News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area
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Since 2004
Loveland, Ohio – Downtown Loveland is ready to welcome the Fall season with open arms as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance will be holding its second Oktoberfest!
On Friday, September 23rd from 4 PM-10 PM, and Saturday, September 24th from noon until 10 PM, Downtown Loveland will become “Liebesland” (Loveland in German) for Oktoberfest 2022. The festival will include a plethora of traditional German activities, competitions, food, drinks, and of course some spectacular German attire!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – The Easter Weekend Food Drive proved nothing is sweeter than Loveland, Ohio!
On Saturday, April 16th in the heart of Downtown Loveland under the historic clock tower we kicked off our first ever Easter Weekend Food Drive benefiting LIFE Food Pantry! I had wanted to lend my time and energy to the LIFE Food Pantry for months, so when LIFE communicated that they were in desperate need of food and that food drives were the best way to gather that much-needed food I knew that this was my chance to give back to a community that had supported me throughout my time with Loveland Magazine.
Once I decided that I was going to organize a food drive I immediately reached out to the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance all-star duo CeeCee Collins and Meredith Taylor. They almost instantly agreed to help with the food drive as they both said that there was nothing more fulfilling than giving back to the community. I was overjoyed by their response and shortly after began working on the logistics.
I knew that I wanted the food drive to be on a day where there would be a lot of foot traffic on the Loveland Bike Trail but also envisioned doing it on a day that meant something. After brainstorming with CeeCee and Meredith, we landed on having the food drive on Easter Weekend! Having the food drive during Easter Weekend to me meant that I could help families less fortunate have the opportunity to celebrate Easter like my family and I had been lucky enough to do for the past several decades.
One of the biggest deciding factors in having a food drive during this particular time of year was because LIFE Food Pantry is almost always in desperate need of food donations due to a slower rate of donations coming in. To put it in perspective, just by holding this one food drive on Easter Weekend, we not only helped provide “staples” and everyday necessities to local families that then freed up money in their budgets so that they could celebrate a holiday like Easter, we also gave these same local families the opportunity to buy Easter candy for their baskets, decorate eggs, enjoy a beautiful Easter brunch, and hunt for chocolate bunnies on Easter morning! That thought alone made the Easter Weekend Food Drive that much more special to me.
After weeks of planning, passing out flyers around town, gathering Easter decorations, stuffing Easter eggs with candy, finalizing details with local restaurants and LIFE Food Pantry, writing food drive stories in Loveland Magazine, and spreading the word on social media, the day of the Easter Weekend Food Drive finally came! We set up our beautifully decorated Easter tent under the historic clock tower in Downtown Loveland and prepared for a fun-filled day of giving back.
The food drive kicked off at 10 am and almost immediately we began getting food, cash, and Venmo donations. For each donation, we received we made sure to express our gratitude followed by an Easter egg filled with candy! Parents and their children loved that we were celebrating giving back by wearing bunny ears and giving out Easter eggs! The day itself couldn’t have gone any better.
The Easter Weekend Food Drive wrapped up at 5 pm and as we were cleaning up the overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude touched us all. Those feelings alone were enough for me to agree to make the Easter Weekend Food Drive an annual event!
The Easter Weekend Food Drive collected $290 dollars in Venmo and cash donations and over 75 pounds of food for the LIFE Food Pantry. Needless to say, the food drive was an absolute success!
There were so many individuals and local businesses that helped make the Easter Weekend Food Drive possible and I want to take the time now to express how thankful I am:
Enjoy the slideshow of the photos I, Sean Behling, Adam Ploof, and David Miller took at the Easter Weekend Food Drive!
If you would like to help the pantry by volunteering, holding your own food drive or would like to donate dollars, please visit their WEB SITE. If you are in need of food or financial assistance you will learn about that also.
For Loveland event updates and coverage, stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Are you currently in the market to buy or sell a home? Do you have real estate questions that you don’t know who to go to for the answers? Well look no further Besl, Baden, and Christy Jones have all the answers you are looking for in our newest segment of “Real Estate Update!”
Once a month the ladies of Besl, Baden, and Christy Jones join us at Loveland Magazine to talk to you about a new real estate topic. The topics will range from local house listings to the current condition of the housing market to trending home decor to what tools you need to secure a new home loan; these 3 real estate gurus plan to talk about it all!
In our March Real Estate Update Sue Besl Price and Mary Clare Baden cover new topics.
