News about North Central Ohio and Lorain County events, weather, Lake Erie, arts, wine, culinary happenings, outdoors and little known corners of Lorain County that are just waiting to be explored. Lake Erie is in our nature!
 Visit Lorain County news and blog
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Halloween in Lorain County
12 Oct 2009, 3:08 pm
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Check out all the spooky-scary tricks and family-fun treats happening in Lorain County this October! As the temperature drops and the leaves begin to turn, the ghouls and goblins of Lorain County come out to play. For all you thrill seekers out there, here’s where to go to find them:
- Terror in the Field: Vermilion’s Old Haunted State Street School presents a 1/3 mile corn maze at Novotney's Farm Market, across from Friendship Gas Station in Vermilion, and all too close to Lake Eeeeerie. October 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, and 31st.
- Halloween Fair: From 5–7 this autumn fair at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor’s Center is family friendly; the bewitching hour begins at 7. The fair includes a spooky trail (see pic below) music, games, and food. October 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th, and 31st.
- North Ridgeville’s Spookville: From 4 to dusk it’s all fun and games in Spookville, with face painting, crafts, applesauce making, and pumpkin carving. But after dusk the 1/4 mile Haunted Trail opens and the terror begins. Located in South Central Park, October 17th.
- Ghost Watch at the Moore House: The Moore House, location of the Black River Historical Society, invites unbelievers to view a REAL ghost hunt conducted by a team of experts from the Ohio Researchers of Banded Spirits (don’t believe this exists, do you? Check out their website. Crazy!). Adults only, $25 Limited tickets. During the ghost hunt, cemetery tours, food, and a bonfire will be available outside for Halloween lovers of all ages. October 24th.
If blood-curdling, teeth-chattering terror isn’t your style, there are still plenty of other ways to enjoy the season in Lorain County. For instance, check out: - Pumpkin Land: While you stock up on cider and apples at Miller’s Orchard, let your kids roam this fun, autumnal play area. Two hay mazes, one well-lit and one dark, scarecrows, farm animals and plenty of pumpkins. Open through Halloween.
- Halloween Campout: Findley State Park is getting in the holiday spirit with this festive campout festival. For only the regular camping fees, campers of all ages can enjoy movies, games, a costume pet parade, trick-or-treating, hay rides, a scarecrow contest and delicious pot-luck soup. October 9th and 10th.
- Fall Hay Wagon Rides and Corn Maze: Come to the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center for the quintessential fall experience. Traditional, horse-drawn hay rides leave every 15 minutes until 3:30 PM. The Corn Maze measures a whopping 4 acres. October 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th.
- North Ridgeville Tot-Trick-or-Treat: Bring the kids to North Ridgeville’s City Hall for a night of safe trick-or-treating. Lots of candy to be had. October 30th.
- Halloween at Jamie's Flea Market: Start your Halloween day off right with a trip to Jamie's Flea Market. Trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under and scavenger hunts for a chance to win Jamie’s Gift Certificates.
And finally, let these special events attest to the fact that Halloween isn’t just for the younger kids: - Monster Mash Bone Bash: The costume party of the year, at Matus Winery in Wakeman. Dress to impress. Previous award winners have included pirates, hippies, and ghosts--but you can top that. October 31st.
- Masquerade Murder Mystery: The Oberlin Inn presents a murder mystery evening, complete with superior overnight accommodations, lavish dinner buffett, and an entertaining Murder Mystery. Costumes, apropos the holiday, are highly recommended. October 31st. Call the Inn at 775-1111 for reservations.
Visit Lorain County wishes you and your family a happy, safe, and sufficiently spooky Halloween! For more information on happenings in Lorain County, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Road, call us 1-800-334-1673, visit the website, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
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A Perfect Fall Weekend in Wellington, OH
10 Sep 2009, 4:10 pm
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The Village of Wellington, located in the southern portion of Lorain County, OH, is a quaint, small town with lots of spirit. In addition to being known as the Cheese Capital of the World from around 1868 until about 1910, it is also know for its stunning collection of 19th & early 20th century architecture. And of course, for being the home of artist Archibald Williard, while he painted the famed Spirit of '76.  Wellington Town Hall
Here's a short video of Patti Young of Wellington Implement, talking about her beloved hometown. (Congratulations, Wellington Implement, on your 80th year anniversary!)
