By Catharine Hadley, Arts and Entertainment Editor, catharinehadley@gmail.com

The theme of this column is “trying new things.” I’m happy to be starting this new project of writing the entertainment column for Leisure Living Magazine! I’ve done all I could to make the entertainment listing complete and varied, so there should be something for everyone. Although I’ve done my best to make sure all the information is accurate, please go online or call ahead to confirm your plans.

Any suggestions and details of your upcoming events can be sent to me at catharinehadley@gmail.com.

June

28 - Rusty G-String, Free Summer Concert Series, Norwalk

29 - Redhead Express, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

30 - John Pickle, Riverfront Live! Free concert at the Jefferson Street Pier, downtown Port Clinton

30 - The Sellouts, Party at the Plaza, downtown Sandusky

30 - The Cleveland Pops Orchestra presents "From Broadway to Hollywood," Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

July

Through July 22 -Lakeside Art Show

6 - Tony Lucca, The Listening Room, Port Clinton

6 - "Grate off the Grill" beer and wine tasting, Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, Elmore

6 - First Thursday Art Walk, downtown Sandusky

7 - Javier Colon with special guest Leslie DeNicola, The Listening Room, Port Clinton

7 - Party at the Plaza featuring Nick Brownell, downtown Sandusky

7 - State of Comedy, Sandusky State Theatre

7 - Riverfront Live! presents Richie Kilken, Jefferson Street Pier, Port Clinton

7-9 - Huron River Fest, Huron Boat Basin

8 - Chubby Checker, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

8 - Oct. 1 - "The Berlin Painter and His World," Toledo Museum of Art

9 - Port Clinton Women's Club Arts and Crafts Show, Lakeview Park

12 - Verandah Concert featuring CB Band, Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont

12 - Lakeside Garden Tour

12 - "Croce: Two Generations of Music," Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

12 - Norwalk Free Summer Concert Series presents The Bind

13 - Laura Schlachter Sunset Cruise sponsored by the Port Clinton Area Chamber of
Commerce, Jet Express, Port Clinton

13 - The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

14 - Party at the Plaza featuring PLG, downtown Sandusky

14 - Riverfront Live! presents Casey Redmond, Jefferson Street Pier, Port Clinton

14-16 - Island Fest, Kelleys Island

14-16 - Plein Air Art Festival, Lakeside

15 - Toast of Ohio Wine Festival, Merry-Go-Round Museum, Sandusky

15 - Arts and Antiques in the Park, downtown Sandusky

15 - Jefferson Starship, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

17-23 - Marathon Classic LPGA Tournament, Highland Meadows Golf Club, Sylvania

19 - USA Dance, ballroom dance session including free dance lesson, St. Peter Catholic Church, Huron

19 - OSU Alumni Band, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

19 - Norwalk Free Summer Concert Series presents Chu Dat Frog

20 - Third Thursday event, downtown Vermilion

21 - Party at the Plaza featuring Hard Candy, downtown Sandusky

21 - Smooth Jazz in the Garden, Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, Elmore

21 - Riverfront Live! presents Dave Ninke, Jefferson Street Pier, Port Clinton

22-23 - Kelleys Island Film Fest

24 - Aug. 18 - Lakeside Photography Show

26 - Veranda Concert featuring the Rev. Robert Jones and Matt Matroba, Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont

26 - Norwalk Free Summer Concert Series presents Dan Robertson

27 - Brian White at The Listening Room, Port Clinton

27 - Lakeside Women's Club Tour of Homes

27 - Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council Art Walk, downtown Port Clinton

28 - Lakeside Symphony Orchestra opening night and reception, Hoover Auditorium,
Lakeside

28 - Jazz@8 presents "Summer Songs," Sandusky State Theatre

28 - Riverfront Live! presents John Davenport, Jefferson Street Pier, Port Clinton

29 -WAR, Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside

29 - Michael Stanley & the Resonators, Lorain Palace Theater

30 - Living history presentation about John Dillinger, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Fremont

30 - Toledo Symphony Orchestra presents "Music Under the Stars," Toledo Zoo and Aquarium

Every attempt is made to provide accurate information, however,
we encourage you to double check the details of these events!