In this market, whether you’re a buyer or seller it is imperative that you work with an experienced agent. For buyers getting in to see homes can be quite daunting without the assistance of an agent. Good agents are seasoned networkers who know when listings are coming on the market and when they will be available for showings.
Once you find a home you love, writing a contract is no longer just about the price. There are many variables that go into writing an offer that will get excepted.
For sellers, it’s all about the pre-listing work that needs to be done and preparing for multiple offers. A great agent will be able to work with the offers at hand to get the best deal for the seller.
Hear all about the specifics in this month’s Besl, Baden and Christy Jones real estate update.
Fasten your seat belts and get out your notepad; this is your March Real Estate Update!
For more Real Estate Updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Spring has sprung which means the Easter Bunny will be paying Loveland a visit very soon! What better way to celebrate Easter than by giving back to those in need within the community. Join Loveland Magazine and the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) for the Easter Weekend Food drive benefiting LIFE Food Pantry!
Easter weekend, for me, is one of the most coveted times to make memories with my family as we come together to enjoy a nice home-cooked meal and exchange Easter baskets filled with goodies. This year, I wanted to make sure that families less fortunate had the opportunity to celebrate Easter like my family and myself have been lucky enough to do for the past several decades. I knew that Loveland’s local food pantry, LIFE, was in desperate need of food donations as this time of year is often a slower time for incoming donations. I had chatted back and forth with some of the wonderful women from LIFE a couple of months ago and promised them that I would find a way to organize a food drive. I searched my brain for those that would be interested in joining me to help make this food drive happen. That’s when I thought, “I should ask CeeCee Collins and Meredith Taylor from the LMRCA to help me make this food drive a reality!” I emailed CeeCee and Meredith and explained my vision and seconds later they were on board! I was overcome with joy!
Over the past several weeks, Meredith, CeeCee, and I have worked hard to make this unbelievable Easter Weekend Food Drive the best it could possibly be, and needless to say, I couldn’t be happier with what we have in store for the Food Drive! Loveland Magazine, the LMRCA, and LIFE would love nothing more than all of those within our amazing community to come out on April 16th between 10 a.m-5 p.m and donate to the Easter Weekend Food Drive!
Here are some important Easter Weekend Food Drive details:
We hope to see all of you at the Easter Weekend Food Drive! If you have any questions about the Easter Weekend Food Drive please contact me, Cassie Mattia, or Meredith Taylor! Help us help those in need have a beautiful Easter too!
For the latest Loveland community events stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Summer is quickly approaching which means it’s nearly time for Paxton’s Grill Annual Golf Outing! This will mark the 17th year that Paxton’s has teamed up with CancerFree KIDS to “eradicate cancer as a life-threatening disease in children by funding promising research that might otherwise go unfunded.” This year the golf outing has not only been extended to three days but the donation goal has also risen as last year the Annual Golf Outing raised $85,550 for CancerFree KIDS.
“Our goal this year is to reach $100,000.00,” the Owner of Paxton’s Grill Ralph Dunnigan said, “Your support of this amazing mission by playing in and/or sponsoring this year’s expanded event is greatly appreciated. Last year we raised more than $85,000 (shattering the previous year’s record) which again will fully fund a CancerFree KIDS research grant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Since the inception of this event, we have raised close to $500,000 with the goal this year to exceed our 2021 total and reach the six-figure mark,” Dunnigan added.
Paxton’s Grill 17th Annual Golf Outing benefiting CancerFree KIDS will be held on Friday, June 10th, and Saturday, June 11th at Hickory Woods Golf Course in Loveland, Ohio. The new addition of the third day will be held on Monday, June 13th at Oasis Golf Club.
There are plenty of sponsorship opportunities to choose from for this year’s Golf Outing Benefit according to Dunnigan. “Please call me if you have any questions! My number is 513-277-9119.”
If you would like to become a sponsor for this unbelievable Loveland benefit or you would like to register to be a golfer, both forms can be downloaded and filled out below! If you would like to donate now to Paxton’s Grill Annual Golf Outing click here.
For the latest local event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
By Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – It’s so important to stay connected with your community and the local businesses surrounding your community! In just two days you will have the opportunity to see what local businesses and organizations have in store for 2022 at the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) Business Expo!
On Thursday, March 10th from 4-7 p.m. at the Little Miami Brewing Event Center the LMRCA will be hosting the Annual Business Expo where members of the community and local businesses will be able to come together to interact and make new connections! The expo is completely open to the public and free for those who would like to attend. The 2022 Business Expo will include opportunities to:
If you happen to be one of the first 50 people to attend the Business Expo you will be rewarded with a free beer tasting and will be entered into a raffle!
