WEEKENDER I COVER STORY

Summer's send-off: Fair, music highlight Labor Day events

Promenade Park will host Worship Night, featuring five local congregations, on Friday.

THE BLADE
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Labor Day might not seem like the most exciting holiday on the calendar, but the long weekend has a definite upside.

There are plenty of events and festivals hosted in northwest Ohio to help liven up what is traditionally considered the last carefree weekend of summer.

Whether you’re singing “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” with country duo Big and Rich at the Fulton County Fair, riding a ferry to Put-in-Bay to see Rascal Flatts at the second annual Bash on the Bay concert, or walking through a local art exhibition, the area has plenty on offer this weekend.

Kenny Alphin, left, and John Rich, right, of the country music duo Big & Rich, perform in 2016 in Nashville.

Big and Rich

The 2018 Fulton County Fair is more than animal watching and tractor contests.

American country duo Big and Rich perform at the fair’s grandstand on Monday. The duo released their debut album Horse of a Different Color in 2004, which included its hit song “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy).”

Caroline Kole will open for Big and Rich Monday night. The Houston singer-songwriter has shared the stage with Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson.

Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield will perform at the fair on Sunday. The artist has sold more than 25 million albums and is known for hits such as “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” and “An Affair of the Heart.”

“To have Big and Rich come in, any big attraction like that, helps the overall fair,” said Dennis Wyse, president of the Fulton County Fair Board. “Even with Rick Springfield on Sunday and then to turn around and have Big and Rich the next day is a double header for us. It’s an impact all the way around.”

This year’s fair runs Friday through Sept. 6. Admission is $5 for people 16 and older, free for those younger. Grandstand events cost $30 to $36 and can be purchased at fultoncountyfair.com. The shows start at 7 p.m.

Fans wave American flags as the sun sets during last year's Bash On The Bay country music festival in Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

Bash on the Bay

Put-in-Bay’s second annual country music festival will find Rascal Flatts playing hits like “What Hurts The Most” and “Bless The Broken Road” on Thursday at the resort village’s airport.

More than 10,000 people are expected to visit South Bass Island for the festival, which also includes opening acts the Cory Farley Band, Joe Nichols, Chris Lane, and Paulina Jayne.

“To bring a person or an entertainer of that scale is a big deal for this island,” said festival organizer and business owner Tim Niese.

Toby Keith headlined last year and the festival generated $6 million to the island and the surrounding area.

Tickets range from $69 to $175 and can be purchased at bashonthebay.com.

Oliver Hazard Day

Indie-folk trio Oliver Hazard will host its first music and craft beer festival Friday along North Third Street in Waterville’s downtown.

Various local breweries will serve 3-ounce beer samples and the evening will also include live music from Toledo band Violent Bloom, Vester Frey, and headliner Oliver Hazard.

Oliver Hazard guitarist-vocalist Michael Belazis said he expects up to 1,000 people to attend.

“We decided to throw this event to get closer to the Waterville community,” he said. “We can use this opportunity to support the local community and have the local community send us off on our fall tour.”

The beer proceeds will be donated to the Whitehouse Library. Other proceeds will be used for the band to kickstart its fall tour, which starts in Bellefontaine and wraps up Sept. 22 in Indiana.

Oliver Hazard Day runs from 7-11 p.m. Admission is $10 at the gate. For more information, visit bit.ly/2Pev5OB.

ARToledo 2018: Chrysalis

Head to 20 North Gallery between noon and 4 p.m. Friday or Saturday to see an exhibition of paintings in oil, acrylics, or digital by Toledo artists Samantha Bell-Koch, Martha Evans, and Kerry Kirkpatrick.

The exhibit continues through Sept. 29.

ARToledo is a group exhibition that gives new local artists the chance to enter into a commercial market in their own community.

Worship Night

While Promenade Park in downtown Toledo has seen such mainstream acts as Gladys Knight, KC and the Sunshine Band, the Gin Blossoms, and O.A.R. on its stage this summer through ProMedica’s Summer Concert Series, this week welcomes Worship Night.

Five local groups will get together at Promenade Park in downtown Toledo on Friday for an evening of worship. The free event will include a performance from the Westgate Chapel Church starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by Xperience Worship from Defiance at 6:30 p.m. The Bethany Assembly Church from Adrian hits the stage at 7:30 p.m., and Fremont’s Grace Community Church at 8:30 p.m. Cornerstone Church Worship Team ends the evening at 9:30 p.m.

Gates open at 5 p.m.

Adams Street Block Party

Head over to Adams Street on Sunday to attend the fifth annual Adams Street Block Party.

Food trucks will be lined along Adams Street for the festival, which will be closed from 11th to 20th streets. A dunk tank, water pong game, and water fight will be hosted while live music will be heard inside the Ottawa Tavern, the Attic on Adams, House of Dow, and Manhattan’s Pub ‘n Cheer.

A drag show will take place at Georgjz419 Fun Food and Spirits along with a warehouse sale from Jupmode and food specials at Carlos’ Poco Loco.

The block party runs from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

A $5 wristband gets you into participating bars cover-free.

Contact Geoff Burns at gburns@theblade.com or 419-724-6054.