The 2025 Season of the Lancaster Festival marks a new era for the Lancaster Festival Orchestra under the direction of John Devlin!!

Schedule of Events:

Thursday July 24, 2025

9:00 am - 6:00 pm: Chalk The Block

Location: Around Fountain Square

Cost: $6 - Small Squares  
$12 - Large Squares (each comes with chalk!)

See the creative process in action as artists of all ages fill the sidewalks around Fountain Square with colorful images. Artwork on the square begins on July 23 and must be completed by July 25 at 6:00pm. Fountain Square, Downtown Lancaster.

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: ArtWalk Artist Reception

Location: Provisions Bakery and Deli

Come and meet the artists displaying their creations all over the community!  135 W. Main St

6:00 pm: Ice Cream Social

Location: The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption

Greet fellow concert goers, enjoy the summer evening, and enjoy refreshing treats before the Opening Night concert. On the lawn of The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption 132 S. High St, Lancaster.

8:00 pm: Opening Night: Story, Songs and Symphony

Location: The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption

This will be a night to remember as we welcome new Music Director, John Devlin, as he presents the story of Romeo and Juliet, by Tchaikovsky, the famous arias and Broadway melodies performed by the amazing Tenor Ben Gulley and the symphony No. 4 by Brahms. The night begins with a brass fanfare on the steps of St. Mary to officially open the 2025 festival season.

Friday July 25, 2025

9:00 am - 6:00 pm: Chalk The Block

Location: Around Fountain Square

See the creative process in action as artists of all ages fill the sidewalks around Fountain Square with colorful images. Artwork on the square begins on July 23 and must be completed by July 25 at 6:00pm. Fountain Square, Downtown Lancaster

3:00 pm: Cafe Concert #1: Music with Pluck

Location: Cheers Chalet   (1211 Coonpath Rd NW, Lancaster, OH 43130)

This delightful concert will feature music for harp and strings. Cheers Chalet will be providing a light snack and a cash bar.

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm: ArtWalk

Location: ALL OVER DOWNTOWN!

Art, music, and community on full display during Lancaster's favorite night of the year! Visit Downtown businesses to see exhibits by many regional artists and enjoy entertainment by Doyle Sargent and friends and Second Gear. This Amazing night is FREE!!
Register Beginning July 8 at 10:00am

See the creative process in action as artists of all ages fill the sidewalks around Fountain Square with colorful images. Artwork on the square begins on July 23 and must be completed by July 25 at 6:00pm. Fountain Square, Downtown Lancaster

Saturday July 26, 2025

9:30 am - 2:30 pm: Festival Fair Day

Cost: Kids FREE; Adults $5.00
Location: Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E. Fair Ave.

The Fairfield County Fairgrounds are filled with activities, entertainment, and experiences for children and families. Free for children, Adults $5.00 

8:00 pm: PREMIERE: Gary LeVox  with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra

Location: Wendel Concert Stage, Ohio Lancaster

Cost: $45 lawn - $55 at gate - $10 child, student - $700-$850 Table of 10

Fireworks follow the performance, FREE parking, bring your own picnic or purchase on-site. Beverages can be pre-ordered or purchased on the concert site. No bring-in beverages are allowed. No glass containers or weapons of any type are allowed at Lancaster Festival events.

Gary LeVox
American singer and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead vocalist of the contemporary country music band Rascal Flatts.  LeVox was born in Powell, Ohio and graduated from Olentangy High School and is an alumnus of Ohio State University. Gary will be joined by the Lancaster Festival Orchestra as he brings his hits from Rascal Flatts along with his new original music to the Wendel Concert Stage. OHIO Lancaster - 1570 Granville Pike 

Sunday July 27, 2025

7:00 pm: Out and About with LFO

Location: Rhonemus Cellars: 1151 George Rd, Lancaster

Join the Lancaster Festival String Quartet for this FREE concert in the beautiful setting of Rhonemus Cellars.  A selection of gourmet food and bar offerings will be available for purchase. 

2:00 pm: OUL Theatre presents

Location: Wagner Theatre, Ohio University Lancaster, 1570 Granville Pike

OHIO Lancaster's theatre production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. 

Monday July 28, 2025

10:00 am: Major Arts for Minors: Digital Photography

Location: Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St.

Professional designer and photographer Martin Barker teaches about the origins of photography, how cameras work and how to get the most of your digital phone camera to elevate your online images! Wendel Art Garage at DACO. 145 E. Main St 

10:00 am: Children's Corner: Toadstool Shadow

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Toadstool Shadow is a family-friendly Americana trio from southern Ohio. Their songs are about glad things like horses, cowgirls, mermaids, potatoes, and corn. They mix music and humor and sing everything in sunshine sweet two-part female harmony.  

12:00pm: Noon at the Square

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Pack a lunch or stop in one of the local restaurants or food trucks and enjoy a wonderful lunch in our beautiful Downtown Parks while listening to great family friendly music. 

3:00 pm: Cafe Concert #2: Mozart's Musical Mystery Tour - $30

Location: Cheers Chalet, 1211 Coonpath Rd.

