Lake County Bike Days are happening county-wide May 19 through June 23

Join the Mentor Recreation Department for Bike Day Lake County – a free event featuring a free BMX stunt show, a free bike raffle, free games and activities, helmet decorating and a Mentor Police Department bicycle auction – May 19. Families are invited to have their bikes inspected, get safety information,  join in a bike rodeo open to all two-wheel bike riders under age 12 and enjoy music from a DJ from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Civic Center Park.

The high-energy non-stop action of the BMX ramp team Dialed Action, will thrill young and old as they perform some of the biggest tricks in the sport of BMX such as back flips, 360′s, super-mans and countless others. Dialed Action has been featured on NBC and performed on the Dew Tour. You can catch them in action during shows at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and it’s all FREE.

This event is organized to promote biking as a fun, family-oriented activity that provides an excellent way to stay active and healthy, and can serve as an excellent mode of transportation. Bike Day Lake County is co-sponsored by the Lake County General Health District, Mentor Recreation’s Safe Routes to School program and the Cleveland Clinic. This event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the City of Mentor’s website or call the Recreation Department at 440-974-5720. For a full listing of Lake County Bike Days, please click here.

Families and curious visitors are invited to HorseFest 2012, May 19 and 20, at Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Northeast Ohio to learn about and meet more than 20 breeds of horses of all shapes and sizes. Throughout the event, get up close and personal and meet these breeds and many more at Showman’s Circle.

Events

One event featured over the weekend will include six mighty Percheron draft horses, driven by Sam Rettinger of ”Whispery Pines Percheron” in Kingsville, Ohio. Also throughout the weekend, young horse lovers will be able to meet, groom and drive miniature horses and learn the art of roping. All ages can experience the power of a draft horse by taking the reins and driving through the field, with staff supervision (10 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. both days). Janet Tenney, along with her beautiful Spanish Lusitanos will present a Baroque managé along with other equine presentations, demonstrations and exhibits.

Other equine activities will include:

• Dave Davis — Roman riding & trick training
• Horse and hound competition
• Cowboy field challenge
• Jumping demonstration (Saturday only)
• Various breed highlights (every 15 minutes!)
• Live music noon to 4 p.m. in the Courtyard
• Pony rides ($4) and children’s activities

Admission to HorseFest is $6; $5 for ages 60 and over; $4 for ages 2 to 11; and children younger than two are free. Members of Lake Metroparks Farmpark receive free admission. 4-H groups receive discounted admission. For more information please call (440) 256-2122 or (800) 366-FARM, or visit lakemetroparks.com.

Mentor, Ohio's Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center is open now!

After a year’s delay (due to an unusually wet 2011) the practice center at Black Brook Golf Course opened in April. There is nothing like it anywhere else in Lake County – with a natural tee that measures 1.5 acres, an artificial tee for inclement weather, target greens, uneven lie area, sand bunkers and expanded parking for golf carts.

The Mentor, Ohio golf course features 18 holes with watered fairways, paved cart paths, a driving range and a practice putting green. Other course amenities include a fully stocked Pro Shop, a pavilion for catered outings and a club house with a snack bar. Private lessons, classes and junior golf are also offered.  The course is open year round, weather permitting – Yes, even in the winter! The course’s 18th hole was selected as one of News Channel 5?s Dream 18, the Plain Dealer’s Elite 18 and the course was voted one of the Best Places to Play by Golf Digest magazine.

Golfers 17 and under play free at Black Brook Golf Course when accompanied by a paying adult anytime on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and on weekends after 3 p.m. Call 440-951-0010 for tee times.

For more information about the Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center visit it online and discover more about Northeast Ohio golf packages and Ohio travel attractions here.

In honor of Armed Forces Day a military memorial garden will be set up at Wes Point Park during the Rib Burn Off and military vehicles and displays will be set up at City Hall parking lot. Also, all dressed military members with ID will eat free!

For more information on the event please visit Willoughby Today on Facebook.

