Top summer activities for families in Richland County
Emily Mills
Looking for something fun to do with your family this summer, but want to stay close to home? Check out the News Journal's guide to the top spots in Richland County for some summer family fun, right in your own backyard.
Nature
Address: 50 N. Trimble Road, Mansfield
Phone: 419-522-0211
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 1 through Oct. 31.
Admission: $5 per person, free for children 12 and younger. Through Museums for All, admission for those on EBT is $1. Can also bring up to four guests who will also receive $1 admission. Must show EBT card and photo ID.
• Richland B&O Trail / Gorman Nature Center
Address:
Trail: Throughout Richland County, from Butler and Bellville to Lexington and Mansfield
Nature center: 2295 Lexington Ave., Mansfield
Phone: 419-884-FROG (3764)
Nature Center hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Closed Sundays, Mondays and federal holidays. Trail is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Address: 3774 Orweiler Road, Mansfield
Phone: 419-884-4295
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays and holidays.
Admission: Entrance to the bird display area is free to members or $3 per adult and $1 per child, with children younger than 2 free. The visitors center, trails, picnic area and Children's Nature Scape area are open at no charge.
Address: 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas
Phone: 419-892-2784
Hours: The park grounds, including Mount Jeez, are open from dawn to dusk. Office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Gift shop is open 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Admission: Guided house tours, which are seven days a week at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, are $5 for adults, $3 for youths and free for children 5 and younger. Guided farm tours, which are every day, weather permitting, at 1 and 3 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, are $3 per person and free for children 5 and younger. Malabar Farm State Park grounds are open to the public free of charge during daylight hours.
Mini-golf and more
Address: 176 E. Main St., Lexington
Phone: 419-884-4386
Hours: From May 29 through Aug. 19: noon to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. From Aug. 20 through Sept. 30: closed Mondays through Fridays, open noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Also open Labor Day, Sept. 3, from noon to 8 p.m. Hours of operation are subject to weather conditions and attendance.
Admission: Adult go-karts: $6 for driver, $1.50 for passenger. Kiddy go-karts: $3.50. Adult mini golf (13+): $5. Child mini golf: $3.50. Batting cages (15 pitches per token): $1.50 per token, $5 for four tokens. Hour pass for all attractions: $15, two-hour pass: $20. Combo packages are also available.
• Kelly's Dair Bar and Miniature Golf
Address: 1280 S. Main St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-756-7123
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Admission: Adults are $5, kids are $4.50 and children younger than 3 are free.
Address: 2400 W. Fourth St., Ontario
Phone: 419-529-4343
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 12 to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Admission: First round is $6, and kids younger than 12 are $4, both with a free glow bracelet included. 3-D experience is $2, with reusable 3-D glasses. Groups of eight or more includes $1 off each player. Same day replay is $4.
Address: 22 Church St., Shelby
Phone: 567-209-2613
Hours: 1 to 10 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
Admission: A round is $5 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.
Address: 720 Ohio 97 West, Bellville
Phone: 419-886-7070
Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, weather permitting. Closed Sundays.
Admission: A round is $4.95 for adults and $3.95 for children 12 and under.
Indoor recreation
Address: 75 N. Main St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-522-4223
Summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Open First Fridays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a special of five rides for $2 from 5 to 8 p.m. on First Fridays.
Admission: $1 for one ride, $5 for six rides and $35 for 50 rides.
Address: 2190 W. Fourth St., Ontario
Phone: 567-303-8883
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Admission: Single-jumper rates include $12.95 for a one-hour pass, $20.95 for a two-hour pass and $24.95 for a three-hour pass. For children 6 and under, a one-hour pass is $9.95 and a two-hour pass is $12.95. A family jump pass is $42.95 for two adults and two children with one hour of jump time each.
More:Get a behind-the-scenes look at Ontario's Altitude Trampoline Park
Address: 855 Comfort Plaza Drive, Bellville
Phone: 419-886-4000
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for overnight guests.
Admission: Rates vary. Visit comfortinnsplashharbor.com/explore.
Community theaters
Upcoming shows include Disney's Newsies the Broadway Musical on July 28 and 29 and Aug. 4 and 5 and Disney's Aladdin, Jr. on Sept. 14, 15and 16.
Address: 138 Park Avenue West, Mansfield
Phone: 419-522-2726
Hours: Box office is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Hours for shows vary. Check mansfieldtickets.com.
Admission: Ticket prices vary. Check mansfieldtickets.com.
Address: 95 E. Third St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-522-2883
Hours: Hours for shows vary. Check mansfieldplayhouse.com.
Admission: Ticket prices vary. Check mansfieldplayhouse.com.
Racing
Address: 7721 Steam Corners Road, Lexington
Phone: 419-884-4000
Hours: Summer events include the Honda Indy 200 from July 27 to 29 and the Mid-Ohio 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series on Aug. 10 and 11. For more events and details, visit midohio.com/calendar.
Admission: Ticket prices vary. Visit midohio.com/tickets.
Address: 400 E. Crall Road, Mansfield
Phone: 419-465-RACE (7223)
Hours: Summer events include the Great Lakes Dirt Nationals on Aug. 10 and 11 and the Dirt Million on Aug. 24 and 25. For more details, visit mansfieldmotorspeedway.com/events-2.
Admission: Ticket prices vary. Visit mansfieldmotorspeedway.com/tickets.
Fairs and festivals
The Richland County area offers an array of summer fairs and festivals, including:
Through Saturday: Crawford County Fair
July 22-28: Knox County Fair
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28: Mansfield Children’s Festival
Aug. 5-11: Richland County Fair
Aug. 16-18: Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival
Sept. 12-16: Bellville Street Fair
Sept. 16-22: Ashland County Fair
Sept. 20-22: Crestline Harvest Festival
Museums
• Little Buckeye Children’s Museum
Address: 44 W. Fourth St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-522-2332
Summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Also open 5 to 8 p.m. on First Fridays.
Admission: $8 per person for ages 2 and up, including adults. Group rates available.
Address: 34 Park Avenue West, Mansfield
Phone: 419-525-2491
Hours: Call the museum for hours.
Admission: Donations
Address: 1265 W. Fourth St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-529-2573
Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Admission: Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
Address: 310 Springmill St., Mansfield
Phone: 419-524-1765
Hours: 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Admission: Adults $5, children 12 and younger $1.
Your local library
The nine locations of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library offers several events throughout the summer.
Visit mrcpl.org/calendar for a list of events.
Special deal
A Family Discount Deal is available that includes a package of four passes each to the Little Buckeye Children's Museum, Kingwood Center Gardens and Ohio Bird Sanctuary and four tokens at the Richland Carrousel Park.
A pass is $49, saving families $19. The passes are valid May 1 to Sept. 30.
This guide is not an exhaustive list of all the great things available in and around Richland County. If you think we left something out, let us know!
ejmills@mansfieldnewsjournal.com
419-521-7205
Twitter: @EmilyMills818