Let's Celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Sylvania style!
Sylvania knows how to celebrate history. In 1976, our community went all out for the Bicentennial with tree plantings, downtown window displays, a commemorative book and quilt, a wagon encampment and parade, an arts and crafts festival, a time capsule burial - and even a Bicentennial dance!
Now, as we begin our celebrations of the Semiquincentennial (250), our goal is to go even bigger. We'll revive some of those beloved traditions while introducing new favorites, including community baseball games, picnics, dances, movie nights, and an epic time capsule unveiling and reburial.
Get Involved
Whether you want to roll up your sleeves and help plan one of these incredible events, volunteer during the festivities,
or support the celebration through event sponsorship, we’d love to have you involved!
These once-in-a-generation celebrations will require both time and resources,
and every contribution—big or small—makes a meaningful difference.
Be part of this once-in-a-lifetime milestone!
Sylvania Event Calendar
All
Year
Free to participate
250 Scavenger Hunt
Can you find all 250 sites throughout Sylvania?
Follow along each month and join us as we hunt for 250 sites around Sylvania. Answer the challenging questions about each and submit your finds to Heritage Sylvania for the chance to win a prize! A new set of images will be released each month starting in March, giving you 10 changes to win! Each entry you submit will also enter you into our drawing for the grand prize! Can you find all 250 by year's end?
Good luck and happy hunting!
Brought To You By
All
Year
Tickets Required
History Tours
Join Heritage Sylvania for a fascinating walk through downtown and discover the stories that shaped our community. Learn how Sylvania came to be, explore its triumphs and challenges over 143 years, and hear the remarkable - and sometimes wild - tales that give downtown its charm today.
This 90-minute guided tour takes you along Main Street between Erie and Monroe. Perfect for all ages, this tour offers a rich look into Sylvania’s past.
Tickets are $20 per person with a minimum of 10 guests. Tours must be scheduled in advance through Heritage Sylvania. To book, call 419-517-5533 or visit heritagesylvania.org
Brought To You By
July
29
7:00pm
Free to Attend
Ohio Goes to the Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Mayberry Movie Night has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 29, and we’re wrapping up National Ice Cream Month the best way we know how—with a movie under the stars and your favorite Mayberry treats!
Characters: 7:30–9:00 PM
Movie begins at 9:00 PM
Ice cream served until 10:00 PMBrought To You By
August
6
6:00pm
Tickets Required
AM 250 presents author Rick Atkinson: The British are Coming
Join us for a night filled with illuminating conversation and insight into America's past as we host Rick Atkinson and discuss his hotly anticipated new book The British Are Coming: The Graphic Edition at Inside the Five's Fifth Floor event space in the beautiful Red Bird Arts District. Who better to welcome to Sylvania to discuss the American Revolutionary War than Ken Burns regularly consulted and featured expert Rick Atkinson - if you watched the Ken Burns' wonderful, most recent documentary The American Revolution, then you enjoyed listening to Rick's insight. Now is your chance to see and speak with him in person!
Signed book included with ticket (unless otherwise noted). Author presentation + Q & A will be followed by a book signing. Additional copies available for purchase at the event.
Doors open and reception begins at 6pm and is a mix-and-mingle format, with an opportunity to meet the author beforehand. Light refreshments are included, and a cash bar is available.
This event is coordinated through a community partnership by Heritage Sylvania, Starlite Theatre Group, Finch & Fern Book Co., and Live Arts Toledo. These events, which build community and cultivate connectivity and understanding through storytelling and celebration of the written word, would not be possible without the generosity of Inside the Five Brewing. Your participation helps support local arts and cultural programming. Thank you!
Brought To You By
August
26
7:00pm
Free to Participate
250 Americana and Pops: A Free Concert
Brought To You By
September
4
Time TBD
Free to Participate
Ohio Goes to the Movies: Best In Show
Ohio Goes to the Movies™ (OGTTM) is a statewide celebration of movies showcasing Ohioans: actors, directors, writers, composers, locations, and topics, shown in cities and towns across the state. A Signature Event of America 250-Ohio, OGTTM will start mid-February 2026 and run through October 2026 – about 250 days of Ohio movie magic showcasing Ohio’s contributions to America’s film industry and moviemaking. Movies will include independent film, Hollywood blockbusters, and industrial/special interest films, from rare archival footage to contemporary works.
Join us for the September Red Bird First Friday Art Walk in the Sylvania Historical Village for a special showing of Best in Show! With this month’s Paw Parade theme, downtown Sylvania will be filled with adorable doggo's—perfect for getting your furry-friend fix. Wrap up the evening with a cozy movie night set against the charming backdrop of the historical village. It will be a a paws-itively fun night you won’t want to miss!
Brought To You By
November
21
Time TBD
Tickets Required
End of Year Gala
Details Coming Soon!
Brought To You By
Ohio Monthly Celebration Themes
Each month, the state of Ohio will focus on a different theme that reflects Ohio's unique impact.
Please use these as inspiration to host your own event and submit to us to be added to our event list.
January
Ohio's Firsts
& Originals
February
Ohio Works
Innovation & Industry
March
Ohio Entertains
Music & Entertainment
April
Ohio Moves
Transportation
May
Ohio Creates
Arts, Culture & Literature
June
Ohio Outdoors
Exploring Natural Resources
July
Ohio Gathers
Homecoming & Picnics
August
Ohio Goes to the Fair
County Fairs & Festivals
September
Ohio Plays
Sports & Wellness
October
Ohio Grows
Food & Farms
November
Ohio Serves
Remembering Veterans, First Responders & Front-Line Heroes
December
Future Ohio
Projecting Ohio in 2076
Thank you to our committee
and celebration supporters!
