to head to the Dandelion May Fest and Great Dandelion Cook Off at Breitenbach Winery in Dover. On May 4 and 5, Breitenbach comes alive with activities for the whole family, with entertainment, dandelion wine sampling, a dandelion picking contest, dozens of unique vendors, and the Great Dandelion Cook Off, offering competitors cash prizes for their dandelion recipes. In Coshocton County, May 4 -12 brings the Dogwood Festival, a celebration of the visual and performing arts. Now in its 27th year, the event offers nine days of festivities in a variety of locations around Coshocton, a city named one of Midwest Livings top 100 Best Midwest Small-Town Getaways. The Dogwood Festival will include a 'Rock the Arts' celebration at Coshocton High School, an art exhibit at the Pomerene Center for the Arts, and a wide variety of musical entertainment. May 12 offers two of the most popular events in Holmes County, Antiques in the Alley in Historic Downtown Millersburg and the Spring Festival at the Holmes County Training Center. The Spring Festival features delicious food, an exciting craft, furniture and quilt auction and live entertainment, while Antiques in the Alley gives visitors the opportunity to browse the outdoor antique show where you'll find primitives, folk art, garden accents and more, as well as several different unique shops and antique stores within walking distance. Spring in the midwest is bursting with life and filled with opportunity, so make plans now to take a trip or three into the heart of Ohio's Amish Country.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load