Celebrate Hudson!

Issue #4: February 17, 2026

Celebrate Hudson! is a free monthly email newsletter produced as a community service by Hudson Community Foundation and Destination Hudson (both local independent non-profit organizations) to showcase some of the incredible community events hosted by an array of non-profit organizations in Hudson. Scroll down and enjoy. 

Hudson Trivia Question #2:

What two classic neon signs from former downtown Hudson businesses are now part of the collection of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

Hudson PTO Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, March 7, 2026

8am to 12noon

Hudson High School, 2500 Hudson Aurora Rd., Hudson 

Hudson Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will host its 69^th annual Pancake Breakfast on March 7. This is PTO’s largest fundraiser. Come enjoy delicious food, music, games, artwork, and so much more! All proceeds from the breakfast will go directly back to the Hudson City Schools in the form of teacher grants, student scholarships and programs. Online tickets are available now at www.hudsonpto.org for $7 per adult and $5 per child. All tickets purchased online will be available for pickup at will call on the day of the event. Allergy/gluten friendly options are available at the same cost.

Hudson Heritage Association Speaker:

The Ohio-Michigan State Line

Thursday, March 12, 2026

7pm

Barlow Community Center, 41 S Oviatt Street, Hudson

Program will be broadcast live on HCTV

Hudson Heritage Association hosts a presentation on the history of the Ohio-Michigan State Line by Joe Fenicle, a professional surveyor in Ohio and Michigan. Hudson Heritage Association meetings are free and open to the public. Visit www.hudsonheritage.org to learn more, join HHA or subscribe to its email list.

Upcoming Events: Arts & Culture

The Cottage by Hudson Players

Now through Feb. 28, 2026

Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm with a Sunday matinee on Feb. 22 at 2pm

Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt St., Hudson

The Hudson Players, now in its 81^st season, will present The Cottage by Sandy Rustin – serving laughs, twists and a little scandal. This production is directed by Chris Bizub in special arrangement with Dramatists. A riotous romantic farce in the spirit of Noël Coward, The Cottage delivers mistaken identities, scandalous secrets, and nonstop hilarity. Please note that this show contains mature themes. Admission is $15 and $13 for students and seniors. Season tickets are available for $36. For tickets and more information, visit www.hudsonplayers.com.

Hudson Trivia Question #3

What was the original name of Ellsworth Meadows Golf Club in Hudson?

(scroll to the end of this email to see how you can win a prize by guessing at the answer to this question)

Peg’s Foundation and Gallery:

Illuminated Fundamentals

Now through May 2, 2026

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11am to 4pm

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11am to 7pm

Closed on Sunday & Federal Holidays

53 First Street, Hudson

On Feb. 12, Peg’s Gallery opened its newest exhibit – Illuminated Fundamentals. Running through May 2, this multi-artist show centers on the essential elements that support a meaningful, connected life: purpose, autonomy, connection, self-acceptance, play and strong support networks. Through immersive, visual, and interactive experiences, the exhibit explores ideas that are often difficult to articulate. By engaging with nature, touching sand, activating consciousness through time-travel experiences, connecting with community and allowing memory and emotion to surface, visitors encounter these essentials in embodied, sensory ways. 

Peg’s Gallery is free and open to the public.

Hudson Library & Historical Society: Brazilian Samba!

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

10am to 12noon

Hudson Library & Historical Society, 96 Library St., Hudson

Families can experience a real Brazilian Carnival with Samba da Cidade, a Cleveland-based samba school that brings together percussionists of all levels and ages to learn, play, and perform samba and other rhythms inspired by the African Diaspora in Brazil, Cuba and elsewhere. Learn the steps or just enjoy the music and a snack, create a colorful mask and instrument, and take part in a musical parade. Viva! Registration is required. Register online in the Events section of www.hudsonlibrary.org or call 330/653-6658.

Music from The Western Reserve: Duo Recital

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026

5pm (with a pre-concert talk at 4:30pm)

Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson

Cellist Brendon Phelps and pianist Alexandre Marr come together for a powerful and emotionally rich duo recital. Known for their intense musicality and deep collaborative chemistry, Phelps and Marr will present a program centered around Sergei Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 19. This cornerstone of the cello repertoire showcases the expressive range of both instruments and offers a thrilling dialogue between cello and piano. With their combined artistry and sensitivity, the duo promises an unforgettable performance that highlights the sonata’s sweeping lyricism, dramatic intensity, and intimate lyricism. All attendees are invited to come early for a pre-concert talk and stay for a post-concert reception to meet the artists and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine.

