Barberton & Norton Events

Barberton — the "Magic City" — is a historic industrial city of about 25,000 southwest of Akron, founded in 1891 by O.C. Barber and reshaped by the matchstick, boiler, and rubber industries. Norton (~12,000) sits along its western edge with a quieter, more residential character. Lake Anna anchors downtown Barberton and hosts Lake Anna Park concerts, Mum Fest in October, and seasonal festivals year-round; the city is also legendary for its Serbian-American "Barberton chicken" houses — Belgrade Gardens, Hopocan Gardens, White House Chicken, and Milich's Village Inn have been frying chicken there for decades. Norton contributes the Wolf Creek Environmental Center (nature programs year-round), Loyal Oak Park summer events, and Norton City Schools concerts and athletics. Expect a combined calendar weighted toward downtown Barberton festivals, Lake Anna programming, Wolf Creek nature events, library programs at both libraries, and community gatherings across the two cities.