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Festivals abundant throughout Buckeye State

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COLUMBUS -- July is the perfect time to celebrate summer with outdoor festivals and celebrations. Travelers seeking a relaxing entertainment opportunity will find the serenity of hot air balloons, colorful hummingbirds, scrumptious food and wine events, and historic tributes to those who defended our country.

Visitors interested in a faster-paced getaway also have plenty of event choices including fighter jets displaying the finest in aerodynamics, some of the top acts in R&B and hip hop, race cars speeding by the stands in excess of 150 mph and the roar of the crowd at the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game.

The following is a sample of events available to Ohio visitors in July. For additional events or to plan an Ohio getaway, go to www.DiscoverOhio.com or call 800-BUCKEYE.

* Hand feeding hummingbirds, Lake Hope State Park, McArthur, through Aug. 31 -- See brilliant green and ruby hummingbirds up close and hear the beating of their wings as they drink from a hand-held feeder. State park visitors will make their own hummingbird feeders and practice some patience as they wait for these beautiful birds to become brave enough to feast on nectar offered to them by hand.

* Macy's Music Festival, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, July 25-26 -- Listen to some of the finest contemporary music in an incredible combination of R&B, hip hop and jazz at the two-day concert that offers musical variety for every taste. This year's line-up includes Patti LaBelle, Earth Wind & Fire, J. Holiday and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

* Ingenuity Festival, Playhouse Square Center, Cleveland, July 25-27 -- Embrace diversity in the artwork of internationally renowned artists. Experience culture through the beating of drums, interpretive dance and an array of different foods. Art and innovation come together at this year's Ingenuity Festival that calls visitors to be both spectators and participants.

* Vectren Dayton Air Show, July 19-20 -- The amazing U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor makes its Dayton debut and headlines this year's air show. Enjoy a weekend of military jet demonstrations, world-class aerobatic champions and entertainment for the whole family that celebrates Dayton's rich aviation heritage as home of the Wright Brothers and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

* Night of Thunder, National Trail Raceway, Hebron, July 19 -- Feel the rumble of fast-action sports at the National Trail Raceway. Racing enthusiasts are sure to gather around the jet-powered racecars as they ride a 40-foot fountain of fire and snowmobiles that reach speeds up to 150 mph. Participants can also join in on the hot-dog eating contest.

* Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival, Canton, July 25-Aug. 3 -- Located in Canton, the Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates the annual NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies with football's finest and nearly 700,000 football fans nationwide. Stick around for a parade and concert, fireworks, the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game and ribs.

* "The Presidents' Men: U.S. Black Marshals," National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, through Aug. 15 -- Experience a history of service and sacrifice when visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's exhibit that honors African Americans in the elite corps of the U.S. Marshals through first-hand accounts of the first generation of this select corps. Other parts of the exhibit raise awareness of the disparities that still affect the U.S. Marshal Service today.

For additional July events, visit www.DiscoverOhio.com. The Discover Ohio Travel Planner and Discover Ohio Calendar of Events are both viewable online. To order a free copy of the 2008 Discover Ohio Travel Planner, click on the free publications icon or call 800-BUCKEYE. For additional information, trained travel counselors are available at 800-BUCKEYE to assist callers weekdays from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.