Judith Stillman and friends take you on a ride through the music of Mozart in this lighthearted concert with a visual projection presentation. Cheers Chalet will be providing a light snack and a cash bar.

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Happy Hour Music Series

Location: Ale House 1890, 149 West Main St.

The beautiful patio at Ale House 1890 is the perfect setting for music, cocktails, and summer weather

8:00 pm: Monday Night Blues: Harold Stewart and the Blues Hounds

Adult $40; Child-Student (3-17) $10; Table of 10, $400  
Location: Wendel Concert Stage

Central-Ohio-based International performing and recording artists Harold Stewart and The Blues Hounds consistently offer crowds high-intensity, upbeat, funky Blues music with a wide range of flavors. The Blues Hounds have headlined many international events, opened for various artists overseas, and recorded and produced two albums in Japan.  The Blues Hounds 4th US album is currently in production. 

Tuesday July 29, 2025

10:00 am: Major Arts for Minors: Improv with the Lancaster Playhouse

Location: Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St.

Lancaster's own local acting troupe brings the art of improvisation to the Wendel Art garage at DACO. Major Arts for Minors are free workshops for ages 9-12. 

10:00 am: Children's Corner: Matt Jergens

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Family fun fills Zane square! Join us for Juggling and jokes for all with Matt Jergens. Prepare to be AMAZED! 

12:00 pm: Noon at the Square:  The Nostalgics

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

The Nostalgics, Lancaster own 18-piece jazz orchestra and dance band. The Nostalgics band features musical arrangements from the Big Band Swing Era, including hits recorded by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others.  

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Happy Hour Music Series

Location: Ale House 1890, 149 West Main St.

The beautiful patio at Ale House 1890 is the perfect setting for music, cocktails, and summer weather

7:30 pm: A Night on Broadway with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra

Location: Wendel Concert Stage

The big sounds of Broadway hit the Wendel Concert Stage! Your favorite tunes from major Broadway showswill be performed live including selections from Wicked, The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera and more.  Special guest vocalists will join the orchestra for this special, family-friendly evening performance. 

Wednesday July 30, 2025

10:00 am: Major Arts for Minors: Print House Tour

Location: North End Press, 235 S Columbus St, Lancaster, OH 43130 

The printing press is an ancient technology that has evolved throughout time. Lancaster's amazing press shop has state of the art equipment as well as machinery that is many years old. They will open their doors to show us how all of this marvelous machinery works!

10:00 am: Children's Corner: Victoria Players Children's Theater 

Location: Knights of Columbus

Victoria Players Children's Theater brings an acting demonstration and interactive workshop. This extended Children's Corner digs deep to bring out the little actor or actress in the family! Recognizing the need for accessible dedicated children's theater programming in central southeast Ohio, the Victoria Players Children's Theater was launched in 2016 by a group of parents as a subcommittee of the Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee.  

12:00 pm: Noon at the Square: LHS Percussion Ensemble

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Under the direction of Mr. Bruce Gerken since 1978. Performing pop, jazz, classical, rock, and everything in between.  Decade after decade, the Award-winning LHS Percussion Ensemble pushes the envelope of what a high school band can sound like.

3:00 pm: Cafe Concert: Bold and Brassy - $30

Location: Cheers Chalet, 1211 Coonpath Rd.

The Lancaster Festival Orchestra Brass Quintet plays this lively concert for your afternoon enjoyment. Cheers Chalet will be providing a light snack and a cash bar.

8:00 pm: Hairball: A Bombastic Classic Rock Experience!!

Location: Wendel Concert Stage, OHIO Lancaster

Welcome to Las Vegas meets Arena Rock! Over the past 25 years, Hairball has evolved into an explosive national touring act that brings the glory of the 80's to hundreds of thousands of fans throughout the country, with a 2+ hour drop-dead accurate homage to the biggest arena acts in the world. You'll see all of your favorite legendary hits-from VanHalen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Aerosmith, and more-recreated time and time again in front of your very eyes! Our bombastic, action-packed, Rock and Roll party is chock-full of surprises guaranteed to thrill-with an arena-sized light show, smoke, fire, pyrotechnics-we bring a Rock and Roll arsenal to your event that will hit you so hard, you' forget it's not the original 

Thursday July 31, 2025

10:00 am: Major Arts for Minors: Acrylic Painting with Lisa Schorr

Location: Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St.

10:00 am: Children's Corner: MadCap Puppets - Monsters of Baseball

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

The sign at the ballpark says "No Monsters Allowed!", but that doesn't stop Roscoe from sneaking a little monster named Gus in to see a baseball game. It seems they're not alone as more monsters begin slipping into the ballpark to join the fun! Giant puppets bring the history and tradition of baseball alive through songs, stories, and funny family friendly improv! There's room for everyone at America's favorite pastime. 

12:00 pm: Noon at the Square: Fabulous Barnstormers

Grab your lunch and spend an hour in Zane Square with the Fabulous Barnstormers, a band based in Lancaster, Ohio. TFB plays what can best be described as Americana-influenced rock and roll - think Tom Petty, Neil Young, Marshall Tucker, Wilburys, The Band, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Delbert McClinton, ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop and John Mellencamp.