Catch Up With Emily Keener

Emily Keener will return to the Norwalk Reservoir for a special concert with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Aug. 27. She also will perform in Wakeman in July and Amherst earlier in August.

For the singer/songwriter who was featured in Season 10 of NBC's "The Voice," the Norwalk performance will be a return to her old stomping grounds. "I used to perform at the reservoir all the time for the Norwalk summer concert series," she said.

The event is part of the Norwalk bicentennial celebration, and will feature songs that she performed on "The Voice." She will also play some of her original songs.

The Wakeman native said it's a huge honor to be "backed up" by the Sandusky-based orchestra. "I've never performed in front of an orchestra before," she said. "I'm excited and I think it's going to be really interesting."

Keener has been busy since she returned from "The Voice" last April. "It's been quite the adventure. I released my latest full-length record the same year, in November," she said. "It was just a huge exciting thing to have finished in my life, because I hadn't released a record for a year or two, and I had a lot of new songs I wanted to share with the world... Now that it's released I've just been playing shows and touring as much as I can and writing new songs as well, gearing up for the next record."

The new album, titled "Breakfast," was co-produced by Dalton Brand and Noah Heyman. "They poured their hearts and souls into the record, and they're my very dear friends," Keener said.

Heyman has a studio in downtown Norwalk called "Far Around Recording". Keener is sharing her craft there, giving songwriting lessons. She's accepting new students, and those who are interested can contact her at booking@emilykeener.com.

Keener recently completed a two-and-a-half-week tour of the West Coast, and soon plans to perform in Iowa, Illinois and Florida. Setting up the tours involves a lot of organization. "A lot of it is just emailing," she said with a laugh. She was able to meet a lot of people who are involved in the music industry during her time on the television show, which has made it easier to get connected in new cities.

She's enjoyed being able to stay with friends, or friends of friends, while she's toured. "The couple of things that I've done have felt like half-vacations," she said. "I haven't really worked up to the stage where I play a show a night, or a show every other night. I haven't gotten to the grueling part yet, but I will soon. It's not as easy as it might seem. I know it's going to be hard, but I know it will be worth it."

What makes the effort worth it to her?

"I think my favorite thing is when somebody tells me that my music has affected them or helped them in some way," she said. "As a songwriter I do my best to write about the human experience."

For information on her upcoming tour dates, visit her website at www.emilykeener.com.

Toby Keith To Perform At Put-in-Bay

Country star Toby Keith will headline Put-in-Bay's Bash at the Bay Country Music Festival. Keith will take the stage Thursday, Aug. 31, as part of his Interstates and Tailgates tour.

Twelve thousand tickets are available for the bring-your-own-seating event at the Put-in-Bay Airport. Gates open at 3 p.m. Four other bands will perform before Keith. Tickets are available at etix.com.

The island will host three days of road races before the music festival.

If you plan to go, be sure to book your hotel room and ferry tickets early! Both the Miller Ferry and the Jet Express are planning extra trips for the event.

Make a Big Splash At The Maritime Museum Of Sandusky

A total of $250,000 in prizes is up for grabs in the Big Splash Raffle for the Maritime Museum of Sandusky. Tickets are $100, and early birds might get the worm - or cash, if they prefer. Twenty of the people who return their ticket stubs by 1 p.m. July 4 will win $500 apiece.

The big party is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion. Ticket holders can bring one guest. Admission for non-ticket holders is $5. The event features food, raffles, 50/50 raffles, and live entertainment by 56Daze.

Those who purchase 10 tickets will receive one free. For information, visit bigsplashraffle.com.

Fair Weather

It's fair time! July and August mean county fairs in Ohio. The Ottawa County Fair is July 17 through 23. The Erie County Fair is Aug. 8 through 13, followed by the Huron County Fair from Aug. 14 through 19. Each fair features nighttime entertainment events, plus everyone's favorite - fair food!

updated 06.26.17 CAE