Oliver Hazard Day Returns to Downtown Waterville on Saturday, August 15

Daily Dose  |  07/22/2026 10:30 am

Every August, something special happens in downtown Waterville.

Friends, families, neighbors, and music fans travel from across the country, and increasingly from around the world, to gather in a small Ohio town for a day centered around live music, local art, and community.

On Saturday, August 15, Oliver Hazard Day returns to historic downtown Waterville for its biggest year yet.

Created by Waterville natives and indie folk band Oliver Hazard, the annual festival invites artists the band has met while touring to perform in the place where their own story began. What started as a hometown concert has grown into an annual tradition that brings thousands of visitors to Waterville while remaining rooted in the same small-town spirit that inspired it.

This year's lineup includes Briscoe, Olive Klug, hometown hosts Oliver Hazard, and UK indie folk trio TORS, who will become the first international artists ever to perform at Oliver Hazard Day.

Returning this year is hometown DJ Jon Zenz, who will once again spin an all-vinyl soundtrack of soul, funk, roots, and classic grooves before the live performances begin. Throughout the day, Toledo mural artist Tayler Meinen will create a live mural installation, adding another interactive artistic element to the festival experience.

Festival attendees can also enjoy local food vendors, artisan makers, family-friendly activities, and Buffalo Rock Brewing Company's annual OLI Session IPA, brewed exclusively for Oliver Hazard Day.

Beyond the music, Oliver Hazard Day continues its mission of giving back to the creative community. A portion of festival proceeds benefits the Toledo Arts Commission, helping support arts programming and creative opportunities throughout Northwest Ohio.

"We started Oliver Hazard Day as a way to bring the artists we've met on the road back to the town that raised us," said the band. "Watching people travel from all over the country—and now from overseas—to experience Waterville together has been incredibly meaningful. We can't wait to welcome everyone back."

Event Details

Oliver Hazard Day
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Historic Downtown Waterville, Ohio

Gates Open: 4:30 p.m.

Tickets and additional information are available at OliverHazardDay.com.

About Oliver Hazard Day

Founded by Waterville natives Oliver Hazard, Oliver Hazard Day is an annual hometown music festival celebrating independent music, local artists, small businesses, and the community that shaped the band. Each summer, the band returns home to host artists they've met while touring, creating a one-day gathering that brings together neighbors, families, and music fans from across the country in the heart of downtown Waterville