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Insider tips for visiting Ohio's herb capital.
Looking for some ideas to embrace summer fun with your kids? Visit Gahanna has several suggestions for creating memories (inexpensively). We’re breaking down 8 fun things to do in Gahanna to spend a day with your kiddo that is guaranteed to deliver lots of smiles and great memories.
Herbal Adventure Family Fun Pass Grab your tribe and head out on an adventure to discover the “Herb Capital of Ohio!” The Herbal Adventure Family Fun Pass works like a Scavenger Hunt. Just pick up your Fun Pass at the Visit Gahanna Visitor Center (167 Mill St.) or any of the 11 partner businesses. Show your Fun Pass to receive exclusive offers AND to collect stickers for ANY purchase made at each partner business. Once you've collected 5 stickers, redeem your pass for a choice of gifts at the Visitor Center.
Lazer Kraze Lazer Kraze Gahanna offers a clean, family-friendly environment with awesome laser tag, Indoor Trampoline Park, and huge arcade. Lazer Kraze also features Cyber Sport, which is a competitive two-team game that combines lacrosse and basketball on custom-designed Cyber Cars. Two teams pass around a ball using one-handed scoops. Goals are scored by shooting the ball through the opposing team's goal. Sound fun enough for a birthday party too? Several party options are available to customize a party just for you!
Glow Putt Glow Putt offers a blacklight mini golf adventure! Experience the excitement of playing inside a prehistoric and safari themed indoor mini golf course, and navigate through 18 exciting holes. (Note: pick up the Herbal Adventure Family Fun Pass for a discount!)
The Story Trail This year’s Story Trail at Friendship Park, 150 Oklahoma Ave., continues the buzz about Gahanna’s status as a pollinator city with the story “The Littlest Bee.” The Story Trail offers a self-guided walking-reading adventure that is appropriate for readers of all ages. Storyboards are set low to the ground for children to explore each piece of framed art and the Ready-to-Read prompts are provided by the Gahanna library.
Gahanna Bead Studio What kid doesn't like to use their imagination and create their own jewelry or work of art? Gahanna Bead Studio offers several classes and events that will allow you child’s creativity to come to life. With several instructors and different class options, you’ll surely find a class that best fits your creative taste. The studio also offers private party rental at their new multi-purpose room at 1026 N. Hamilton Rd.
The Ohio Herb Education Center The Herb Center offers classes, workshops and products featuring the use of herbs for culinary, decorative, garden, and more. Whether you are looking for new culinary ideas, gardening advice, wellness information or ideas on how to use your herbs, The Herb Center offers programs that will inspire you to try something new.
Young Chefs Academy If you have a wanna-be Master Chef at your house, nurture their love for creative cooking with a class or workshop at Young Chef’s Academy Gahanna! From kindercooks to campers--there is a fun themed class for everyone!
SmallCakes Cupcakery - Gahanna Gahanna’s newest sweet spot is SmallCakes … where you can have your cake and eat it too (with ice cream, if you like)! The colorful selection of delicious gourmet cupcakes baked fresh daily is made even sweeter with small batch ice cream made in the store. Your tribe will have nothing but smiles on their faces after a stop here!
Don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website!
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival (CBJF) in Gahanna, Ohio (June 15-17), we’re sharing some of our favorite stories through a #MyCBJFStory series.
The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival has become a tradition for many, even our volunteers! We’re lucky enough to have some of the most dedicated volunteers in this community. Our vendor coordinator, Joe Callison, has dedicated many hours of his time to help make this festival one of the best in Ohio, and we took a walk down memory lane to learn about how he became involved with CBJF.
How did you become involved with the CBJF (and what was your first year)? 2004 was the first year that I volunteered at the festival, with the Gahanna Jaycees. I actually lived in Beavercreek (near Dayton) at the time and was a member of the Jaycees there. I was also a state officer with the Ohio Jaycees and I came up to help out the local chapter. Back then, the Gahanna Jaycees provided manpower for the VIP/Sponsor event in the parking lot of the old post office on Mill St.
What made you want to become involved with CBJF? In 2005, I had moved to Gahanna and joined the Jaycees here. Once again, we provide manpower for the VIP/Sponsors event. I became the President of the Gahanna Jaycees in January of 2006 and had a meeting with Mayor Stinchcomb. She put me in contact with her representative on the committee and he told me when the next meeting was being held. The committee meetings are during the day and I work nights, so I was available, and here we are 12+ years later.
How did you become the Vendor Coordinator? The first couple of years, I was just sort of a general committee member and helped out wherever it was needed. When we started having the service organizations manning the beverage booths, I became the coordinator for that. But I still helped with other areas of the festival, as well. I helped the Admissions Coordinator, and during set-up, I helped the Vendor Coordinator. So, I got to know many of the vendors and how that all worked. I was reluctant at first about taking on that much responsibility. But, I came to realize just how integral the vendors are to the overall festival experience and how important that is to the Gahanna community.