General admission tickets are available for $30 at www.musicwr.org. All students with a valid student ID receive free concert admission.

Now in its 43^rd season, Hudson-based Music from The Western Reserve features first-class musical performances. It began as the brainchild of John E. Perry, manager of the National Public Radio affiliate WKSU-FM. From 1983 to 2002, performances were held at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron. The concerts then were moved to the chapel at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson. Beginning with its 2010-11 season, Music from The Western Reserve added Christ Church Episcopal as its performance venue. The first concert at Christ Church Episcopal was held in September 2010.

Hudson Trivia Question #4:

What piece of public art by noted industrial designer Peter McDonald of Hudson continues to marvel those who walk and drive by it?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

Hudson Society of Artists

Meetings on Monday, March 2, March 16, April 6 and April 20

7pm

Barlow Community Center, 41 South Oviatt St., Hudson

The Hudson Society of Artists is an organization of individuals interested in furthering artistic endeavors in northeast Ohio. Membership is open to artists of all ages and abilities, from professionals to beginners, as well as those interested in the arts but not necessarily artists themselves.

Four meetings, all free and open to the public, are scheduled for the months of

March and April. Presenters are:

• March 2 - Noted local artist C. Arthur Croyle, watercolor art he has named “Beneath It All”
• March 16 - Tara Deetscreek, techniques in creating bas relief pieces
• April 6 - Lou Camerato, mixed media assemblages art
• April 20 - Carole Pollard, intricate quilting

All meetings are held in the Barlow Community Center, starting at 7 PM and are open to all at no charge. For more information, visit www.hudsonsocietyofartists.com

Door2 Art Studio – Open Studio

Every Wednesday

4pm to 8pm

5374 Darrow Rd, Hudson

Door 2 is a multi-faceted art studio in Hudson with professional artists on staff. Door 2 hosts community events, Open Studio, an Artist Speaker Series, Art Classes, Artist Forum and more.   

Several offerings:

• Open Studio every Wednesdays from 4pm to 8pm. It is free and open to everyone ages 14+. We offer free materials and instruction in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and more. Adults, college and high school artists are welcome.
• Artist Forums from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Wednesdays, Feb. 25 and March 25. Come to share your current project, past work or even just a project concert for feedback and critique from fellow artists.
• At Artist Features once each month, hear from a local artist or creative professional about his/her background and work. At 6:30pm on March 11, it’s Ron White.
• Door 2 offers Studio Classes once each month from 5pm to 8pm on selected Wednesdays (doors open at 4pm). On Feb. 18, 2026, it’s Pinch Pots with Kyle Bee. On March 18, it’s Collage in the House with Karen Koch. All classes are free. No registration is required and all materials will be provided.

For more information, visit www.door2art.com

Art On The Green: Registration Deadline is April 3

The Hudson Society of Artists has begun registering artists for its 44^th Annual Art on the Green, a juried showed scheduled for Aug. 29 and 30, 2026. Artist registration closes on Friday, April 3. Entries submitted after the cut-off date will not be accepted.

For 2026, Art on the Green returns to the heart of Hudson on the downtown Greens. New categories being accepted this year include artisan candles, soap/skincare and gourmet foods. Beginning in 2026, ALL Artists are required to pay the $20 registration/jury fee and submit photos of their work and booth set-up to be considered for entry into the show

To view the guidelines and register, click here: Online Jurying System: 44th Annual Art on the Green 2026 Registration

Hudson Trivia Question #5:

In what year did the Village of Hudson merge with Hudson Township to create the City of Hudson?

(scroll to the end of this email for the answer)

Save the Date

Hudson Preschool Parents Children's Fair

Saturday, April 11, 2006

9am to 12noon

East Woods Intermediate School

Hudson Preschool Parents will hold its 39^th annual Children's Fair on Saturday, April 11, 2026. This lively event for our youngest Hudsonites and their families include DJ/entertainment, bounce houses, face painting, great raffles, food/beverage and local vendors. It is free and open to the public. This year’s Children’s Fair will benefit Bright Start Books, CitiReach Backpack Program, Friends of Hudson Parks and Hudson Community Living.

