With spring finally sprung, Carroll County is blooming with activities that will keep you coming back throughout the year.
The Village of Carrollton offers small-town charm and is filled with mom-and-pop shops around the town square to find unique gifts and items. Ashton’s 5- and 10-Cent Store on Main Street has all those things you did not know you needed until you saw it here. The store heralds back to the original 5- and 10-cent stores and carries fabric, craft items, toys, greeting cards, artificial flowers, novelty candy, collectibles, candy molds and more. If you want to learn more about Carrollton’s retail history, stop by Ashton House Museum, located a few blocks north on Third Street, Wednesday through Sunday.
At the top of the square is the McCook House Civil War Museum, operated by the Carroll County Historical Society. Open Friday through Sunday, the museum features paintings and artifacts about the “Fighting McCooks,” as well as local history.
There are four antique stores that line the streets in downtown Carrollton and are mostly open on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition, Dotty’s Craft Center offers primitive art, perfect for your home.
Carroll County is located a short distance from Canton and New Philadelphia and has a rich agricultural history, with agriculture being the second largest industry in the county, only recently surpassed by the oil-and-gas industry. Farms of all shapes and sizes dot the landscape as you travel around the county.
If you enjoy seeing the farm implements in our fields and wish you could take some home, visit Bud’s Farm Toys. Also found on Main Street, the store has both new and collectible farm-related toys for the young and old. Don’t be surprised if you see Lucy, the owner’s golden lab, sitting in the front window.
While downtown, stop by Betty Kaye Bakery for a brownie or Little Brown Dog Café for a muffin. There are also plenty of local restaurants for you to enjoy.
Besides shopping, Carroll County has many outdoor events planned during the summer. The Carroll County Park District is working with the Suburban Garden Club to host its first Junk in the Trunk Flea Market and Plant Sale 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at Carroll Community Park, 1061 Salineville Road, Carrollton. The event features a plant sale, flea market and craft show at the park.
If you want to go for a ride or a drive, then you might want to participate in the Best Dam Motorcycle Poker Run, also on June 2. Because Carroll County is located in the foothills of Ohio’s Appalachian Mountains, drivers and motorcyclists enjoy cruising the area’s windy, curvy roads. Both motorcycles and cars are invited to participate in the poker run which will benefit SAVE22, an organization that is bringing awareness of veteran suicides.
Drivers and riders will cruise around five area dams and levees. The Poker Run starts at the Atwood Lake Park Activity Center, 9500 Lakeview Road NE, Mineral City. Registration starts at 10 a.m. with first bike out at 11 a.m. and the last bike in by 3 p.m. with a meal to follow at the last stop, Lighthouse Bistro. Individual and couple tickets are available on Eventbrite. For more information, call the Carroll County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 877-727-0103.
Music brings people together and the ALIVE Christian Music Festival and Outreach brings some of the biggest names in Christian Music, including For King & Country, Need to Breathe, Switchfoot and Mercy Me, to Atwood Lake Park July 20-22. The three-day event has two stages and performances planned throughout the festival. For ticket information, check out alive.org.
The Carroll County Park District brings an eclectic mix of musical styles from country to southern rock to 80s hair bands to its summer concert series at its Bluebird Farm Park Amphitheater, 190 Alamo Road, Carrollton. Bring a chair or a blanket to enjoy a Saturday evening concert for a $5 per vehicle admission charge. The tentative schedule is available at www.ccparkdistrict.org/bluebirdfarmpark/amphitheater.html.
Know anyone who likes drones and radio-controlled planes? Flite Fest Ohio offers radio-controlled aviation enthusiasts an opportunity to fly, battle and race their drones or aircraft during this four-day event held July 12-15 at 8050 Lee Road, Malvern. This family-friendly event is great for beginners, as well as experienced pilots. See flitefest.com/ohio for spectator and pilot tickets.
From local festivals to the county fair, Carroll County has something for everyone and events planned every weekend during the summer. For a list of the updated schedule, see www.carrollcountyohio.com
Carroll County Ohio
