Events Calendar
Adventures for the Entire Family!
Athens County is a family's playground, with fun-filled adventures kids of all ages will enjoy. Take a train ride into the past, a scenic hike, a bike ride along the Hocking River, or tour the first college campus in the Northwest Territory.
Don't forget the picnic basket.
Featured
Athens County Historical Society & Museum
History buffs and the slightly curious alike can enjoy the Athens County Historical Society and Museum. With fantastic exhibits year round there are always new stories to discover.
Athens Farmers Market
Called one of the nation's best markets by Audubon Magazine, the Athens Farmers Market is more than fresh produce. You'll also find teas, breads, flowers and coffee.
Athens Parks and Recreation Community Center
The Athens Arts Parks and Recreation Department maintains over 260 acres of land in 7 different locations, oversees many diverse facilities and provides programs for all ages and interests.
Dairy Barn Arts Center
With activities and exhibits all year round, The Dairy Barn Arts Center is respected regionally, nationally and internationally, and is a must-see for any Athens County visitor.
Final Fridays
On the final Friday of every month, except December, galleries and shops on Nelsonville's Historic Public Square stay open late. Visitors are treated to art exhibits, plays, street performers or hands on workshops with the artists themselves.
Hocking Hills Tourism Association
From the moment you enter these lush, rolling hills, you sense that you've arrived someplace remarkable. The scenery is simply dazzling. Deep craggy gorges carry hikers down hundreds of feet along gorgeous scenic trails.
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway
The Hocking Valley Scenic Railway is one of the most popular attractions in Athens County. Completely restored to their original splendor, the Scenic Railway passenger cars are a treasure unto their own. Passengers are treated to a ride through the beautiful Hocking Hills Region, from Nelsonville to Logan or Haydenville and back.
Moonville Tunnel Trail
Located deep in Zaleski Forest in Ohio near Lake Hope State Park, the Moonville Tunnel is all that remains from a small mining town that existed in the late 1850s.
Quilt Barn Tour
Don't forget your camera when you head out for the beautiful Quilt Barn Tour. No matter the season, the Quilt Barn Tour makes the perfect afternoon getaway. You'll see historic barns with quilt blocks painted by area artists and community groups, and all while driving on the scenic back roads of Athens County.
Robbins Crossing
A completely restored 1850'-era Ohio Village, Robbins Crossing is an interactive way to give yourself or the kids a great history lesson. Talk to villagers, watch the blacksmith at work, or stop into the General Store.
Smoke Rise Ranch Resort
Stop at the Smoke Rise Ranch, a working cattle ranch, for a quick horseback ride and you may not want to leave. The Ranch is also an all-inclusive resort offering guests a true taste of the cowboy lifestyle with weekend or week-long packages. Named by Ohio Magazine as one of Ohio's Ten Most Interesting Places to Sleep, the Smoke Rise Ranch offers a full line-up of activities for the entire family.
The Athens Skate Park
Located on East State Street next to the Athens Community Center, the 17,000 square foot concrete skatepark is one of the most innovative and challenging parks in the Eastern United States.
The Ridges
The Ridges, originally known as the Athens Lunatic Asylum, were opened in 1874. Visible from the Ohio University's West Green, the old psychiatric hospital's grandiose buildings look over the Hocking River from atop a steep ridge. You won't want to miss The Ridges' magnificent architecture or historic cemeteries.
ARTS/West
ARTS/West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts is a multipurpose community arts space utilized by groups ranging from actors, dancers, and DJs to photographers, musicians, and neighborhood associations.
Eclipse Company Town
An old mining town, The Eclipse Company Town is just two miles north of Athens and Ohio University off of US 33 and Johnson Road near The Plains. Or ditch the car and take the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway straight there.
Fast Traxx Motoplex
Need speed? At Fast Traxx Motoplex, off-road motorcycle and all-terrain vehicles race before your eyes.
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway
A cyclist's dream, the 19-mile Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a smooth and easy ride connecting Athens to Nelsonville. Ride along the banks of the winding Hocking River and make stops at Ohio University, Robbins Crossing, or Nelsonville's Historic Arts District.
Little Cities of Black Diamonds
Many of Southeast Ohio's coal mining boom towns still stand today. Tour the Little Cities of Black Diamonds and discover Athens County's rich past. Glouster, Trimble, Millfield, Sugar Creek and Buchtel are just a few of the little cities that were once flourishing economic centers for coal miners and their families.
Ohio University Athletics
The pomp and pageantry of NCAA Division I sports comes to life at Ohio University in Athens. Students, faculty, locals and family don the green and white to root their beloved Bobcats to victory.
Ohio Valley Summer Theater
From Peter Pan to Inherit the Wind, the Ohio Valley Summer Theater has been wowing audiences for over 55 years.
Skyline Speedway
If you're looking for racing, Skyline Speedway is the place to be. The 3/8 mile, high banked track features 410 Sprints, Super Late Model, Street Stock, AMRA Modified, Pure Stock and 4 Cylinder races.
Southern Ohio Copperheads
When the weather heats up, the boys of summer charge the baseball diamond. Bring the whole family out to watch the Southern Ohio Copperheads take on their Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League rivals.
Touch the Earth Adventures
Touch the Earth Adventures is an outdoor adventure experience created to inspire people to be in tune with our Earth through hiking, kayaking and cycling expeditions. Make new friends and lifetime memories through guided day- and weekend-long trips.