Local businesses or entrepreneurs who want to be a part of the LMRCA Business Expo can sign up to grab a booth, which includes a table and 2 chairs, for $200. If your business is a member of the LMRCA the booth fee is $150. The LMRCA is offering Premium Booth Placement for only an additional $50. Booth spaces are very limited so if you are interested in joining one of the best networking events of the year please contact Meredith Taylor or scan the QR code at the bottom of the page to register as soon as possible!
The LMRCA 2022 Business Expo is not only a great place to showcase your business but it is also the perfect event to build your business and gain new customers! Be sure to put the Business Expo in your calendars as you don’t want to miss out on this fun networking event!
Your Passport can win you a PRIZE!
“Right Click” to print your Passport
(or open and download the .pdf provided below)
For the latest LMRCA Business Expo event details stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Who’s ready to scream for some ice cream this Friday at the legendary Loveland Dairy Whip’s opening weekend?
The Loveland Dairy Whip (LDW), a family-owned Loveland legacy that has been serving up high-quality soft serve ice cream since 1955, is holding its opening weekend celebration beginning this Friday, March 4th at 2 PM.
What could be more exciting than a beautifully delicious soft-serve masterpiece? Well, a special “opening weekend” 2 dollars off coupon that you can get sent directly to your phone by scanning the QR code at the bottom of the page! This coupon is good from March 4th-March 6th and may be used on any soft-serve dessert menu item. One coupon can be used per family or per automobile if you so choose to use the LDW’s convenient drive-up window.
The LDW is located at 611 W. Loveland Ave. and will be open daily from 2 PM-9 PM starting this Friday.
Not familiar with The Loveland Dairy Whip? Well here’s the run-down on why you should stop by this weekend! The LDW not only uses a high-quality soft serve mix when creating the scrumptious desserts they also make it fresh right before your eyes. While this legendary ice cream shop offers go-to flavors for their ice cream cones such as vanilla, chocolate, and twist, they also offer specialty toppings for both cones and sundaes, like googly eyes for the kids, sprinkles, and chocolate, cherry, or cake batter dip top. Other popular ice cream flavors at the LDW include Blue Moon, Dreamsicle, and, Cake Batter. The LDW also offers specialty ice cream creations like their Parfay’s and Cyclones, which include fan-favorites, The Chocolate Mountain, Reeses, and Oreo. The Loveland Dairy Whip’s menu also features Kid’s Sundaes, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes, Strawberry Short Cake, Hot Caramel Cake, Shakes, and Banana Boats.
Is your mouth watering yet? If so put the Loveland Dairy Whip’s opening weekend celebration on your agenda and come on by for a creation that is sure to sweeten up your weekend!
Be sure to stick to the classic method of paying for your dessert using cash when you stop by this weekend as LDW only takes cash so that they can continue to keep prices reasonable for all of their loyal guests!
Want to learn more about The LDW? Click below to watch LDW Owner, Rick Morgan, talk to Cassie the Food Guru on Loveland Magazine TV about LDW’s history and why guests keep coming back for more!
For more local business updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
By Cassie Mattia Promoted Advertisement
Loveland, Ohio – Are you ready to see what your local businesses have in store for 2022? Look no further as the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) Business Expo is nearly here!
On Thursday, March 10th from 4-7 p.m. at the Little Miami Brewing Event Center the LMRCA will be hosting the Annual Business Expo where members of the community and local businesses will be able to come together to interact and make new connections! The expo is completely open to the public and free for those who would like to attend. The 2022 Business Expo will include opportunities to:
If you happen to be one of the first 50 people to attend the Business Expo you will be rewarded with a free beer tasting and will be entered into a raffle!
Local businesses or entrepreneurs who want to be a part of the LMRCA Business Expo can sign up to grab a booth, which includes a table and 2 chairs, for $200. If your business is a member of the LMRCA the booth fee is $150. The LMRCA is offering Premium Booth Placement for only an additional $50. Booth spaces are very limited so if you are interested in joining one of the best networking events of the year please contact Meredith Taylor or scan the QR code at the bottom of the page to register as soon as possible!
The LMRCA 2022 Business Expo is not only a great place to showcase your business but it is also the perfect event to build your business and gain new customers! Be sure to put the Business Expo in your calendars as you don’t want to miss out on this fun networking event!