On average, how many hours per year would you say you volunteer as part of the festival? I tried to figure that out at one time. I should probably try to track it more closely. Nonetheless, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s easily 120 hours or more per year with all the meetings, planning sessions, and prep work. Of course, during the weekend of the festival, I probably put in at least 40 hours. As do many of the committee members and volunteers.
Rumor is that you met your wife, through volunteering at the Festival? That is actually not true. In fact, it’s the other way around. Kristi and I met through the Jaycees, long before I became involved with the festival and she is the reason I moved to Gahanna. I ended up getting her more involved with the festival committee, by convincing her to be the Volunteer Coordinator. She did that for the CBJF and Holiday Lights until about 5 years ago, after our daughter was born.
What’s your favorite thing about the Festival? It’s family. Not just my actual family, who come out and volunteer every year, but my fellow committee members and the volunteers who come back year after year. And, of course, the vendors who I’ve gotten to know so well. We all genuinely care about each other and we all care about the success of the event. Honestly, that’s what keeps me coming back each year. Plus, I love the music, food and the people.
What makes CBJF different than other Central Ohio music festivals? The biggest difference is the diversity of our programming. We have 6 stages with all different types of entertainment. Obviously we have blues and jazz music, but there is also some swing music; some bluegrass; some country; a little ska; maybe some rock; and some R & B. All of the other music festivals seem to focus on a single genre and do a lot less with bigger budgets. Another thing that I think sets us apart is our location in Olde Gahanna. I think there’s a hometown feel that you just don’t find at too many other festivals.
One of my favorite CBJF memories: One of the first years that the Gahanna Jaycees worked a beer booth. There was a serious shortage of $1 bills and we had to make change out of the tip jars. So, the Jaycees decided to have some fun with it. Every time a customer would pay with exact change or gave us a tip, we would give them a cheer. We were making a lot of noise and having a ton of fun. We actually had people who would walk from the other end of the festival, past other beer booths, just to buy beer from the Jaycees.
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Got a #CBJF story? Email it to info@creeksidebluesandjazz.com and you just might snag some complimentary event wristbands. Take advantage of early bird ticket discounts and buy your tickets online here!
Swing’s the Thing is a local 16-piece band that covers a wide range of dancing music that includes swing, rock, ballad, blues, cha cha, rumba, mambo, samba, waltz, disco, foxtrot and polka. We talked to Mark Watson, one of the 16 members of the band to get to know the band a little better in preparation for their performance at the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival where they’ll perform on the Mount Carmel Stage on Saturday, June 16 from 3:30-5 pm.
When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music? Everyone in our group got started at a young age, probably at the grade school level, and at that time were most likely inspired by our individual teachers and band/orchestra directors.
Does the band have a favorite song to perform? Musicians all have their favorite songs that they perform. We carry around 400 tunes in our active book, so it is very difficult to single out a particular favorite since there are many.
Describe one of your best experiences/memories relating to your fans? Applause, smiles on the faces looking back at you are always something that means so much to us and when people come up after a performance saying how much they enjoyed themselves - that’s the payoff. That’s letting you know that all of the practice and planning that goes into the “gig” was worth our time and effort. As well as concerts and festivals, we also play for private functions such as wedding receptions. On occasion, we will see a couple whose reception we played for and they will bring their children to listen. It’s always fun to see them and their new families.
What can fans expect from the band’s performance? “Swing’s the Thing” Big Band has always prided itself in the energy we bring to the stage whether it’s playing the ‘old standards’ or the newer music that we like to play. When we perform, we like to keep things moving with more music and less talk.
How many times has the band performed at CBJF in the past? I haven’t kept close track, but I believe this will proudly be our 13th or 14th performance at the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival.
What do you like most about the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival? There are many music festivals all around this part of the midwest but the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival has clearly distinguished itself. Certainly, what we as musicians like best is the opportunity this festival provides for local musicians to show their stuff to an appreciative audience.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival in Gahanna, Ohio (June 15-17), we’re sharing some of our favorite stories through a #MyCBJFStory series.
If you like a high-energy performance, you’ll love Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons. We had the opportunity to hear about her background, inspirations and a few of her favorite things in preparation for her performance at CBJF. You can listen to Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons perform on the Mount Carmel Creekside Community Stage from 9:30-11 pm on Saturday, June 16.
How did you get your start as a musician? I took piano and violin lessons growing up, and in high school I taught myself how to play basic chords on guitar. The guitar sparked my interest in songwriting and performing. My first shows were mainly at school talent shows and local coffee shops.
When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music? I guess it hit me at the end of college. I realized most of my time and happiness revolved around music, and although it terrified me to think of that as a career option, music just took over and I embraced it.
