FEBRUARY

MA & PA's HORSE-DRAWN SLEIGH RIDES
(Adults $20.00, Seniors $18.00, Children ages 11-16 $10, ages 5-10 $5, age 4 and younger are free) 

• When: Annually from December 1 through the end of February

• Where: Main Market Road, (State Route 422), Troy Township, Ohio

• Phone: 440-548-5521 

How does "Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh" sound?  The excursion begins at Ma and Pa's 1820's log cabin where you will find various rustic items such as chainsaw carved bears, log furniture, hunting, fishing, and everything for the rustic home. Then out into the woods one of their draft horses will pull one of two old fashioned sleighs, wandering out into an open field where, during the evening rides, the horses often stop so that guests can gaze up into the star filled sky. When the trip has ended, visitors are welcomed back to the cabin for hot chocolate or maple coffee and cookies baked by Ma herself!
 

VALENTINE RE-MAILING PROGRAM FROM LOVELAND
(Special stamping is free; must apply proper postage to envelopes) 

• When:  January 1st through February 14th

• Location:  Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce in Loveland, Ohio

• Phone:  513-683-1544

Send your Valentines stamped with a romantic cachet and postmark from Loveland, Ohio.  Prepare your Valentines, affixing proper postage, address, and return address, and include them in a larger envelope addressed to:  The Valentine Lady, 442 West Loveland Ave., Loveland, OH  45140.   

All of the Valentine Ladies, past and present, members of the sweetheart court, and Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce staff members, will affix the special cachet bearing our signature slogan, "There is nothing in this world so sweet as love."  After the special cachet is stamped upon the Valentine envelopes, they are taken to the Loveland Post Office where they are hand canceled bearing the passionate postmark from Loveland, OH.  Please don't wait until February to send your Valentines!  For more information please visit www.lovelandchamber.org.

CHOCOLATE IS FOR LOVERS WINE TRAIL
(Admission: $45/Couple, $35/Single) 

• When: February 5, 6, 12, 13, 2010

• Locations: Wineries from Cleveland to Conneaut

•  Phone: 800-227-6972

Celebrate your winter with a wine and chocolate themed self-driving tour along the Vines & Wines Wine Trail. Enjoy mouthwatering chocolates and wine samples at each stop of the trail. Each trail participant will receive a wine glass. Please visit our website, www.OhioWines.org, for more information and a list of participating wineries. Participants must be 21 or older and tickets are nonrefundable.
 

ARCTIC ICE FESTIVAL
(Admission: Most activities free, $1/Maritime Museum, $5/Underground Railroad Trolley Tour, $1/ice skating program) 

• When: February 6 & 7, 2010

• Location: Sandusky Maritime Museum, Sandusky Sailing Club, Erie County Senior Center in Downtown Sandusky, Ohio

• Phone: 419-627-5986

Lake Erie in the winter? Bring your family for a fun and educational weekend of winter activities! Events include ice sculptures by Olympic Gold Medal winner and National Champion ice carver, Aaron Costic, plus ice carving demonstrations, ice boat races, guest speakers, soup cook-off, Underground Railroad Tours, "Take a Hike" with Erie MetroParks at Mills Creek Golf Course, and much more! Some events are weather-permitting. For more information, call 419-627-5986.

VALENTINES BY CANDLELIGHT
(Admission: Tickets are $60 per person, plus $4 for parking. Ohio Historical Society members receive a $10 discount per person and free parking.) 

• When: February 12 & 13, 2010
• Location: Next to the Ohio Historical Center at I-71 and East 17^th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 800-686-1541 or 614-297-2663 for reservations

Ohio Village will once again host candlelight dinners to celebrate Valentines Day. Guests will enjoy a memorable dining experience in this 19^th-century setting while they are being entertained with charming ditties and ballads from the past by the renowned Ohio Village Singers, one of the longest performing vocal ensembles specializing in period music in the country. 

Couples can enjoy a romantic dinner for two at Valentines by Candlelight. Guests will be greeted at the American House Hotel by costumed interpreters, romantic melodies performed on the violin and hammered dulcimer and a cup of "Sweetheart Punch." After an elegant meal, the Ohio Village Singers will croon period love ballads and comic songs interspersed with romantic verse, poetry and readings. Each guest will receive a handmade valentine created for the occasion. 

ICE FESTIVAL in  Medina
(Admission is Free)  

• When: February 12 - 15, 2010
• Location: Medina, Ohio’s public square
• Phone: 440-717-1940

Brrrrr. If you have “cabin fever” and want to spend some time outside in the middle of a northeast Ohio winter, you need to stop in the historic town square in Medina, Ohio for their annual Ice Festival. There, you will see a small downtown seemingly from Norman Rockwell painting. Even more, you will see beautiful artwork made from ice as carvers compete in crafting ice sculptures. Don’t worry, there are plenty of nice little shops to duck in and warm up a bit. 

Printout: Medina Ice Festival
 

NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN GATHERING
(Admission is $5.00 for Adults and $3.00 for Children) 

• When:  Saturday, February 21, 2009.  Doors open at 10:00 a.m.;  Dancing starts at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2009.  Doors open at 10:00 a.m.;  Dancing starts at 1:00 p.m.

• Where:  UAW Hall, 1440 Bellefontaine Ave., Lima, OH  45804

• Phone:  513-398-7441 

The Native American Indian Gathering (also known as the Native American Powwow) will feature Indians dancing in full regalia!  The programs bring Native American educators, scholars, Tribal members, and dancers from all over the United States and Canada into the local community to provide a “hands on” experience with the Native ways and culture. The public is invited to this family-oriented and educational event with Native food, arts & crafts and entertainment. 
 

YMCA FABRIC ARTS & SCRAPBOOKING WOMEN'S WEEKEND 

• When:  Feb. 26-28, 2010 - 7:00pm Friday - 1:00pm Sunday
• Location:  2732 Co. Rd. 11, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
• Phone:  1-800-423-0427
• Website: http://www.ymcacampwillson.org/fabric-arts-weekend.html  

Do you have cabin fever?  Try the Fabric Arts and Scrapbooking Weekend, February 26-28, 2010, at YMCA Camp Willson.  Whether you quilt, knit, crochet or scrapbook, if you are a beginner or a seasoned artist, YMCA Camp Willson's Fabric Arts & Scrapbooking Weekend will provide you with the time, place and peace to nurture your craft along with other kindred artists!  We'll have friendly instructors to help you along, give you some hints to make your creation a little bit simpler to finish, and encourage you in your efforts. 

Choose to participate in the group project of the weekend or work on your own unique project, perhaps something you started long ago and never had time to finish.  Regtistration fee:  $145.00 includes accomodations in modern, heated cabins and family-style meals. Call YMCA Camp Willson, located in Bellefontaine, OH at 1-800-423-0427 for registration information. Cost $145.