The LMRCA is still looking for sponsors for the 2022 Business Expo so if your business or organization is interested please contact Meredith Taylor.
For the latest LMRCA Business Expo event details stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Are you currently in the market to buy or sell a home? Do you have real estate questions that you don’t know who to go to for the answers? Well look no further Besl, Baden, and Christy Jones have all the answers you are looking for in our new segment “Real Estate Update!”
Once a month the ladies of Besl, Baden, and Christy Jones will join us at Loveland Magazine to talk to you about a new real estate topic. The topics will range from local house listings to the current condition of the housing market to trending home decor to what tools you need to secure a new home loan; these 3 real estate gurus plan to talk about it all!
This month’s Real Estate Update is all about both the buyer’s and the seller’s housing market. Mary Clare Baden and Christy Jones talk about what to expect if you are a seller or a buyer and what condition the housing market is currently in. Fasten your seat belts and get out your notepad; this is your February Real Estate Update!
For more Real Estate Updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
![[Video] Hearts Were Filled During Loveland’s First Hearts Afire Weekend Celebration!](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/full-access-pass.png)
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio- Valentine’s Day 2022 couldn’t have been better in the Sweetheart of Ohio! Loveland hosted its first Hearts Afire Weekend February 11th-13th in the heart of the Downtown Historic District. People from all over the Cincinnati area grabbed their friends and family for the historical event so that they could get a first look at all the Valentine’s Day fun!
Loveland’s Hearts Afire Weekend included a plethora of Valentine-themed activities, treats, music, dancing, ice sculptures, and decorations that many members of the community and local businesses helped organize making the weekend that much more special.
I got the opportunity to be a part of the event committee for Hearts Afire Weekend and wow was it rewarding to see how many people came downtown to celebrate love! I of course wanted to take in as much Valentine fun as possible so I grabbed my boyfriend and my dogs and made it my mission to get as much footage as I could of all the things Hearts Afire Weekend offered.
I kicked off my Loveland Hearts Afire experience with a Tarot Card reading from Francine Haydon, a highly talented woman who does intuitive readings, energy work, and classes. I was astonished at how much information and advice Francine was able to give me based on what each card I pulled out showed! Each card represented a month of the year and would display several different images or objects that Francine would then explain. After the reading, I felt as though I was fully prepared for what 2022 had in store for me!
After my Tarot Card Reading, I ventured out to the Loveland Stage Company where there was a beautifully decorated Kitty Kissing Booth and several kittens that you could adopt on the spot. Needless to say, I wanted to take home all the kittens they had along with the 20-pound rabbit that they had sitting peacefully in a baby stroller. Next, I went to Eads Fencing and the Loveland Hardware store where I participated in an impromptu photoshoot in their Puppy Kissing Booth with my dogs Dean and Nala! I also got the pleasure of meeting volunteers from the Furgotten Dog Rescue organization along with some little buddies who were up for adoption. If I was able to facilitate a small zoo I would have taken all the puppies too!
I was sure to stop in Mile42 Coffee on my way out as they always decorate for holidays and events with such style. The coffee shop was decorated gorgeously displaying sparkling red and pink Valentine hearts, streamers, and balloons. Parked right near Mile42 Coffee was Dolph’s Dogs and of course, Dolph was serving up only the most quality hot dogs! Owners of Mile42 Katie and Tim Butler couldn’t resist grabbing one of Dolph’s Dogs, which I thought was just another beautiful example of Loveland’s local businesses supporting one another!
Next, I took a stroll down the Loveland Bike Trail where pristine ice sculptures were displayed everywhere! One of my favorite ice sculptures was Trailside Provision’s as it was a gourmet popcorn box with ice cubes acting as the popcorn kernels. Trailside Provisions is known for its delicious homemade popcorn and treats so after seeing the ice sculpture I had to check out their decked-out Valentine’s Day shop. Not only did the shop go all out with the Valentine’s Day decor, but they also intricately made each product in the shop to in some way represent Valentine’s Day. From the homemade Valentine’s cards made for the Loveland Healthcare residents to the sprinkle and chocolate-covered pretzels, marshmallows, and caramels to the Valentine gift boxes filled with goodies, Trailside Provisions truly embodied the meaning of Hearts Afire Weekend!