Who inspires you? Artists like Lucinda Williams, John Prine, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave who are still making incredible music and still evolving. There’s a lot of hype out there and a lot of superficial music made for consumerism, so what inspires me are the artists that have always been true to themselves and their craft and have made their own path.
Do you have a favorite song that you perform? No favorites, although I am very much enjoying playing the new songs we have been working on for our next record out live. They are in their baby-forms right now, so they are scary and exciting to play live which keeps us on our toes.
Describe one of your best experiences/memories relating to your fans? That’s a tough one! In general, hugs, smiles and tears always get me. Whenever someone tells us how much our music means to them or how it has gotten them through a tough time in their life that is very meaningful to me. Also the dedication and support of people not just coming to one show of ours, but coming to 50+ shows a year and traveling to see the band is pretty sweet.
We’re looking forward to your performance at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival! What can fans expect from your performance? We are too! We are going to have a high energy set with some new songs we’ve been working on sprinkled in there, so they can expect a little bit of everything.
How many times have you performed at CBJF in the past? I’m horrible with exact numbers but we have played several times now and it has become somewhat of a hometown tradition for us to play, so we are always pumped when it comes around. Feels like the true kick-off of the summer festival season to us!
What do you like most about the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival? I love how community focused it is and how diverse the local and regional band lineup is at Creekside Blues & Jazz Fest. I also love the setting, it’s a big fest but feels intimate. It’s lovely to hear music playing and at the same time see people enjoying the park and the creek.
If you’re a fan of the hit T.V. show, The Voice, this musician’s name may sound familiar to you. You may recognize Josh Hoyer from his soul/funk/R&B band or you might recognize him from being a contestant on The Voice, as a part of Blake Shelton’s team. We had the pleasure of getting to know a little more about this rising star, recently. You can look for Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal to perform on the Mount Carmel Community Stage from 7-8:30 pm on Friday, June 15.
How did you get your start as a musician? I first performed at 6 years old. I used to sing and dance in the house all the time. When I was 6, my parents entered me into a talent show at the high school where my father was a teacher. I sang "Hurts So Good" by John Cougar Mellencamp. I've been performing ever since!
When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music? I have always loved music and it has always been a huge part of my life. All through my public education, I took as many band and choir classes as possible. Often, that was 4 classes a day. After high school, I continued to play music, and played in many bands and jam sessions. When I returned home from New Orleans in 2003, I got my first touring gig as a saxophone player for EC Scott out of Oakland, CA. And, even though I finished my college degree and have worked a couple other jobs since then (namely a stint as a homeless outreach worker), I believe that is when I first knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a musician. Fifteen years later, after much hard work, I now lead an internationally touring band that has released 3 studio albums and 2 live albums to critical acclaim!
Who inspires you? I am inspired by many people, but first and foremost are my parents, my wife and my children. They are my rock and my reason for trying my best in life. I have been very blessed to have such wonderful people in my immediate family that are caring, thoughtful, hard-working and genuine people.
Do you have a favorite song that you perform? I love all of the music that our band plays. If there was a song I really wasn't "feeling", it would no longer be in the set. For Soul music, in particular, I feel it is essential that the singer and band connects with each song. That it breathes within them. If you aren't being genuine in this style of music, it has very little value. People need to FEEL you. I would say, right now, my favorite is likely a song about my daughter, called "Clara Jayne." However, I pride myself on the fact that songs I wrote 5 years ago, feel as immediate and as honest as they did then. In my book, that is what makes a great song!
Describe one of your best experiences/memories relating to your fans? Reaching the listener is what playing music is all about! We've been very blessed to meet great people all over the world through our music. Those connections and that spiritual bond that happens in a live performance are what keep us going in this very difficult and turbulent business. In Germany last year, a gentlemen came to three separate performances; for two of them-- he drove more than 100 miles to attend. After the last of those shows he came up and introduced himself. He said he had been having a very hard time in life: an illness, a death in the family and a broken home. He said that even though he worked full-time as a roofer (in his late 50s), that our music was a huge inspiration to him. He loved how we played with full hearts, giving everything we had night after night. It reminded him that he wasn't alone and that he, too, wanted to keep giving it all he had. That, to me, is what this is all about!
We’re looking forward to your performance at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival! What can fans expect from your performance? You can expect to hear some of the finest players in the world. The fellas in the band are incredibly talented and full of heart! We will play you songs about love, family and loss; about positivity, fighting for justice and trying to do the right thing; about spirit, Soul and what we all have in common. Musically, we borrow from the greats in Blues, Soul, Funk and Jazz to create songs that stand on their own in modern times. We will sweat, smile, pulse, groove and soar with the power of music and try to connect each and every listener in the moment. In the end - we will have a HUGE amount of fun! Really looking forward to playing for you all!!!
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