New experiences await Buckeye State visitors in 2015

COLUMBUS, OH – From century-old experiences to the brand new, Ohio visitors will find plenty of opportunities to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate in the Buckeye State. Cultural celebrations abound while rock and roll will shake the north shore, and baseball brings its All-Stars to town while amusement park rides and exhibits give visitors a reason to come back and make new memories.

Arts & Culture

Cleveland Play House Launches 100th Year

Having entertained more than 12 million people with 1,300 plus productions, the Cleveland Play House utilizes three of the nine theaters that make up PlayhouseSquare – the largest performing arts center outside New York City. The new season will be announced March 21.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens 100th Anniversary, Akron (Opens April 1)
A National Historic Landmark, Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens will welcome visitors with the 2nd Century in Bloom tour. Built by the co-founder of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the Tudor Revival-Style Manor Home has 65-rooms filled with original furnishings, eight gardens, the Corbin Conservatory and more.

Rock Hall Celebrates 20 Years, Induction Ceremony Returns; Cleveland (April 4-18)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary and welcomes the Rock Hall Induction Ceremony back to Cleveland. Events will include a weeklong series of concerts and culminates with the Induction Ceremony held at Public Hall on April 18. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Ringo Starr, The “5” Royales, Green Day and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

Raise a Glass

Columbus Craft Beer Week, Columbus (May 1-9)

The inaugural Columbus Craft Beer Week will feature food and beer pairings, tap takeovers, meet the brewer opportunities and educational speakers. There also will be seven collaboration beers from 16 local breweries released throughout the week.

Flats East Bank, Cleveland

The final phase of the Flats Redevelopment Project will be complete this summer, with Zach Bruell’s new restaurant Alley Cat, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and The Big Bang dueling piano bar among the places set to open. In addition, The Odeon Concert Club will reopen on May 1, nine years after ending its run as one of Cleveland’s preeminent concert venues.

Little Fish Brewing Company & Devil’s Kettle Brewing, Athens

Athens will welcome two new craft breweries this summer, and both are set to open prior to the city’s annual Ohio Brew Week in July. Little Fish Brewing Company will offer European farmhouse-style beers from the taprooms’ eight taps. Cameron Fuller, who won “Best of Show” during Ohio Brew Week in 2013, will open Devil’s Kettle Brewing.

Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph, Columbus

Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph hotel opened in Columbus’ Short North neighborhood in January. The 135-room boutique hotel features contemporary art from owner Ron Pizzuti’s world-class collection and Cameron Mitchell’s new farm-to-table restaurant, The Guild House.

Sports

Cleveland Indians Field Improvements (Home Opener – April 10)
The Cleveland Indians will debut renovations to Progressive Field on Opening Day when they host the Detroit Tigers. Highlights include an expanded Kids Clubhouse, new game-viewing areas and the new Right Field District. The district will host five neighborhood-themed areas with local food and drink restaurants including Melt, Barrio, Sweet Moses, Dynomite Burgers and Great Lakes Brewing Company.

2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Cincinnati (July 14)

The Cincinnati Reds Great American Ball Park will host the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game this year. This is the fifth All-Star Game for the city, and its first in 27 years. In the days leading up to the big game, don’t miss all the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest festivities taking place at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

Family Fun

Journey To Space, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton (Open)
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force just opened Journey To Space, a new giant screen format film showing in the Air Force Museum Theatre. The film provides a tribute to the Space Shuttle program and unveils a new era of deep space exploration.

Toledo Zoo Aquarium, Toledo (Opens March 27)

The Toledo Zoo will debut a $25.5 million renovation to its aquarium featuring a 90,000-gallon exhibit called The Reef. Divers will swim with sharks and tropical fish in a floor-to-ceiling tank, and share what’s happening in the reef. “Touch tanks” will allow visitors to interact with sharks, starfish and other sea creatures. Closed for renovations since 2012, the new aquarium will hold triple the amount of water as the previous building.

Kings Island, Mason (Opens April 18)

Kings Island will reveal two new family rides in its award-winning Plant Snoopy kids’ area. The Woodstock Gliders will lift riders 28-feet in the air in two-person planes, while Snoopy’s Space Buggies will provide a fun, bouncy experience for children and parents.
Rougarou at Cedar Point, Sandusky (Opens May 9)

Cedar Point will unveil Rougarou,™ the park’s first floorless coaster. Also debuting this summer is the newly renovated Hotel Breakers. The park’s signature hotel, Breakers, has been updated to maintain its history and beachfront location with the addition of a new grand entrance, an expanded outdoor pool deck with hot tub and more.