The weekend of September 18-20th is a great weekend to visit Wellington and take in the local culture. Here are a few of the major events happening around town: Sept. 18-20, 2009 LaGrange Engine Show, Lorain County Fairgrounds, Wellington, Fri-Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9am-3pm Sept. 20, 2009 Harvest of the Arts, Wellington Town Hall, 11am-5pm While you're in Wellington, be sure to pick up the brochures for the Walking Tours of Wellington's Historical South Main Street Homes and Historic Downtown District. For more info on these walking tours, contact Main Street Wellington. Other Wellington attractions:  Bonnie Brae Elk Farm Bread-N-Brew Clare-Mar Lakes Campground & RV Sales Days of Yore Herb & Flower Farm Findley State Park Spirit of '76 Museum Wellington Reservation For more information on Lorain County attractions and hotel and lodging options, visit our website http://www.visitloraincounty.com/ or call 1.800.334.1673 to request a Lorain County Visitors Guide.
To stay up-to-date on Lorain County happenings, Follow us on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook. 
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Great Hotel Deals in Lorain County, Ohio
7 Aug 2009, 11:27 am
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Ignore all those back-to-school ads and summer clearance sales; summer’s not nearly over in Lorain County! And if you’re planning an end-of-season trip to take advantage of all the awesome events and activities going on in the county, you’re going to need a place to stay. Here’s a list of some special rates, promotions, and packages offered by area hotels: Country Inn & Suites, Elyria: Now offering the “Sweat Deal”—15% off two or more consecutive nights if reserved three days in advance.
Motel 6, Amherst: August rates are just $37.99 during the week and only $43.99 on weekends for one person. Kids under 17 stay free!
Best Western, Elyria: Discounts for AAA, CAA, and AARP members. 10%-30% off the lowest regular rates if you make a reservation online.
Fairfield Inn & Suites, Avon: A big drop in weekend rates—from $129 to only $89!
Comfort Inn, Elyria: Discounts for AAA, CAA, and AARP members. Free enrollment in the Choice Privileges program, which makes you eligible for free nights nationwide.
Red Roof Inn, Elyria: Kids under 17 stay free!
Oberlin Inn: Sign up online for the “Free Oberlin Weekend Package for Two Promotion”—one night free plus breakfast. Also, Summer Barbecues and Afternoon Tea in the Garden throughout the month.
Days Inn, Amherst: Discounts for AAA, CAA, and AARP members. Save 15% if you prepay.
Holiday Inn of Elyria-Lorain, Elyria: Choose from a variety of special offers including the Romantic Escape, the Adventure, and the Premiere Movie packages. Once in the area, soak up those last summer rays on the beaches of Lake Erie, take in a Crusher's game at the brand new All Pro Freight Stadium, explore the Back Roads & Beaches Bike and Multi-Sport Route, or enjoy a few of the county's exciting August events:  For more Lorain County lodging information, check out the Visit Lorain County website. And for continuous updates on what's happening around the county, follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
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Lake Erie Sport Fishing in Lorain County
4 Aug 2009, 2:37 pm
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Lorain County has some of the best fishing on Lake Erie! Capt. Tony Sambunjak from A Reel Thrill Charter can attest to that based on his successful day on Lake Erie!  From Left: Bob Ferguson, Capt. Tony Sambunjak, Andrew Zatik, and Aaron ZatikHe took fishermen, Aaron Zatik of Valley City, Andrew Zatik of Strongsville, and Bob Ferguson of Olmsted Falls out on Lake Erie for a beautiful day of angling. Here's what Capt. Tony had to say: Here's what OSU Extension Specialist Dave Kelch from the Ohio Sea Grant has to say about Lorain County's waters: From spectacular walleye fishing on Lake Erie, to fishing the numerous tributary streams for trophy steelhead, make Lorain County your angling destination—spring, summer, fall and winter. Walleye are considered the most-pursued game fish on Lake Erie, and in Lorain County waters, they are caught along Lorain County’s rocky nearshore beginning in the spring and continuing through the entire season. Deeper offshore water offers anglers plenty of walleye action during the summer and fall months, with both trolling and drifting cast methods being productive. Limit catches and trophy sized fish are trademarks of our Lake Erie waters.
