The 23rd annual Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day rolls through Historic Main Street Shawnee October 15 at noon. The theme of this year’s celebration is Passages to Change: Transportation Transforms the Region.
With the glow from Second Saturday lights barely faded, Main Street will again come to life with the sounds of live music and the smells of local food as we look back through the years at the treks, trains, and travel innovations that have shaped the Hocking Valley and the surrounding area.
At 2:00 p.m., there will be a historical walking tour led by Shawnee Improvement and Homecoming Association curator Rob Dishon. Meet at the museum (131 Main St.)
At 3:00p.m., there will be a procession of history down Main Street, which will showcase a timeline of transportation history and innovation. From early footpaths, to trains, to present day hiking trails, and everything in between, a timeline of Ohio’s transportation history will roll down Main Street.
Before or after the parade, visitors can view and learn about the history of the area, meticulously researched by volunteers with the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, also located on Main Street.
Local musicians will be performing throughout the day in the Tecumseh Theater and in the Harigle Garage, across from the Buckeye Trail Association office. Musical acts include Wolf Crescent Walker, and Wyatt Zelle & Friends.
While tunes echo around Main Street, attendees can shop at local vendor stands and listen to illuminating transportation presentations from faculty and students from Ohio University’s Sociology & Anthropology Department.
“The OU students from my Sociology of Appalachia class have been researching topics all semester related to transportation — from food deserts to futuristic trains,” said Rachel Terman, Assistant Professor of Sociology, “We hope to share some interesting information with people in attendance on Sunday!”
Presentations will be held in the Winding Road Marketplace, across from Tecumseh Theater. Topics include access to transportation, the environmental impact of transportation, ecotourism, trains, rural transportation issues, transportation infrastructure and more.
Attendance is free. For more information about the event or about Little Cities of Black Diamonds, click here.