	A Northeast Ohio Summer Preview A few ideas for making this summer a little more fun in Lake County, Ohio! MAY 19 Search for Harmony at Blue Sky Folk Festival Play, sing, dance or just come to listen to incredible folk music at the second annual Blue Sky Folk Festival at East Shore: A Search for Harmony.. JUNE – SEPTEMBER Dickens of a Summer This summer marks the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, and Rabbit Run Theater in Madison, Ohio is celebrating all summer long with a season full of works by Dickens. Gallery One Remembers Thomas Kinkade Gallery One art gallery in Mentor, Ohio, A Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery, is planning to honor the memory of recently passed artist Thomas Kinkade with two upcoming events. • “Hot from the Oven” opens spring theater season • Lake Metroparks spring art show: Woven from Nature MAY 19 Painesville International Cuisine Celebration Like a fine wine that improves with age, the Painesville International Cuisine Celebration is a Food & Wine Festival celebrating its 4th year and is sure to be better than ever. Farmers market season is here! Farmers markets just make summer sweeter. The opening of the season is coming up fast so get ready to buy locally grown, fresh produce in Lake County! MAY 5-6 & 11-12 Wine N Bloom Wine Weekends Spring has sprung and the wineries of Northeast Ohio are celebrating with a self-driving tour of 16 area wineries May 5-6 & 11-12. Fishing in Lake County Cooled by Lake Erie’s Central Basin’s greater depth, Northeast Ohio’s angling is just now coming online. Discover Lake County fishing sweet spots from The News-Herald’s Outdoor Editor, Jeff Frischkorn. • Holden Arboretum’s Vanishing Act • Lake Erie is Birder Territory • Bluestone Perennials coupon offer – coco pots! MAY 5 & 6 Railroads in the Parks Trains will fill Farmpark May 5 & 6 for the annual Railroads in the Parks event. Young railroaders will particularly enjoy the day full of building trains and learning about the roles railroads play today. Subscribe to our Newsletter… Join us on Facebook…

A Northeast Ohio Summer Preview

So far this spring in Lake County we have seen 80 degree temperatures and snow – Yes, in that order. But we won’t despair because we know summer is coming and we are preparing for the great things ahead that just make summer…well, summer!

Here are a few ideas for making this summer a little more fun in Lake County, Ohio:

Beaches
Summer equals beach. Just that simple, and with Headlands Beach State Park and Lake Metroparks’ Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park, Lake County has plenty of summer to go around.

Lake Erie Adventures
There’s more to do on those beaches than sunbath, too. Activities like Stand-up Paddleboard and Kayak rentals from Lake Metroparks are very popular among beachgoers. And no worries if you haven’t experienced these sports before, classes are available for ages 12 and up.

If you’re in the mood for a more relaxing adventure you can enjoy a day on the lake with JEO Sailing.Charter a cruise for the day or sign-up for lessons and learn how to sail!

Golf
Although here in Northeast Ohio we golf all year round, summer really is the season for golfing. With courses like challenging Manakiki Golf Course, Little Mountain Country Club and Painesville Country Club golfers are never bored in Lake County!

Festivals & Events
Summer can’t truly be appreciated until you’ve visited a festival or two and Lake County surely doesn’t have a shortage of festivals and events! A few suggestions to check out include: Gathering of Eagles XVI flying show, July 14 and 15; Lake County Remembers Civil War Re-enactment, July 14-15; Painesville Party in the Park (Ohio’s largest free music festival), July 20-22; Vintage Ohio wine festival, August 3-4; and the newest Lake County Festival – Celtic and International Fall Fest, August 31-September 3.

Now that your summer fun is covered, what will you do with yourself?

- Madison Bender – Lake County Visitors Bureau, Social Media Specialist

MAY 19
Search for Harmony at Blue Sky Folk Festival

Play, sing, dance or just come to listen to incredible folk music at the second annual Blue Sky Folk Festival at East Shore: A Search for Harmony. The festival will be held rain or shine at East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Kirtland, Ohio on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Folk musicians from all around Northeast Ohio will play original music – on stage and in open “jams” around the grounds where great musicians can connect with new musicians. There will also be master classes and open mic sessions, plus great food, vendor booths and a playground, crafts and music-making for the kids.

