Free activities to do in Chillicothe this summer

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
Updated ·4 min read

CHILLICOTHE ― The best things in life are free.

There are plenty of free activities to do in Chillicothe for individuals, children and families. From parks, library activities and local events, there is no shortage of things to discover in Ross County. Here is a list of some of the best free activities in the county.

Take on the 100-mile challenge

To celebrate the 2023 Centennial commemoration of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, the park is hosting a walking challenge to encourage visitors to enjoy each of the trails.

To complete the challenge, visitors must walk 100 miles at any of the park's four locations. Visitors would have to visit each park about 15 times. However, visitors can log their miles at any of the parks.

Views of the Hopewell Mounds at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park on June 8, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Views of the Hopewell Mounds at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park on June 8, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Print out a mile tracker from the NPS website or pick up a copy at the Mound City Group Visitor Center. Once you have completed 100 miles, submit your tracker for a limited-edition sticker.

Completed mile trackers can be dropped off at the Mound City Group Visitor Center. You can also email park staff a photo of your completed tracker or mail your tracker along with your return address to Hopewell Culture NHP, 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe, OH 45601.

Mound City Group is a 1-mile walk located at 16062 Ohio 104. Hopewell Mound Group is a 2.3-mile walk located at 4731 Sulphur Lick Road. Hopeton Earthworks is a 1.7-mile walk located at 990 Hopetown Road. Seip Earthworks is a 1.7-mile walk located at 7078 US 50.

Join a book club

Make friends and find your next favorite book with local book clubs. The Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library three book clubs:

  • The Brown Bag Book Club meets at noon on the third Wednesday of each month at Paper City Coffee, 47 S. Paint St., Chillicothe.

  • Friends Of Dorothy Book Club reads LGBTQ+ literature and meets every first Monday of the month at the First Capital PRIDE Coalition's headquarters at 14 S. Paint St., Apartment 33 on the third floor.

  • The Adult Book Club meets at the Richmond Dale Branch at 770 Main St., Richmond Dale.

Ridley Tonn leads a discussion during a meeting of the Ross County Library’s LGBTQ+ book club at the Ross County Library on June 6, 2022, in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Ridley Tonn leads a discussion during a meeting of the Ross County Library’s LGBTQ+ book club at the Ross County Library on June 6, 2022, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Copies of the books are available to borrow at the library.

Wheatberry Books at 9 W. 2nd St. also offers an original book club and a nonfiction book club. For more information, visit its website at wheatberrybooks.com.

Visit local festivals and events

Chillicothe and Ross County typically host local festivals and events every weekend during the summer, like the recent Juneteenth celebration at the Pump House Center for the Arts, or this weekend's Woofstock dog festival at Maple Grove Prairie, and the upcoming Frankfort Sunflower Festival and the Ross County Fair.

People gathered at Yochtangee Park for the Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival on May 26, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio.
People gathered at Yochtangee Park for the Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival on May 26, 2023, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

To stay updated on events happening in Ross County, subscribe to the Ross-Chillicothe Visitors Bureau calendar of events.

Watch a free summer movie at Danbarry

Danbarry Cinemas offers free movies at 10 a.m. every Thursday in the summer. Doors open one hour before showtime.

Movie showings include:

  • June 29 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

  • July 6 - DC League of SuperPets

  • July 13 - Minions: The Rise of Gru

  • July 20 - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

  • July 27 - Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

Danbarry Cinemas is located at 119 Pawnee Road.

Borrow a bike from the library

Take a bike ride on the Paint Creek Recreational Trail or downtown Chillicothe by borrowing equipment from the library. Anyone with a library card can borrow a bicycle from the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.

Challenge yourself to bike all 32 miles of the bike path or teach your child to ride a bike.

Children ages 0 to 11 can borrow equipment with a parent or guardian present. Teenagers 12 to 17 can borrow equipment without a parent present but must have a parent or guardian sign a consent form.

Patrons can borrow bicycles for two hours at a time. Call 740-702-4145 or visit the library for all bike reservations. There are no fees or fines for Book-A-Bike.

The library can also provide helmets and trailers for children. All equipment must be returned at least 30 minutes before closing.

Bikes may be returned to the Main Library, Northside Library, the Ross County YMCA, the Chillicothe Transit System or the Ross County Health District.

Also check out the library's other Beyond Books Collection which includes instruments, kites, yard games, telescopes, fishing poles and more.

The main library is located at 140 S. Paint St. The Northside library is located at 550 Buckeye St.

Sightsee with a Chillicothe App Tour

Download the Visit Chillicothe Ohio app to find things to do in Chillicothe, including curated tours. Users have a variety of themed trails to choose from, including:

A screenshot of the main screen of the new Visit Chillicothe Ohio app shows the options available to users who can use the app to plan their visit to the area.
A screenshot of the main screen of the new Visit Chillicothe Ohio app shows the options available to users who can use the app to plan their visit to the area.

  • The Selfie Trail.

  • The Coffee and Donut Trail which features local coffee shops.

  • The Ancient Earthworks of Ross County.

  • The Mural Tour which includes locations like the Chillicothe Telephone Mural and the Mail Pouch Mural.

  • The Antique Trail which includes local antique shops.

  • The Ross County Pizza Trail.

Each tour includes information about what to expect and directions to each destination.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Free activities to do in Chillicothe this summer