Last days of summer (WITH GALLERY)

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Kings Hollow performs at Grovefest at Paul Porter Park in Coal Grove on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

Season’s last events draw crowds to Ashland, Coal Grove

Today is the first day of fall and the summer came to a close with two festivals bringing people out in our region over the past weekend.

In Ashland, the city celebrated Poage Landing Days, with the three-day festival hosting performances from Pam Tillis, regional musicians and the Cincinnati Circus Company, as well as vendors and many family activities.

Lenny Poage competes in the qualifying starts of the Southern Fried Conefest skateboard race at Poage Landing Days in Ashland on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

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The event ran for three days on Winchester Avenue and drew a strong turnout throughout its duration.

Gia Bolton, an aerialist with the Cincinnati Circus Company, performs at Poage Landing Days in Ashland on Saturday. (The Ironton Tribune | Heath Harrison)

While in Coal Grove on Saturday, Paul Porter Park was home to the return of Grovefest, a hard rock festival with more than a dozen bands.

It was the second year for the event.

While the season may be over, the arrival of fall does not mean a lack of activities for the public.

Here’s a look at several events planned for the county this week.

• On Thursday, it will be an event for a good cause, as Impact Prevention, comprised of youth from across the county, will conduct their annual Suicide Prevention Walk, starting at the Lawrence County Courthouse at 6 p.m.

• Beginning a busy Saturday, Ohio University Southern will host their first annual Family Day from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The free event, open to OU students, employees and families, current and previous, will feature activities for all ages, including free food, inflatables, pumpkin painting, corn hole, family-oriented contests and creative stations for tie-dye, along with music and dancing.

• The sixth annual Ohio River Wine & Art Festival will take place from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday at the TownPlace Suites by Mariott in Ironton. Tickets are available at www.irontonalive.com, the group’s aLive Facebook page and https://www.simpletix.com/e/ohio-river-wine-and-art-festival-tickets-112188.

• The second annual Ironton River Run, organized by local nonprofit Third and Center, will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Pre-registration for the event can be done at www.tristateracer.com and is $25. Participants can also register on site on the day of the event, beginning at 5 p.m., at a cost of $30.

• The Lawrence County Historic Society will host their annual Historic Walk at Woodland Cemetery in Ironton, running from 5-7 p.m. Re-enactors will tell the life story of the notables buried on the grounds. Event is free and open to the public.