The village of New Richmond will host the 2018 Ohio Chautauqua: Modern Legends event from June 26 – 30, 2018. This year features the stories of Robert F. Kennedy, Erma Bombeck, Cesar Chavez, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., and Betty Friedan, told by historical scholars and and actors. Photo provided.

By Megan Alley
Sun staff

The village of New Richmond is gearing up for a full calendar of summer events.

The New Richmond Summer Concert Series

Head down to the Ohio River for this longstanding tradition that has become a community favorite. Concerts are free and open to the public; upcoming performances are set for June 15 and 22, July 2, 14 and 19, and August 4.

Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. (except for July 2, which starts at 4 p.m., and Aug. 4, which starts at 7 p.m.) and are held at the New Richmond Bandstand, located at Western Avenue and Front Street. If there’s bad weather, concerts will be moved indoors to the gym at 212 Market St.

Free hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn and water will usually be available.

“Come on down to the river and enjoy our summer concerts,” Greg Roberts, village administrator, said.

Live theater

The RiverStage Community Theatre will present “What the Bellhop Saw,” an adult farce.
Remaining performances, which are held in the gym at 212 Market St., are set for June 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. as well as a matinee on June 15 that starts at 2:30 p.m.

For information and tickets, email riverstagehq@gmail.com or call 513-543-9149.

Ohio Chautauqua

New Richmond has once again been selected as one of four communities in the state to host this event that combines living history performances, music, education and audience participation.

“We were very happy and excited that we were chosen to host this year,” “Roberts said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual tour and will celebrate the “Modern Legends”
Erma Bombeck, Cesar Chavez, Betty Friedan, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., and Roberts Francis Kennedy.

The five-day event, presented by Ohio Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, runs from June 26 – 30, with free performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. daily in the large tend in front of the New Richmond Bandstand, located at Western Avenue and Front Street. Live local music will start at 6:30 p.m.

Daytime activities are also set, featuring performances for adult audiences and hands-on workshops for youth in the library.

Roberts said “everybody” should come to the events.

“We would hope that people who are contemporaries of the characters, who think they know these characters, would bring their children and grandchildren,” he said. “We invite people who are familiar with these characters to relive their experiences with their knowledge of these modern legends.”

He added, “All the characters have something to say about today’s world and culture … not only are the performers actors and living historians, they’re scholars about the lives of the people they’re portraying.”

For more information, call 513-553-4146 or visit www.ohiohumanities.org/ohio-chautauqua/New-Richmond-2018/.

Fourth of July

A full day of celebrations is set for July 4, with a parade starting at 3 p.m. and lots of activities, vendors, carnival rides and music leading up to the fireworks display along the riverfront beginning around 9:30 p.m.

Harleys Against Heroin ride

The fifth annual motorcycle ride to fight heroin addiction will take place on Aug. 11 starting at 12 p.m.

For more information, call Nikki Patton at 513-264-0204, or email Patton at patton1987@fuse.net

Riverdays festival

The annual festival of arts, crafts, retail vendors, food booths, carnival rides, live music, gambling and fireworks, as well as the popular Cardboard Boat Regatta, will take place along the banks of the Ohio River from Aug. 17 – 19.

For more information, call Gary Skeene at 513-417-2085, or email Skeene at glskeen@gmail.com.

River Arts Festival

The festival brings fine art, fine craft and homegrown products exhibitors to Haussermann Park and 100 – 200 Front St on Oct. 8. A children’s art show is also planned for the event, and regional and local talent will perform on stage.

Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 513-543-9149, or email riverstagehq@gmail.com.