This daylong, family-friendly event features a cornucopia of folk and acoustic music – guitars, banjoes, fiddles, harmonicas, hammered dulcimers and other instruments from America and around the world, along with delightful songs and voices. We invite you to bring an instrument and join in, hang out and dream, learn to play spoons or to clog, and hear some fantastic sounds – from American folk harmonies to African instruments to Yiddish klezmer music.

This year the Blue Sky is expanding to two stages! Go to the festival’s website, www.blueskyfolkfest.com, to hear examples of the music to be performed and the schedule of performances and workshops.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and spend the day, or just a couple of hours! Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 for seniors (65 and older) and free for children 12 and under. Or prepay online for $8 at www.blueskyfolkfest.com.

JUNE – SEPTEMBER
Dickens of a Summer

This summer marks the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, and Rabbit Run Theater in Madison, Ohio is celebrating all summer long with a season full of works by Dickens.

The summer show season will start June 1-9 with a one-man show told through nearly 50 Dickens characters in “The Mystery of Charles Dickens.” The themed season line-up will continue with “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,” July 6-August 12; “Oliver!”, June 15-30; and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” August 17-September 1.

Rabbit Run Theater will have more than just Dickens shows on the stage this summer to commemorate the writer’s birthday. Special summer events like “A Day of Dickens!” and “Party Like the Dickens” will complete the theater experience with dinner and show specials. Other events will be announced throughout the summer. More information about those events can be found by calling 440-428-7092 Wednesday through Sunday, 3–7 p.m.

Gallery One Remembers Thomas Kinkade

Gallery One art gallery in Mentor, Ohio, A Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery, is planning to honor the memory of recently passed artist Thomas Kinkade with two upcoming events.

The Gallery Memorial for Collectors is a national in-gallery event for collectors to celebrate and remember Thomas Kinkade. Locally, Gallery One is hosting the event on May 5 at 2 p.m. The event will feature a 20 minute video montage for collectors, giving them a chance to share stories of their experiences with Thom, reasons for selecting favorite images and to pay tribute to an exceptional American artist.

The Memorial Event will provide a place for collectors to gather and mourn the loss of a great American treasure and pay tribute to an artist they have watched grow over the decades. In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging collectors to donate to World Vision, one of Thom’s favorite charities.

In addition to the Gallery Memorial for Kinkade collectors, a Kinkade Highlighting Event has been scheduled for May 18 and 19 where a master highlighter will visit Gallery One.

Kinkade images and additional information can be found at www.galleryone.com.

Other Arts & Culture Activities

• “Hot from the Oven” opens spring theater season
• Lake Metroparks spring art show: Woven from Nature

MAY 19
Painesville International Cuisine Celebration

Like a fine wine that improves with age, the Painesville International Cuisine Celebration, a food & wine festival celebrating its 4th year, is sure to be better than ever. This spectacular tasting experience is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 3-8 p.m. in Downtown Painesville.

Where on the planet can foodies sample the cuisine, culture and entertainment of different countries during a spring evening? Only in Downtown Painesville, where guests can sample several international foods inspired by the area’s diverse culture.

This year, local chefs are teaming with area churches and the local micro-winery to offer a wide variety of Delicious Discoveries. During this city festival, guests will discover:

• Excellent Cuisine from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ireland, China, India and Italy
• Amazing Wines from Your Vine or Mine specialty micro-winery
• Free family fun with the kids fun zone, corn hole, disc golf, parachute, giant twister and limbo as well as family contests for parents and kids
• Live music and dancing on the festival center stage

And best of all, this is a free event! We hope to see you there!

Farmers market season is here!

Farmers markets just make summer sweeter. The opening of the season is coming up fast so get ready to buy locally grown, fresh produce at these Lake County markets.

Willoughby Outdoor Market
Open: Saturdays, May through October in the parking lot of Willoughby City Hall from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
What’s Good: Vendors will provide consumers with a variety of fruits, vegetables and plants and selections will change weekly.

