Long days and hot temps make July the perfect time for summer adventures – outdoor concerts, swimming pools, hiking trails and more! Get out and enjoy the beautiful summer season with our picks for the best events and things to do in July.
Celebrate Independence Day
Head out to a parade, watch fireworks, eat funnel cake at a festival, cool off at the beach, spend the weekend at a local campground, or fire up the grill and have a backyard BBQ. Looking for more ideas? Check out our picks for the top 4th of July events.
Shop a Farmers Market
Nothing says summer like a Saturday morning at the farmers market. Whether you go as a family outing or a quick run to stock up, nothing beats farm fresh goodies for a picnic or backyard BBQ. We can wait for Ohio sweet corn to be ready this year. Find a farmers market near you.
Try a New Park or Playground
Enjoy a fun outing to the park and beat the heat at these locations that offer water play. Play at the castle like playground at Memorial Park in Medina park and cool off at the splashpad at Plain Township Veterans Park. Hike the trails and cool off in the lake at Silver Springs Metro Park in Norton. Let the kids ride the vintage amusement rides and splash in the pool at Tuscora Park in Bolivar.
Check out our list of playgrounds in Northeast Ohio for even more ideas. Have fun!
Spend the Day at the Splash Pad
The no sand in sight and safe for kids of all ages make splash pads a go to outing for families during the summer months. Here is a guide to the splash pads in Northeast Ohio, including many with nearby playgrounds too. If splash pads aren’t your thing, perhaps you’d rather head to a waterpark instead.
Go on a Train Ride
Whether you have a little engineer or you’re the train junkie, you’ll want to check out the best train rides in Ohio. See the historic steam locomotives at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek. Ride through the National Park on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Check out the miniature steam engine rides in Medina.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
If you need a reason to eat ice cream, National Ice Cream Day is it! Thankfully, Northeast Ohio is known for it’s delicious homemade ice cream shops. Plan to check off one (or more) off your ice cream bucket list this month. Enjoy!
Road Trip to Amish Country
Enjoy a slower, more peaceful and relaxed pace and experience a completely different way of living in Amish Country. Visit the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center, tour an Amish home, go on a buggy ride and enjoy a delicious meal at an Amish restaurant. Before you plan your trip, make sure to check out our top picks for things to do in Amish Country Ohio.
Visit Bradstreet’s Landing Park
Check out the newly renovated 600 foot pier with beautiful views of Lake Erie. There are lots of benches and picnic tables to sit on while watching a sunset and listening to the waves. There is a small beach with lots of drift wood and it’s a great place to try your luck searching for Lake Erie beach glass.
Brandstreet’s Landing Park
22400 Lake Rd, Rocky River
You may be interested in: More unique outdoor activities
See Hot Air Balloons at the The Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic attracts balloonists from throughout the United States. There are scheduled flights and balloon events throughout the weekend. One night they have a night glow event and one night they have a fireworks display. Most of the activities are weather dependent, so make sure to look at the website for any schedule adjustments.
You may be interested in: More unique festivals in Ohio
Head a Dollar Movie with the Kids
Some select local theaters offer dollar movies on kid-friendly movies throughout the summer. They publish the full summer schedule in advance so you can determine which movies you want to see and block the date on your calendar in advance. Check out the details for each of the summer dollar movie programs.
Visit a Lavender Field
Stroll through a blooming field of lavender and pick a bundle or two to bring home. There are several local farms that offer the opportunity to visit their lavender fields and some even have unique lavender festivals. Get all the details about the area lavender fields.
Join the CVSR Explorer Program
CVSR offers an Explorer Program where you can ride the train for only $5 one way. You can park at the Mustil Store Trailhead (near the Akron Northside station) and bike north along the towpath to the Peninsula station. When the train arrives at the Peninsula station they will load up your bikes so you can enjoy a ride back to the station. This bike ride is 13 miles, but there are shorter options as well. Enjoy!
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Peninsula Depot: 1630 Mill St. W, Peninsula, OH 44264
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FA Seiberling Nature Realm
F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm offers over 10,000 square feet of environmental education with seasonal exhibits, a kids’ area, and live local animals. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, hand-feeding chickadees and many more outdoor activities, as well as shop for MetroParks merchandise in the gift shop. We recommended the short approximate 1 mile Loop trail for great scenery! Find details for the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm and more nature centers in Northeast Ohio.
F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm
1828 Smith Rd., Akron, OH 44313
Looking for more ideas & inspiration? Check out our Summer Fun Guide filled with 100+ things to do during the summer season in Ohio.