The well known sandbar, located between Lorain and Vermilion, creates a natural habitat for summer and fall walleye, producing many trophy-size “hawg” walleye in late October and November. Smallmouth bass are plentiful along the entire length of Lorain County’s rocky shoreline and artificial reef structures, providing fast action from spring through fall. Numerous bass fishing tournaments originate from Lorain Harbor due to both the abundance and size of Lorain County smallmouth. Don’t overlook Lorain’s popular artificial reefs (the largest in Lake Erie) which are a natural haven for the smallmouth. In addition, walleye and yellow perch are also frequent visitors to these mounds of rock and concrete rubble. (For more information and locations of the artificial reefs, visit the Ohio Sea Grant website). Photo by Holly Miller-McGuire
Steelhead trout anglers will find Lorain County to be the place to stay and fish. Stocked annually in local tributary streams, steelhead seek out the colder, deeper waters offshore of Lorain County in the summer months, where they feed heavily on Lake Erie’s abundant forage supply and grow larger. Many offshore anglers target steelhead during late June-August, frequently taking limit catches, along with many trophy-sized walleye! From mid-October through early May, steelhead will enter Lorain County and other nearby tributaries in preparation for their annual spawning rituals, providing a great opportunity to catch trophy-size fish. Plan on staying two or three days, fishing different locations within a 20 minute dreive east and west of Lorain County, or right in Lorain County itself! Fly-fishing with artificials and spinning tackle with live bait, spawn sacs, and spinners are all productive. Plenty of local tackle shops can provide the anglers with all the supplies they need, along with up-to-date fishing reports. Lake Erie yellow perch, often referred to as “the gold of the lake,” provide superb angling opportunities from spring through fall. Beginning in September, schooling perch again move shoreward, only this time for their pre-winter feeding spree. Limit catches with plenty of “jumbo perch” are generally the rule in Lorain County waters during spring and fall, yet limit catches are very common throughout the summer in deeper waters. Ohio’s Division of Wildlife indicates plenty of “jumbos” for the 2003 catch, ranging from 11” to 13”, will keep anglers busy and fill coolers, along with trophy sized 14” plus perch from the 2001 hatch. Make Lorain County’s Lake Erie your angling destination for 2009; experience our different angling seasons, stay for a couple of days, catch that trophy fish, and fill your freezer! -Dave Kelch, OSU Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant  Visit Lorain County Fishing Charters:
And don't forget, the Western Basin Fishing Association's 1st Annual Gator Pro-Am Classic takes place in Lorain on September 12th and 13th, 2009. Two days of professional angling action, sponsored by the Starcraft Marine and Crown Battery. For more information, stop by the Visit Lorain County Travel Information Center at 8025 Leavitt Rd., Amherst, OH 44001, visit http://www.visitloraincounty.com/ or call 1.800.334.1673. Fish on! 
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What's in Season at Lorain County Farmer's Markets
15 Jul 2009, 1:30 pm
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Lorain County has a farmer's market/produce stand on every corner throughout the county!!! OK, that could be a bit of an exaggeration, but not too far from the truth. We're known for our agriculture, so it's safe to say we have A LOT of farmer's markets in Lorain County, Ohio. From the rural, southern farms, all the way up to Lake Erie, you'll find a wide variety of fresh, locally grown produce. Here's a sampling of north central Ohio markets you don't want to miss and what is currently in season:  Grobe Fruit Farm (43875 Telegraph Rd., Elyria, OH, 440.322.8312) says now is the time for sweet corn, potatoes, squash, green beans, apple cider, tomatoes in a week, peaches and berries at the end of July.  Spiegelberg Orchards (6161 Middle Ridge Rd., Amherst, OH, 44.233.6083) currently has sour & sweet cherries and starting July 17th they'll have pitted tart cherries and starting July 20th, Lodi Apples. Jamie's Flea Market (46388 Telegraph Rd., Amherst, OH, 440.986.4402) usually has anywhere between 3-6 produce vendors every Wednesday & Saturday during the summer months. Right now you'll find cabbage, cantaloupe, and tomatoes, among many other fresh fruits and vegetables.  May-October, Saturdays, 9am - 1pm July 18-October 31, Saturdays, 9am - 2pm If your looking for fresh herbs and vegetable plants...  Don Mould's Plantation (34837 Lorain Rd., N. Ridgeville, OH, 440.327.3407 and Route 58 & 113, Amherst, OH, 440.986.7777) Petitti Garden Centers (33777 Chester Rd., Avon, OH, 440.937.0690) You can always refer to a local fruit and vegetabable harvest calendar to find out what's in season, but your best bet would be to stop by and see for yourself. And while your here, I recommend a sure thing, always to be in season....locally grown, pressed grapes! Click here for a list of Lorain County and nearby wineries. Many Lorain County restuarants also include fresh, locally grown produce on their menu, here's just a few: Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant in Lorain, Nemo Grille in Avon, and Jefferson 150 Restaurant in Amherst. 
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