Painesville Farmers Market
Open: Thursdays, May 17-October 25 in Downtown Painesville from 2-6 p.m.
What’s Good: Beyond the fresh produce available, this market educates consumers about farm products and the many benefits (Health, Community and Environmental) of buying direct from local farmers.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark
Open: Wednesdays, May 23-October 10 from 3-6 p.m.
What’s Good: Market items include garden seeds, fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, honey, baked goods, greens, eggs and jams as well as homemade breads, cut flowers and handcrafted jewelry.

Mentor Old Village Market at James A. Garfield Site
Open: Fridays, July 27-August 17 from 4-8 p.m.
What’s Good: This market has a festival atmosphere with arts and crafts, live music and kids’ activities along with fresh produce for sale. Plus shoppers can get a free tour of the Garfield presidential home on market days.

Rainbow Farms – Madison, Ohio
Open: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. opening in late May
What’s Good: This indoor market offers a one-stop shop for fresh produce six days a week from late spring to fall.

Wine N Bloom Wine Weekends

Spring has sprung and the wineries of Northeast Ohio are celebrating with a self-driving tour of 16 wineries May 4-5 & 11-12.This yearly event invites guests to visit all the wineries along the Vines and Wines trail to sample Ohio wines.

Tickets for this event are $50 for a couple and $40 for a single and visitors will receive a tasting glass at the beginning of the tour and wine samples and appetizers at each stop along the way. With so many wines to taste and wineries to visit, bring your friends to Lake County for the whole weekend and make an event of it. Local hotel Quail Hollow Resort and Bed & Breakfast Bank Street B&B have special rates for both weekends of the Wine N Bloom event.

Guests who are planning to attend the event must have advance reservations. Call 800-227-6972 or make your reservations here for the Wine N Bloom Weekends.

Fishing in Lake County

Cooled by Lake Erie’s Central Basin’s greater depth, Northeast Ohio’s angling is just now coming online. That is in contrast to the much shallower Western Basin which got its foot in the fishing door months ago. Now it is the Central Basin’s turn to shine. The deeper into May one goes and raking up the dates in June and even into early July the better Lake Erie fishing becomes. This is when the walleye bite takes a chomp out of anglers’ interests.

First the fish will be found near shore and from roughly the Mentor Lagoons east toward the North Perry Nuclear Power Plant. These fish will be taken in large measure by anglers employing what’s called “flat-line trolling,” or where a crankbait like a Rapala F11, Rapala Shad Raps or a Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogue is towed single file behind a fishing boat that traveling (as a rule) less than two mph.

While Lake County does not have an over-abundance of inland waters to choose from there are still enough small ponds and such to attract the interest of some anglers. Particularly if they are in the company of youngsters.

Lake Metroparks is a great starting point and not just with its Granger’s Pond that is located within Veteran’s Park in Mentor. Most folks – including many residents – are unaware that Lake Metroparks has built several of what’s called mitigation ponds that are also stocked with such fish species as bass, sunfish and catfish. Among the parks with small ponds to fish are Concord Woods, Girdled Road, Chapin Forest and Penitentiary Glen.

Don’t forget either that Lake Metroparks has a series of ponds located off River Road in Madison Township. These ponds can be fished by the public but are not listed in any directory nor advertised with much signage.

Lastly – and best of all – is the parks system’s Hidden Lake Lodge in Leroy Township. This is a limited entry-only fishing reserve that restricts how many people can fish the pond at any one time, the number of days available to angling and how many fish can be kept. This is very much an exclusive-style of premier angling for warm-water fish species.

For further information about Lake Metroparks call 440-358-72755 or visit its website.

- Jeff Frischkorn – Outdoor Editor, The News-Herald

To read more from Jeff, visit his blog “Outdoors with Frischkorn”

More Outdoors Events

• Holden Aboretum’s Vanishing Act
• Lake Erie is Birder Territory
• Bluestone Perennials coupon offer – coco pots!

MAY 5 & 6
Railroads in the Parks

Trains will fill Lake Metroparks Farmpark May 5 & 6 for the annual Railroads in the Parks event. Young railroaders will particularly enjoy the day full of building trains and learning about the roles railroads play today.

The Farmpark Visitors Center will have large operating model train displays of both HO and N-Scale layouts for all to view. The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum will also operate several special displays of different scales including Lionel O-gauge trains.

