Celina
Around Celina
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Ohio · 42k people
Celina
Locals say Grand Lake area · “The Lake City”
Where the lake meets the heartland
Deep farmland greenGrand Lake night blue
Welcome to the Grand Lake area, where the water is always calling and the community is tight-knit. Whether you're here for the fishing, the festivals, or just the friendly faces, you'll feel at home in no time.
Clubs for Celina
No clubs for Celina yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Celina. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Celina. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Ohio's largest inland lake, great for boating, fishing, and camping.
- Celina Historic District Walkable downtown with shops, restaurants, and lake views.
- Mercer County Fairgrounds Home of the Mercer County Fair and other community gatherings.
- Fort Recovery State Memorial Museum and monument marking a Revolutionary War battle.
- Celina Lakefront Park Scenic walking paths and beach area along the lake.
- Outdoors Boating and jet skiing on Grand Lake
- Outdoors Fishing for walleye and bass
- With kids Visit the Celina Lakefront Park playground
- With kids Take a boat ride on the lake
- Evenings Live music at the Celina Lake Festival
- Evenings Bar hopping along Main Street
- Locals love lakefront parks
- Locals love marinas
Through the year
- Celina Lake Festival July Summer celebration with music, food, and lake activities.
- Mercer County Fair August County fair with rides, livestock, and local vendors.
- Fort Recovery Living History Weekend September Reenactments and demonstrations at the historic site.
- Celina Winterfest December Winter celebration with lights, ice skating, and local crafts.
- Grand Lake Walleye Tournament May Fishing competition on the lake.
Humid continental with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “The Lake”
- Grand Lake St. Marys
- “Up north”
- Heading to the lake area
- “Buckeye”
- Ohio State fan
- “Mercer”
- Mercer County
Getaways
- Wapakoneta Home of the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
- Van Wert Historic downtown and the Van Wert County Fair.
- Decatur Historic downtown and the Decatur County Fair.
- Lima Allen County Museum and the Lima Symphony.
Local flavour
Rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Cleveland Browns (NFL), Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Buckeyes Peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate, an Ohio classic.
- Fried walleye Fresh from Grand Lake St. Marys.
- Lenten fish fries
Where people go
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park The largest inland lake in Ohio, a hub for boating, fishing, and camping.
- Marinas and lakefront parks Docks, picnic areas, and sunset views along the shoreline.
- Historic downtown Celina Small-town main street with local shops and eateries.
Heritage and traditions
Celina and the Grand Lake area are proud of their deep German Catholic heritage, the beautiful Grand Lake St. Marys, and a strong sense of community centered around family, faith, and the outdoors.
This time of year in Celina
- Fall harvest dinners Fall Churches host turkey and ham dinners in the autumn.
Say it like a local: “Up north” — Going toward the lake or the northern part of the county.
Festivals
- Coldwater Community Picnic August A town-wide picnic with food, games, and live music.
- St. Henry Summer Festival July Parish festival with German food, bingo, and rides.
- Maria Stein Country Fest September Celebrates the area's German Catholic roots with music and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics A Catholic pilgrimage site with one of the largest relic collections in the world.
- Mercer County Courthouse Historic 1904 courthouse in Celina, a symbol of local government and pride.
- St. Henry's Catholic Church A historic parish church at the heart of the German Catholic community.
Food traditions
- Church festival chicken dinners A staple at summer parish festivals, featuring fried chicken, homemade sides, and pie.
- Bratwurst and sauerkraut German heritage shines at community events, especially Oktoberfest-style gatherings.
- Homemade pies at church bazaars Local women's groups bake pies for fundraisers, a beloved tradition.
- Pork tenderloin sandwiches A Midwestern classic, often served at local diners and fairs.
A little history
- 1830s Grand Lake St. Marys was built as a reservoir for the Miami and Erie Canal.
- 1794 Battle of Fort Recovery, a key conflict in the Northwest Indian War.
- 1830s-1840s German immigrants settled the area, shaping its Catholic identity.
- 1820 Mercer County was established from Darke County.
Rivalries
- Celina vs. Coldwater high school football Fierce local gridiron rivalry.
- Ohio State vs. Michigan College football rivalry that splits households.
- Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL rivalry with strong local opinions.
- Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals MLB rivalry among fans.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Coldwater vs. St. Henry rivalry
- Outdoors Ice skating on Grand Lake
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing
- With kids Visiting the Maria Stein Shrine
- With kids Getting ice cream at the lakefront
Locals speak with a standard Midwestern accent, with a few German-influenced terms like 'ja' for yes and 'gesundheit' after a sneeze.
Only here
- Grand Lake St. Marys is the largest inland lake in Ohio.
- Mercer County is a top egg-producing county in the state.
- The Maria Stein Shrine houses one of the world's largest collections of Catholic relics.
- The area has a remarkably high density of Catholic churches per capita.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the lake: it's the center of summer life, from boating to fishing.
- Get to know the Catholic parishes; they are community hubs and host many events.
- Winter can be harsh; be ready for ice and snow, and try ice fishing on Grand Lake.
- Try a chicken dinner at a church festival—it's a local rite of passage.
- Learn to say 'the lake' to mean Grand Lake St. Marys; it's the local shorthand.
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Part of Lima area
Nearby
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Celina, OH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.