Ultimate Summer Bucket List

Summer is here and that means you are looking for stuff to do. Luckily, National Trail and our partners have tons of free or cheap activities to keep you busy. It doesn’t matter your interest, National Trail’s Summer Bucket List has something everyone is sure to enjoy.

TRACK BIGFOOT
For hundreds of years, there have been sightings of Bigfoot in the area, most notably the Wildman of Enon. Recently footprints have been found on the trails at the Kirby Preserve. Let your imagination run wild as you search the trails on the preserve and look for the 15 hidden bigfoot prints. Click here for details.

BRAVE BOULDER JUNCTION AT THE NEW KIWANIS CHILDREN’S GARDEN IN SNYDER PARK
Located southeast of the former golf course clubhouse in Snyder Park, the Kiwanis Children’s Garden is divided into five zones; adventure, sensory, nature, round-about and common areas. A free, fun accessible area. Click here for details.

THROW A DISC AT SNYDER PARK’S NEW DISC GOLF COURSE
Enjoy a round on the new 18-hole disc golf course at Snyder Park. Click here for course details.

COME PLAY PICKLEBALL
Learn this fun and social game that is perfect for all ages. Click here for details.

ENJOY OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES AT THE SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL 
Shortly after sunrise, from June 13 through July 21, rows of lawn chairs begin appearing between the limestone cliffs of Veterans Park. It’s the time-honored method for reserving a prime spot for a great evening of entertainment! Get your chairs ready for the Springfield Arts Council’s 53rd season of admission-free summer concerts, music and theater, and join us a Springfield tradition – The Summer Arts Festival! 2019 Festival Schedule.

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT WITH FIREFLIES
Enjoy nature’s fireworks at our catch and release firefly program. Click here for details.

GO ON THE ULTIMATE SCAVENGER HUNT – A LETTERBOX ADVENTURE 
Be part of this fun and educational adventure where participants can learn more about our local parks and history of Clark County. Pick up a Summer Letterbox booklet, beginning June 17, and find clues that will help you to find the letterboxes hidden throughout Clark County. Click here for more information.

PULL A RABBIT OUT OF YOUR HAT
Come out and see a spectacular summer magic show, suitable for all ages. This Comedy Magic Show will be all about fast-paced fun with lots of audience participation. Click here for details.

GRAB SOME PEANUTS & CRACKER JACKS AT A CHAMPION CITY KINGS’ GAME 
Carleton Davidson Stadium is home to the Champion City Kings, a baseball team in the collegiate Prospect League. The Prospect League, an elite collegiate wood bat summer baseball league, provides a high-level of competitive baseball in a minor-league setting. The Champion City Kings provide our communities with quality baseball and affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Click here for the 2019 summer schedule.

EXPLORE A SUNFLOWER FIELD
In late July enjoy the beautiful blooms of the sunflowers at this over one-acre field off of the Little Miami Scenic Trail in the 400 block West Euclid in Springfield. This community beautification project is done in partnership with Clark County Land Reutilization Corp., National Trail, Keep Clark County Beautiful and the City of Springfield.

MAKE A SPLASH AT THE SPLASH ZONE
With the area’s premier aquatics facility in your community, there’s no need to travel out of town to beat the heat and experience waterpark thrills. Splash Zone also offers daily adult fitness programs and special events. Click here for more information.

CHANNEL YOUR INNER DOROTHY HAMILL AT THE NTPRD CHILLER 
Lace up your blades or come rent a pair to enjoy open skates, lessons, leagues, party/group rentals and much more. The NTPRD Chiller offers public programs including open skating, birthday parties, skating and hockey classes, fundraising events, leagues and more. Click here for this summer’s public skate calendar.

ENJOY A MOVIE IN THE MOONLIGHT 
Grab a blanket and lawn chair to enjoy an outdoor movie. Movies will be shown under the stars on a huge, inflatable screen with a state-of-the-art projection and sound system in South Charleston, Enon, Springfield and Springfield Township. Click here for details.

GET MUDDY AT MUD MANIA 
Mud Mania is a free, fun mud run and obstacle course for kids. Click here for details.

GET YOUR FIDDLE & FLUTTER AT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL 
Celebrate the monarch butterfly at our annual Monarch Festival. Event activities include live bluegrass entertainment, nature and monarch education, tree climbing, kids activities, artisan vendors, food trucks and more. Click here for event details.

PLAY & GET SPRAYED AT SNYDER PARK’S SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S PARK 
Enjoy the all-accessible playground that is designed to include kids with disabilities to play with ease. The play area also features a thick poured rubber surface which will prevent hard falls. Then run over to Bethie’s Sprayground that features dumping buckets and multiple spray features. This area of the park also features a four-leaf clover cement pad which holds four raised flower and sensory garden beds. Click here for park information.

HAVE A SUDSATIONAL TIME AT FOAM FRENZY 
Join your friends in New Carlisle, North Hampton, Springfield and South Vienna for a SUDsational time at a mini foam party. Make sure to bring a towel and be ready to get wet… Click here for event information.

BARK FOR A BREW
After a long day at work and a longer day at home, bring your 4-legged friend out to enjoy live music and a cold beverage. No pet? That’s ok. Come on out and enjoy the festivities and beautiful park. Local vendors will be on hand with different information and services. Click here for Yappy Hour event information.

TOUCH A TRUCK AT TRUCKFEST
This FREE event allows “Kids” of all ages to climb in the cabs, honk the horns and check out many different sizes and styles of trucks, cars and service vehicles as well as meet the people who operate them. This fun-filled event is sure to have something for everyone. Click here for details.

SPICE UP YOUR DAY AT LIVE AT LUNCH 
Start the weekend early by relaxing at beautiful National Road Commons Park on your lunch break, listening to live entertainment and enjoying local food trucks. Click here for event details.

CELEBRATE OUR NATION’S INDEPENDENCE AT THE OLD FASHIONED FIREWORKS 
Enjoy fireworks at this free, family-friendly event that features live entertainment and concessions vendors. Click here for event details.

GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE AT THE BUCK CREEK NATURE PARK
This unique park provides an interactive educational experience for visitors including native plant plots, an outdoor amphitheater, a wildflower walking trail and a picnic area. Rather than pre-manufactured play equipment, the Buck Creek Nature Park features a natural playground that encourages children to use their imaginations while simultaneously experiencing the smells, textures and wonders of the natural world. Click here for park details.

CAST A LINE AT OLD REID PARK
Old Reid Park’s lagoons and the fishing ponds at the newly opened Kirby Preserve are rich in aquatic life. All members of the family, young and old, can find a place to fish for recreation, relaxation or food. No fishing license is needed. Click here for park information.

HIT THE TRAILS
The Springfield and Clark County area has many miles of beautiful, accessible trails for bicycling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, in-line skating, jogging, and walking. National Trail also offers many miles of natural hiking trails which allow you to explore nature and observe a diverse population of wildlife. Click here for Multi-Use Trail information and click here for nature park information.

Download our Summer Activity Guide for additional programs, events and activities happening in Clark County, click here.