For an additional $2 fee, children will be able to build wooden trains in the interactive play area, letting the youngest railroad enthusiasts play engineer. And older engineers will enjoy the railroad photo exhibit by Ed Ribinskas and displays on agriculture and the railroad.

The event begins at 9 a.m. and lasts through 5 p.m. For more information please call Lake Metroparks at 800-366-3276.

National Public Gardens Day is a day of awareness where visitors can learn about the roles public gardens play in our world. Here in Lake County, Ohio, The Holden Arboretum will be open with no admission for guests to enjoy a day learning about endangered plants and trees, landscaping and other programs offered by The Holden Arboretum – or just to take a walk down any of the trails and take-in Mother Nature.

So what do you say? It doesn’t get much better than free fun, fresh air and sunshine!
For more information please call 440-946-4400.

Lake Erie fishing is a year-round activity for locals, but right now is time to plan a visit to Lake County if you're looking for a summer fishing adventure!

There are many benefits of having Lake Erie as our backyard here in Lake County, Ohio; one of which being the endless fishing opportunities. The warm spring we’ve had in Northeast Ohio has us itching for summer and the fishing season has already kicked off to a great start!

Lake County’s Grand River is attracting great reviews from fishing enthusiasts so far this year. The Steelhead season is coming to an end here in what is sometimes called Steelhead alley, but an abundance of Smallmouth Bass are being caught. Smallmouth Bass is popular to fish in the Lake Erie tributaries from May to August. Fish in the rivers average roughly 12 inches, but lucky fisherman sometimes find some larger than 14 inches!

It looks like it might be a popular walleye season this year, too. So far this season, a 12 pound walleye was caught, according to Don Moore, owner of Harbor Bait & Tackle in Painesville, Ohio. In several weeks, as the Lake temperature increases more walleye will start invading the East side of Lake Erie in Lake County.

If you’re looking for some help on your fishing trip (on the river or Lake Erie) there are several guide services and charter fishing companies in Lake County. Many of them are running specials this time of year so check their websites or give them a call.

We hope you can find some time to do some fishing with us in Lake County!
Tell us, what’s your favorite fishing memory?

Lake County Ohio Visitors Bureau Arts & Culture Grant Program has been providing funds for Lake County events and attractions for 8 years

Each year, the Lake County Visitors Bureau funds an arts and culture grant for local attractions and events looking to draw visitors into the area. This year’s grant recipients were chosen earlier this month and we are already looking forward to these excellent events. Take a look at the programs:

• Last Stop Willoughby
• Painesville’s Art in the Park
• James A. Garfield National Historic Site – An Evening With Edgar Allen Poe
• Lake County Historical Society – Lake County Remembers
• The Ohio Celtic and International Fall Fest
• Painesville Party in the Park
• Rabbit Run Community Improvement Corp. – Professional Status Transition
• The Holden Arboretum – Goblins in the Garden
• The 41st Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival
• The Wickliffe Italian-American Club – Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce and Italian Festival
• Second Annual Blue Sky Folk Festival
• Gathering of Eagles XVI Air Show
• Fairport Harbor’s Bicentennial Village Reunion

Also funded this year was the  Fine Arts Association’s “Better Together” project. This project will work to create local business partnerships and visitor packages in order to promote tourism – something highly desired by travelers.

Keep up with these events and more by signing-up for the LCVB’s monthly e-newsletter!

This little guy is one of many pieces on display at the Nature Center

Natural and recycled materials will be the focal point of this year’s spring art show at Lake Metroparks’ Penitentiary Glen Reservation. Nature offers an endless variety of raw materials in different shapes, colors and textures that have inspired local artists to get creative with what’s lying around. And that’s the cool part of “Woven from Nature” – everything is nature themed.

The show captures the minds of both young and old with the whimsical creations on display through May 13 in the Nature Center at Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland, Ohio. The center is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.

And if you find a piece of art that is too special to walk away from, just take it home! The artwork is available for purchase and proceeds benefit Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

Get a sneak peek here of some of the pieces on display!