419 Day, April 19th, is Toledo’s officially-unofficial holiday. And it’s not just because the date boasts our area code, but because we love celebrating all things Toledo. From parties to live music to specials at local restaurants and businesses, the city lights up on 419 Day.
And, while every 419 Day is special, this year seems a little more exciting than usual. Not only is 419 Day is on a Friday, letting it spill into the weekend, but it is prompted by the first Art Loop of the year on Thursday, April 18th, which means the weekend of local love stars early this year.
Ready to celebrate the 419? Here’s our field guide:
Thursday, 4.18
The Art Loop kicks off
The Arts Commission’s Art Loop series turns downtown Toledo into a sprawling gallery on the third Thursday of every month. The 2019 Art Loop season kicks off on April 18th with a “Poetry and Performance” theme. Explore downtown’s creative community during this evening affair, enjoy self-guided tours of art, artists and spaces. See something unique at each of the
participating venues.
2019 ART LOOP SCHEDULE:
April 18: Poetry & Performance
May 16: Craft & Culinary
June 20: Art of Sport
July 18: Interactive
August 15: Art of Automobiles
September 19: Dancin’ in the Streets
October 17: Haunted Harvest
November 21: Jazz Loop
December 19: Light Up! Toledo
A few of our favorite April Art Loop highlights
Digisaurus and The Funk Factory at the OT
5:30-9pm / The Ottawa Tavern
This free show featuring electronic synthpop from Digisaurus and jammed-out, bluesy rock from five piece, The Funk Factory, will be highlighted with live paintings, art raffles, and all-around great vibes. 1815 Adams St., 419-725-5483. Facebook.com/ot.toledo Free
Art Loop After Dark at The Heights
9-11pm / Renaissance Hotel Downtown Toledo
Enjoy an interactive experience with the University of Toledo Youth Symphony Orchestra, plus drink specials, live music, networking, and, of course, amazing 360 degree views of the city, during this after hours party at The Heights. 444 N. Summit St., 419-243-7565. facebook.com/TheHeightsToledo Free
New works by Katrina Niswander at Gathered
6-9pm / Gathered Glassblowing Studio
A popular Art Loop stop, Gathered never fails to amaze Warehouse District walkers who enter the shop. View new works by Toledo-based artist and illustrator Katrina Niswander, see a live glassblowing demonstrations by co-founder Eli Lipman, hear music by Old State Line, and visit the second floor studios for a demonstration by resident letterpress studio, Black Iron Press.
23 N. Huron St., 419-262-5501. Gatheredglass.com
Ode to the ZIP Code
5:30-7:30pm / Handmade Toledo
We’d talk more about how cool Ode to the ZIP Code is, but we’ve already said plenty about our partnership with The Fair Housing Center, The Arts Commission, and the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library on p.24. Come down to Handmade Toledo (1717 Adams St.) during the Art Loop to hear some of the contest’s best poems, as determined by our judges, and see which local poets will be selected as winners in both adult and youth categories.
QUICK ART LOOP TIPS
- Since the Main Library will be closed for the Art Loop season, the Imagination Station will serve as the new hub. Explore the museum with $5 admission after 5pm on Art Loop nights.
Bring exact change of $1.25 to purchase a wristband for the bus line, unless you already have a TARTA pass. You’ll receive unlimited rides all evening long on the two bus lines, to 19 stops scattered throughout the Loop. - Mind your time. The Art Loop lasts from 5:30-9pm, but downtown stays lively well after the Loop is “over.”
- Plan a route in advance, and even make a custom map online (also available on mobile).
Don’t sweat it. You don’t need to hit every stop in the Loop— just focus on enjoying the ones you visit.
Check out featured stops, special events and details for the Loop every month at theartscommission.org/artloop.