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

4:00 pm: Out and About with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra 

Location: Keller Market
Keller Market is the place to be this afternoon for a free performance from the Festival Low Brass Quartet. 134 S. Columbus St. 

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Happy Hour Music Series

Location: Ale House 1890, 149 West Main St.

The beautiful patio at Ale House 1890 is the perfect setting for music, cocktails, and summer weather.

7:30 pm: Chamber Music Classics

Adult $25; Child-Student $10
Location: First United Methodist Church, 163 E Wheeling St, Lancaster, OH 43130 Lancaster, OH

First United Methodist Church hosts this classical concert featuring members of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and this years' Davis, Chess and Wilkes fellows. The Lancaster Festival fellowships support talented young musicians and give them exceptional experience within a professional orchestra setting

Friday August 1, 2025

10:00 am: Major Arts for Minors: Drum Circle with Iggy Garcia

Location: Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St.

Explore the history and culture of many types of drums from across the globe.

10:00 am: Children's Corner: Jessica Minshall and Svil Rusanov

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Jessica Minshall and Svil Rusanov, a husband-and-wife duo combine fun songs for kids with accordion and guitar.  Add some hula-hoops and we will have a full-on dance party! Learn about bears, hugs, hygiene and other silly songs that will be fun for everyone!

12:00 pm: Noon at the Square: Honey and Blue

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Honey and Blue The band, a self-described blend of pop and soul, is fronted by singer- songwriters Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber. The band most recently released their full-length album ‘Bloom' which features 10 new songs.

3:00 pm: Cafe Concert #4: Gone with the Winds

Location: Cheers Chalet, 1211 Coonpath Rd.

Music for Woodwind Quintet and Piano 3:00pm This beautiful musical combination is perfect to begin the final weekend of the festival season. Cheers Chalet will be providing a light snack and a cash bar.

5:30 pm: Bike Races

Location: Job and Family Services, Wheeling and Memorial Dr.

Presented by Fairfield Medical Center and Job and Family Services

Decorate your wheels, grab your helmet and head for the races!  Closed toe shoes and helmets are required to participate. Prizes for best bike decorations and prizes for race winners presented by Fairfield Medical Center.

5:30 pm: Gary Sheldon Community Orchestra

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

This beloved Lancaster Festival Tradition continues! Talented community members and student musicians perform this concert side by side with professional musicians from the Lancaster Festival Orchestra.

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Downtown Friday Night: Identity Crisis

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

Identity Crisis brings together community members who know exactly who they are- ROCKSTARS! Great friends, a warm summer night and classic rock…what a night!

Saturday August 2, 2025

10:00 am: Saturday Morning Serenade - Lancaster Community Youth Band

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

The Lancaster Youth Band and the Lancaster Community Band start off the final day of the Lancaster Festival in style.  Bring your friends downtown and enjoy a relaxing morning of talented musicians from our community, led by Judy Rehrer.

11:00 am: Lancaster Community Band

Location: Zane Square Concert Stage, Main and Broad

8:00 pm: FINALE: COLBIE CAILLAT and DAWES with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra

Adult lawn $45-$55 at gate; Child-Student (3-17) $10; $700-$850 Table of 10
Fireworks follow the performance, FREE parking, bring your own picnic or purchase on-site. Beverages can be pre-ordered or purchased on the concert site. No bring-in beverages are allowed. No glass containers or weapons of any type are allowed at Lancaster Festival events. 

Location: Wendel Concert Stage, OHIO Lancaster

The perfect end to the perfect festival-TWO headliners and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra! 

Dawes - For the first time in almost a decade, brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith grace the cover of a Dawes record. It's just the two of them this time, and as such, Oh Brother marks a distinctive new chapter for the California rock band - one that is both introspective and accessible, all while maintaining their beloved sense of sincerity. 

Colbie Caillat is a 2X GRAMMY Award-winning, 5X GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter whose music has garnered over 15 billion global streams. She has received numerous accolades, including nominations from the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and BMI Pop Awards. Her debut album, COCO, reached #5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and is certified 3X Platinum, while her Platinum-selling follow-up, Breakthrough, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Caillat has delivered eight #1 and-or Top 10 singles, including the 6X Platinum-certified hit "Bubbly," multi-Platinum hits "Realize" and "Try," as well as her GRAMMY-winning, 4X platinum duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky." As part of the country quartet Gone West, Caillat made her Grand Ole Opry debut and achieved Gold certification for the single "What Could've Been," which reached the Top 30 on the Country Airplay charts. Her debut solo country album, Along The Way, features the hit single "I'll Be Here" with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Sheryl Crow. The critically acclaimed album has already surpassed 55 million streams, and she is currently working on new music set for release later this year. A captivating storyteller, Caillat's live performances are personal and engaging, whether on arena and festival stages or in intimate club settings. 

Date:
July 24 - August 2, 2025

Location:
Various Venus In Lancaster, OH

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