Rally in the Square – Summer 2012

Having trouble finding things to do on a Friday night? Rally in the Square is kicking off its 24^th year with the most live music in Lima. Several artists are performing this June to help get your feet movin’ and groovin’. Listed below are the dates and featured artists:

• June 8 – Naked Karate Girls
• June 15 – The Earthquakers
• June 22 – Stacy Mitchart
• June 29 – Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharten
• July 6 – Naked Karate Girls
• July 13 – Nashville Crush
• July 20 – Larry Lee and Back in the Day
• July 27 – Jim Miller & Friends with Special Guest: Elliott Randall
• August 10 – Kick-n-Flava
• August 17 – After Midnight
• August 24 – The Hipnotix
• August 31 – Funky G and the Groove Machine

Located in front of ArtSpace/Lima, Rally in the Square begins at 5:30pm with music at 6:30pm, rain or shine! So come on out and enjoy good music & ice-cold brews with great people!

For more info, visit: http://www.rallyinthesquare.com/

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL 2011, December 10th

DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL 2011
Downtown Lima, Ohio

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – December 10th, 2011

Download: 2011 Schedule of Events

10 am – 2 pm – Shopping at the ArtSpace/Lima Gallery Gift Shop

11 am – Live Music with Carl Rust at The Meeting Place on Market

1-3 pm – Art Exhibit Opening Reception with Toni Beener and June T. Bell, as well as Book Signing by Karen Bowden Cox at The Meeting Place on Market

3-3:30 pm – Lima Senior High Jazz Combo at the Civic Center

3-7 pm – Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Civic Center!
* Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus in Windows on the Square at the Civic Center (free photo and candy cane!)
* Horse Drawn Wagon Rides throughout the Town Square
* Santa’s Secret Workshop – Civic Center, Room 6
* ArtAbility Christmas Art Project (1 free project per child) – Civic Center, Room 5
* Christmas Cookie Decorating (1 free cookie per child – the WinGate Lobby
* The Literacy Council Holiday Home Tour, 563 W. Spring Street
* Christmas Caroling provided by the Shawnee Alliance Church Choir – throughout downtown Lima

7:00 pm – 1 Above Concert – free, at The Meeting Place on Market

7:30 pm – Lima Symphony Orchestra Presents “Bells, Brass & Bows” at the Civic Center, Tickets available at (419) 224-1552

Live Music All Summer Long in Downtown Lima!

Wow, you will not have a boring weekend this summer in downtown Lima.  The schedule is full of live music concerts, most of them FREE!

Party in the Square

Rally in the Square is a popular event every Friday night throughout the summer in the Town Square.  Concerts are every Friday 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.  There’s a very small cover charge.

Dancing Under the Stars

The Lincoln Park Shelter House hosts live music and classic dancing every Friday night, from 7 – 9 pm.  Come to dance, or bring a lawn chair and just watch.  Free!

Music & Good Food

The Meeting Place on Market presents Open Mic night every Friday night, 7 – 10 pm, and concerts most Saturday nights.  Free.

A live band plays most weekends at Mulligan’s Bar after the Rally! 

Ohio Theatre also usually has live music after the Rally.

Big Band Sound

The Lima Area Concert Band has concerts throughout the summer at various locations, including the Civic Center.  On Sunday, June 26th, they give a free concert at the Children’s Garden.  3 pm.

Concerts in the Park

Free Concerts in the Park start Sunday, June 26th, and go throughout the summer.  The concerts start at 7 pm at the Faurot Park Pavilion.

Did we miss any music events?  If so, please add a comment below and we’ll add to our list!

Free Ways to Entertain the Kids This Summer

You don’t have to spend a lot to entertain the kids this summer!  Check out these free options in downtown Lima:

The Children’s Discovery Center at the Allen County Museum offers hands on activities with fun, historical themes.  The museum is free, although a $5/adult donation is suggested.  Located at the corner of Market and Metcalf Streets, the museum is open Tuesday – Friday, 1-5 pm, Sat-Sun, 1-4 pm. Closed Monday.  

The beautiful and whimsical Children’s Garden is delightful for both the young and young at heart.  Maintained by volunteer master gardeners, it boasts over 30 mini gardens, including fairy tale themed garden beds.  Always free, the Children’s Garden is located next to the Allen County Museum on Market Street, and is open May through October, dawn to dusk.

Just last year the Children’s Fountain at Faurot Park was renovated and is already a popular place for children on warm summer days.  The fountain includes a patio children can play on that spouts water in the air at regular intervals.  It’s open during park hours off of North Shore Drive.

The Lima Public Library has started its free Summer Reading Program.  Kids keep track of minutes read, and can enter a drawing for prizes for every 30 minutes of reading.  Sign-up at any library branch – events vary throughout the summer.

Free tennis lessons run June 14^th through July 28^th, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am, at the Collett Street Recreation Area.  All players must attend by the 3^rd session for lessons by pro Hanna Hager.

 Teens might enjoy the following free events in downtown Lima this summer:

• The Lima Astronomical Society will be open every Friday, at dusk, throughout June, July and August for anyone who wants to star gaze using the telescope at the observatory in Schoonover Park
• Downtown Lima Photo Shoot Nights are for photographers of any skill level, with training by professional photography Jason Bowers.  June 9^th, July 14^th, and August 9^th, 6 pm.
• The Concerts in the Park series live music every Sunday night, June 26^th – August 14^th, 7 pm, at the Faurot Park Pavilion.

What other free activities do your kids love?  If we’ve missed any, add a comment and let us know!