By 1808Delaware
Summer’s sweet spot has arrived, and from the brick‑lined streets of Uptown Westerville to the shady lawns of Delaware’s Boardman Arts Park, this week bursts with backyard concerts, hands‑on art workshops, and open‑air markets that turn every evening errand into a small‑town adventure. Whether you’re chasing Beatles harmonies under ancient oaks, trading recipes over heirloom tomatoes in Sunbury, or spotting red‑tailed hawks along woodland trails, Delaware County and northern Franklin County invite you to fill each day with the simple thrill of gathering, tasting, listening, and exploring close to home.
Monday – Trailblazing Traditions
5:00 PM — 8:00 PM, Delaware
Step inside The Arts Castle for the Fancy Flower Panel workshop, where stained‑glass rookies learn to cut, grind, foil and solder bright blooms into an ornate panel that’s pure summer sunshine.
7:00 PM — 8:30 PM, Powell
Local historian Sherry Carmichael sets the pace on a Walking Tour of Downtown Powell. Starting at the Martin Perry House, she layers personal memories onto century‑old storefronts, giving you a front‑row seat to small‑town evolution.
Tuesday – Color, Cuisine and Creativity
1:30 PM — 3:30 PM, Olentangy Caverns
Kids roll up their sleeves for Tie‑Dye Tuesday, soaking tees in dye and summertime stories 100 feet above the caverns’ ancient limestone corridors.
6:00 PM — 9:00 PM, Polaris
Over at Carfagna’s Kitchen, a hands‑on pasta class turns fresh dough, sauce and meatballs into dinner‑table bragging rights — perfect fuel before the mid‑week rush.
Wednesday – Birds Before Brunch
10:00 AM — 10:45 AM, Olentangy Caverns
Mini birders meet resident “bird‑nerd” Katie for a quick primer, then hit the woodland trail to tally cardinals, chickadees and maybe a passing red‑tailed hawk. Binoculars optional; wonder guaranteed.
Thursday – A Hard Day’s Night in Sunbury
7:00 PM — 8:30 PM, Gallant Woods Park
Picnic blankets unfurl under towering oaks as The Sweet Beats launch into note‑perfect Beatles harmonies for Preservation Parks’ Summer Concert Series. Commander & Cheese parks its food truck nearby, so your Sgt. Pepper vibes come with gouda‑laced fries.
Friday – Uptown After Hours
6:00 PM, Westerville City Hall
Fourth Friday closes State Street to cars and opens it to musicians, sidewalk merchants and patio diners — a roaming street party that shows off Uptown’s brick‑and‑string‑lights charm.
8:00 PM, Highlands Wetlands
When dusk settles, Frog Friday invites families to tune their ears to croaks and chirps on a guided wetland walk; flashlights reveal amphibian silhouettes leaping through native lilies.
Saturday – Festivals, Fresh Fare and Free‑Range Music
9:00 AM — 1:00 PM, Sunbury Town Square
Stalls spill over with sweet corn, hand‑poured candles and just‑picked bouquets at the Sunbury Farmers Market, the county’s most colorful place to meet your growers.
12:00 PM — 8:00 PM, Boardman Arts Park, Delaware
Eight local bands, a lineup of food trucks and a shady tree‑canopied lawn equal the Delaware Music Festival — an all‑day groove that hops genres from folk to blues and leaves plenty of room for dancing kids.
Sunday – Sunset Symphony
6:30 PM, Alum Creek Amphitheater, Westerville
Cap the week with the city’s Summer Concert Series. Bring lawn chairs, grab kettle corn from the vendor row and watch the golden hour fade to starlight while regional artists soundtrack your evening.
From hands‑on art to open‑air rock, Delaware County and northern Franklin County serve up seven straight days of reasons to step outside — and maybe discover a corner of home you never knew existed.