Friday, 4.19
The official 419 Day
35 local beers in two days
Thursday, 4.19 – Saturday, 4.20 / The Casual Pint
Happy birthday, Casual Pint! Come out and celebrate the bar and specialty beer shop’s one-year anniversary during The Casual Pint’s Local Tap Takeover Bash. On Friday and Saturday, the Pint will fill all 35 taplines with local brews (show your love by filling a growler!). Find your favorites— from Black Frog to Maumee Bay to Wildside, and more— during this local beer extravaganza. Games, prizes, and giveaways will also fuel the celebration. If there’s any brew left, the tap takeover might spill into Sunday, but we suggest you stop by on 419 day to get the most of their amazing selection. Noon-midnight, Friday. 11am-midnight, Saturday. Noon-8pm, Sunday. The Casual Pint, 3550 Executive Parkway. 419-469-8965. toledo.thecasualpint.com
Drink local before the game
4pm-midnight / Fleetwood’s Tap Room
Drink crafts from Toledo breweries during the 419 Day Tap Takeover at Fleetwood’s Tap Room. Featured brews from Maumee Bay Brewing Company, Earnest Brew Works, Inside the 5, and Twin Oaks Brewing will be available for sipping, or guzzling. Stop by before, or after, the Mud Hens take on the Columbus Clippers at 7pm. 28 N. St. Clair St. 419-724-2337. hensvilletoledo.com
419 Day dance party
8pm-2:3am / The Ottawa Tavern
Celebrate all things that make Toledo great during a free 419 day dance party at the Ottawa Tavern. A handful of Toledo DJs— including Bear, Quake, Sierra Suavacita Service, and FUNKy MUNKyZ— will keep the dancefloor buzzing with soulful and eclectic beats, plus house, techno, footwork, jungle, funk and other danceable music styles. Not only will this party celebrate our city and community, but it will honor the life of longtime local and The Oliver House chef Steven Auxter, who tragically passed away last year. 1815 Adams St., 419-725-5483. Facebook.com/ot.toledo Free
419 Day at the Bronze Boar
7pm-1am / The Bronze Boar
Celebrate all things local— from food to music to art— during 419 Day at the Bronze Boar. Shop wares by local artists, find yourself amazed by live painting, and nosh on grub from food trucks. T-Bone Jones and The Atlas Moving Company will bring funky jams as they take the stage during this Toledo-centric party hosted by Waxtastic Productions. 20 S. Huron St., 419-244-2627. Free
Paint the skyline
7-10pm / Uncork the Artist
The Toledo skyline might not be the most recognizable in the world, but true Toledoans can identify it immediately. Join Uncork the Artist for an evening that celebrates Toledo with a Van Gogh-inspired cityscape painting. Not an artist? Don’t worry, follow the instructor and go home with a picture-perfect painting. $35. 5380 Monroe St. 419-283-2484. uncorktheartist.com
Frankie’s FIesta
8pm-2am / Frankie’s Inner City
Innovation Concerts brings Pittsburgh hip hop duo Grand Buffett to Toledo. With lighting-speed, super smart/quirky lyrics and laser beam backing tracks Jackson and Lord Grunge will have you bouncing along while trying to figure out what just happened. goLab (Toledo), The Matt Truman Ego Trip (Bowling Green) and Whisper Disco (Toledo) open the show. $8 in advance, $10 day of show. 308 Main St. 419-691-7464. innovationconcerts.com
(it takes a) Village on Adams
Thursday, 4.19 – Saturday, 4.20 / Adams Street
Get down in UpTown all 419 Day weekend long with exciting events each day.
Thursday, 4.18
Sprawl down the Adams Street bars and shops for Art Loop happenings. At 8pm, The Attic on Adams (1701 Adams St.) will open their patio bar for the season with an Art Loop after party featuring The Essentials and DJ Sharktooth. The show is free, but donations for the bands are suggested.
Friday, 4.19
419 Day kicks off early with outdoor fun. Put on your workin’ clothes and help get the Sports Ball Park (across from Wesley’s and Georgjz419, near 13th and Adams Streets) ready for the summer during the Garden(ING!) Party for 419(DAY!), from 4-9pm. If you help out with the light weeding and painting, enjoy live music and play lawn games, you’ll receive two drink tickets to get an ORA drink from either Wesley’s or Georgjz419, plus tasty treats from a food truck at 8pm. Who said chores aren’t fun? Afterwards, make sure to hit up all the great shops, restaurants and bars on Adams Street to celebrate Toledo’s brewers and distillers with local beer and local booze.
Saturday, 4.20
Celebrate another official unofficial party— 420— at The Attic on Adams with a 420 Party sponsored by Jackie O’s Brewery! Enjoy brews from Jackie O’s, who will takeover the taps of the main and patio bar, sip cocktails made with Boochy Mama’s new CBD Kombucha, and listen to bands on the patio. Not sure what 420 is? Don’t worry about it. You’ll have fun either way.
Saturday, 4.20
The 3rd Annual Pat O’Connor Music and Arts Festival is a free citywide event celebrating the legacy of its namesake, the late owner of Boogie Records and Culture Clash Records. Music venues, art galleries, and local establishments from coffee shops to tattoo parlors will be sharing what they’re all about. The event kicks off at 10am with a performance by Tim Oehlers at Glass City Cafe, with other daytime performances to be held at Music Go Round, Culture Clash, and Rocky’s. Evening performances are at Manhattan’s, Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull, and Wesley’s. Visit BeLikePat.com for more details and to donate to the Pat O’Connor Fund’s Music and Art Foundation.
