Fun Things to Do Near Columbus this Weekend

Want to get out of the city this weekend and try something new? We have some ideas that won’t require a long drive or much pre-planning.

Saturday, March 14, is a great day to visit Fairfield County! Head off to tour the county’s last remaining opera house while enjoying craft beer, mead, and cider tastings. There’s also a couple of fun ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a tad early, or join the crafting community in a unique way.

Yarnbyrds Truck visits Rabbit & Rocket with hard-to-find knitting goods

What: Yarnbyrds Truck visits and Rabbit & Rocket knitting workshops

When: Truck visits from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Workshops are scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for beginners and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for experienced knitters.

Where: Rabbit & Rocket, 207 W. Main St., Lancaster OH, 43130

Cost: Workshops are $40 for beginners and $35 for the hat knitting class. Registration is required.

Peruse a 31-foot renovated chandelier-lit RV filled with all kinds of yarn and knitting goods that are difficult to find anywhere else. The truck will be parked in the lot next door to Lancaster’s Rabbit & Rocket, allowing yarn lovers access to supplies they can’t find anywhere else.

Visit the truck and stay for one of the Rabbit & Rocket workshops where the Athens Knitters Guild will teach a class for beginners and another for the more experienced knitter Saturday afternoon.

Rabbit & Rocket is a great place to pick up a new skill, including embroidery, cross stitch, crochet and knitting, among others. Classes are offered frequently.

Lucky Lancaster – O’Huids Gaelic Pub

What: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

When: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday

Where: O’Huids Gaelic Pub, 167 W. Main St., Lancaster OH, 43130

Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at O’Huids Gaelic Pub from morning until night, starting with kegs and eggs at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The pub is closing down Columbus Street for festivities with live music and performances and lots of delicious Irish food and drinks served throughout the day.

There will also be a pub choir where all are welcome to raise a glass, sing songs, and join in some fellowship (great singing voice not required).

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – Double Edge Brewing Co.

What: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

When: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday, March 14

Where: Double Edge Brewing Co., 158 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster OH, 43130

Lancaster’s local brewery is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with $3 Golden Ale pints Saturday afternoon and evening with Chicky Chicky Waffle food truck serving up food starting at 2 p.m.

The brewery is a great place to spend Saturday, try some local brews, and listen to live music. The Grifters will be performing Irish and Appalachian string music starting at 7 p.m.

Photo by Matthew Shaw

An Evening at the Historic Baltimore Victoria Opera House and Craft Beer Tasting

What: Fundraiser, Craft Beer Tasting, and Tour

When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Tastings begin at 7 p.m.

Where: 101 S. Main St., Baltimore, OH 43105

Cost: Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here or at the door.

Attire: Cocktail attire is encouraged but not required.

Come learn the history behind the last remaining opera house in Fairfield County while enjoying a curated collection of craft beers, ciders and meads, delicious food pairings, and live Celtic music.

Photo by Robert Grimm

The Victoria Opera House was built in 1905 — a time when gaslights lit the The Victoria Opera House for silent films and vaudeville productions, and pot belly stoves kept it warm. The building has a long and fascinating history, serving as the Ohio Theater from 1936 to the mid 1950s. The auditorium went on to show movies until the 1960s when it was abandoned and used as storage.

Shelley Brady, event coordinator at the opera house, said each floor has a story. The basement turned over many times, once as a blacksmith shop, a public restroom, gas station, and even a jail. The third floor was home for the Masonic Temple for years up until the 1980s.

“The building was really used for everything,” says Brady “It really was the heart of the town.”

The opera house languished for about 50 years before the Baltimore Downtown Restoration brought new life to the building starting in 2011, including the addition of modern luxuries like electricity, plumbing, and air conditioning.

While the event is sure to be tasty and for a good cause, a fundraiser ticket is not necessary to tour the opera house. The Baltimore Community Museum will provide free guided tours from 7 to 8 p.m. on March 14, in addition to the craft brew event.

The tasting is the 8th annual fundraiser hosted by Baltimore Downtown Restoration, and all proceeds from the event will go toward future restoration projects. For future opera house events or to rent the space, visit its Facebook page.