Years of planning bring countywide celebrations for 2026

The place to be this year is everywhere in Tuscarawas County for America 250 celebrations. First, you’ll want to check TravelTusc250.com for information on the multitude of special events planned throughout 2026, the semiquincentennial of the United States.

Though events have already been held at some locations, including libraries and historical sites, there are many more to come thanks to a group of partners representing area attractions who have been meeting regularly at the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau in New Philadelphia for the past two years.

Diane Lautzenschleger of the CVB is excited at the results of the efforts of so many groups working together.

“Lots of good things have been happening,” Lautzenschleger said.

So much so that the group plans to continue meeting to grow relationships and work together to benefit Tuscarawas County in 2027 and beyond.

If you can’t get to an event, go to the website to see one of the most visible projects for America 250, the monthly celebration videos organized and hosted by Michele Spring of WJER and others, all volunteers, who have worked on the project.

Two videos have been posted so far, January: Ohio’s Originals and Firsts and February: Inventions, Innovations, Business and Work. Each video will focus on the monthly Ohio America 250 themes and the contributions made in Tuscarawas County.

Clips from the videos have also been shared on social media.

“Those have really been popular with folks. We’ve had good views on the video on our website, and smaller clips that we can tell are especially impactful to people,” Lautzenschleger said.

Some of the Tuscarawas County America 250 celebrations include:

April 17: Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Re-enactment at Trumpet in the Land amphitheater. The celebration is being held a day before the actual ride and during the day so schoolchildren can attend.

April 25-26: Transportation Celebration at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum.

May 9: Zoar Art Tour.

May 23-24: Revolution on the Tuscarawas at Fort Laurens.

May 30: Dominic Greco Band at Trumpet in the Land amphitheater.

May 30-31: America 250-Ohio Picnic and Homecoming Strawberry Fest Flyer On at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum.

June 12-13: Warther Fest at Warther Museum and Gardens.

June 19-20: The War Front Steam to Victory and Train Rides at the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum.

June 19-20: Victory on the Homefront Train Rides at the Dennison Depot Museum.

July 5: Orchestra and Vane Scott event, picnic and Lego contest at the KSU Performing Arts Center.

July 18: 50th Anniversary Celebration and Homecoming Picnic at the Reeves Museum.

July 19: Statewide Picnic and entertainment at the Trumpet in the Land amphitheater.

July 19: Zoar Village Homecoming Picnic at Zoar Village.

Aug. 1-2: Changing of the Guard Sons of the American Revolution at Fort Laurens.

Aug. 15: Schoenbrunn Village Community Picnic and America 250 Celebration at Schoenbrunn Village.

Sept. 19: Zoar Stars and Ohio Muffins Vintage Baseball Game in Zoar.

Sept. 19-20: America 250-Ohio Goes to the Movies Film Fest Train Rides.

A complete list of events and more information is online at TravelTusc250.com.

More good news: The Travel Tusc ticket program is being brought back with discounted or free admission to sites for Tuscarawas County residents. The program recognizes that local residents are the best advertisement for local sites, and the program encourages them to revisit local attractions.

At the same time the Travel Tusc tickets are introduced in May, the group will have a scavenger hunt with questions that can only be answered by visiting a site.

The scavenger hunt is a fun activity with a purpose.

“It’s to encourage foot traffic, to put a spotlight on local history, and encourage families to go explore,” Dee Grossman, director of the TCCVB, said.

If you’d rather read about local history, a new book has been released on the February theme of Inventions, Innovations, Business and Work. “A Manufacturing History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio,” written by Kimberly L. Jurkovic, of the Tuscarawas County Historical Society and Dover Public Library, and Shelagh K. Pruni, of the Reeves Museum and Dover Historical Society, was recently released.

The book is a mix of interesting information, maps and photographs. It’s available for $20 at the Dover Public Library, Reeves Museum or the Tusc/Kent Archives at Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus.

There were a few challenges with writing the book.

“We came up with the definition of manufacturing that we were going to use, but we didn’t necessarily stick to it, because there were just things you had to stick in there,” Jurkovic said.

Jurkovic’s favorite Tuscarawas County invention was the Hooker’s Tack-L-Matic, developed by Verne Hooker of Uhrichsville in the 1960s to help football players practice tackling. Clients included the Green Bay Packers, and legendary coach Vince Lombardi praised the machine.

The year 2026 promises to be a celebration for county residents, with something for everyone and no need to leave the area.