Shortly after getting my sweet tooth fix, I visited Alley Boutique which also had beautiful Valentine’s Day decorations throughout the store. Inside the shop were caramel chocolate samples, a heartfelt gift basket raffle, and an endless amount of perfect Valentine’s Day gifts. As I left Alley Boutique I began to see more ice sculptures on display in front of each local business which really made for some excellent photo opportunities!
After capturing each ice sculpture in a photo I took a tour of Eskimo Kisses Village which was located on the Fountain Greene. Wow was it incredible! The entire area was decorated with signs that lit up saying things such as “Marry Me,” “I Love You,” and “Love.” In addition to the love-themed signs, there was an LED Putt-Putt station with 9 holes, a game similar to whack a mole called “Penguin Escape,” corn hole, “ice” skee ball, and a ring toss completely made out of ice! There, of course, were more photo opportunities including a Loveland Hearts Afire ice sculpture in which you could insert your face into the carved-out head and take a photo keepsake. Once it became dark outside the entire Eskimo Kisses Village was decked out in LED’s creating quite the ambiance as The ShamRocker entertained the community with music. One of the best moments during my time in Eskimo Kisses Village was when Premier Dance and Tumbling began a Flash Mob in the middle of Downtown Loveland’s main road to L-O-V-E! It was the epitome of love seeing the community sing and dance with the talented group of ladies from Premier Dance.
After enjoying the Flash Mob, I stopped by Loveland Sweets. The window display was awesome as it displayed heart-shaped boxes filled with homemade truffles on one side and hot chocolate sitting on top of marshmallows on the other side! Loveland Sweets’ ice sculpture that sat right in front of the store really brought on the nostalgia as it was sculpted into candy hearts all saying “sweet nothings.” Everything inside the shop was prepped and ready for Valentine’s Day. Not only were there boxes filled with gourmet chocolates decorated with big bright red bows, but there were also decorated Oreos, chocolate bark, and Valentine’s themed candies such as “Gummy Hugs and Kisses,” “Cherry Sweethearts,” and “Valentine Gummy Bears.” One of the treats that caught my eye was the “Donut Pretzels,” which were chocolate-covered pretzel rings!
After visiting my second Valentine’s treat shop, I decided to wander around and take photos of Loveland’s local business’s decor. Along my journey, I of course saw more ice sculptures but I also was able to see what activity each business had planned for the weekend. Hometown Cafe put on a delicious Hot Cocoa Bar accompanied by Loaded Sweet Potato Chips, The Works Pizza decked out their historical train car for “Single in the City” Speed Dating, Cappy’s Wine and Spirits held a Valentine’s Day-themed Charity Date Auction, and Loveland City Hall opened up their building to feature the “Heartland Market,” which included several local vendors all offering homemade gifts to give to your Valentine! I must say the atmosphere in Heartland Market was one for the books as each vendor had their products festively displayed while purple and pink strobe lights covered the walls.
Hearts Afire Weekend also featured many other local businesses and food trucks throughout downtown that I stopped by just to see what they had in store for the big event. The Chili Hut food truck served up its homemade Cincinnati Style Chili for dinner while The Cheesecakery offered one-of-kind cheesecakes to those who wanted to skip dinner and go straight to dessert! Parked right in front of Alley Boutique was Old School Pix, a vintage truck perfect for any photoshoot. Old School Pix had a lovely Valentine’s Day set-up for those who wanted to hop in the truck’s bed and have their photo taken with their loved ones. I decided to take full advantage of the photoshoot opportunity with my boyfriend and my two furbabies and wow did the photo turn out great! It was a perfect keepsake to remember how fantastic Loveland’s first Hearts Afire Weekend was!
The Hearts Afire Saturday “night-time” activities featured a live ice sculpting demonstration, fire performers, vow renewals, and fireworks. What a way to end the night with a bang!
It’s safe to say that Loveland’s Hearts Afire Weekend was a success. Seeing the community celebrate Valentine’s Day the Loveland way with those they love the most is exactly why Loveland will forever be the Sweetheart of Ohio!
If you couldn’t make it to Loveland’s Hearts Afire Weekend or would like to simply reminisce on all the fun festivities, check out the Loveland Magazine TV “Hearts Afire All-Access Pass” below!
We hope you enjoyed your All-Access Pass to Loveland’s Hearts Afire Weekend! This event has definitely become a new Valentine’s Day tradition! To all those who attended, we hope you had an absolute blast, and for those that didn’t get to attend, we want to see you in your best Valentine’s attire next year!
Stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia for the latest local event updates!