Vendors are invited to apply for a booth or table. To view and complete the application, click on Children's Fair Vendor Application - HUDSON PRESCHOOL PARENTS

Questions? Contact hudsonohchildrensfair@gmail.com.

Hudson Preschool Parents is a very active non-profit group founded in 1973 to promote an understanding of the young child's personality and development. For information on the organization and membership, visit www.hudsonpreschoolparents.org

Hudson Community Choruses Spring Concert

Sunday, April 26, 2026

4pm

Hudson High School Auditorium, 2500 Hudson Aurora Road, Hudson.

Hudson Community Choruses (Adult, Youth & Children) will perform their next concert – Unclouded Day: Raising Our Voices for Mental Health. Artistic Director Dr. Jon C. Peterson noted: “Our upcoming concert is centered on themes of hope, reflection, and emotional well-being. Our aim is simple and welcoming: to use music as a way to foster understanding, spark conversation, and remind one another that none of us walks alone. Music has always been a place where people can breathe, feel, and connect — and that spirit is at the heart of this program.” The concert program will feature traditional, gospel, and contemporary choral works.

Tickets go on sale March 18. Concert details can be found at hudsonsings.org.

Hudson Home & Garden Tour 2026

Friday, June 12, 2026, and Saturday, June 13, 2026

Around Hudson (locations to be announced)

The Hudson Home and Garden Tour, presented annually by Hudson Garden Club, is one of our community’s biggest and most popular events.

The 78^th annual Hudson Home and Garden Tour is Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, 2026. This year's Tour will feature four distinctive homes, four beautiful gardens and one specially designed outdoor living and entertaining space.

Online ticket sales will open on May 1. For those who prefer to purchase tickets in person, sales begin on June 1. Presale tickets are available for $35, while tickets purchased on the day of the Tour will be $45.

A bit of history … In 1947, Hudson Garden Club sought a way to raise funds to replace the many trees lost to Dutch elm disease and decided to conduct the first tour, which was gardens only, with a charge of 50 cents per person. It raised $24.50! Over the years, the club expanded the tour to include both homes and gardens.  

Looking Back To A Very Sweet Day:

Destination Hudson Chocolate Walk 2026

Destination Hudson’s 12^th Annual Chocolate Walk attracted 217 enthusiastic chocolate walkers who braved the cold and an approaching snowstorm on Saturday, Jan. 24 (8 additional walkers chose the last-minute option to do it later in the week). DH kicked off the event with the warm hospitality of our Super Sweet Sponsor Mike Gower Howard Hanna! The walkers then visited 27 local Hudson businesses, checking off each on their passport. At the conclusion, everyone enjoyed the new addition of the Social Hour at Green Valley Brewing Company. The grand prize winner of the Chocolate Walk raffle was Courtney Bedzyk.  

Answers to trivia questions in this issue:

#1: A postage stamp featuring Polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, a third generation Hudsonite, was issued in 1988. Ellsworth, who led the first Arctic and Antarctic air crossings in the 1920s and 1930s, attended Western Reserve Academy and later served on its board of trustees. Ellsworth is buried in Hudson’s Markillie Cemetery. He is the reason why Hudson’s sports teams are called the Explorers.

#2: The American Sign Museum collection includes signs from Saywell’s Drugs on Main Street (now Open Door Coffee) and Reserve Inn Restaurant (now Lager & Vine). Here are links to see those two signs at the museum: Saywell's & Reserve Inn.

#3: To guess at this answer, email us at celebratehudson@myhcf.org. A fabulous prize will be awarded to one randomly selected person who submits the correct answer.



#4: Peter McDonald, who spent 28 years as Firestone’s director of tire design, created the intriguing painted clock tower along Veteran’s Way in Hudson (it sits immediately next to the park’s splash pad). While the clock tower is painted on a flat surface, it appears to turn as you pass it. McDonald’s clock tower is a master work of illusion. Several other pieces of McDonald’s public art can be found around Hudson.

#5: The Village of Hudson and Hudson Township officially merged on January 1, 1994, following a November 1993 vote to create a single municipality.

The answer from last month’s trivia contest (from our Jan. 20, 2026, issue):

In the January issue of our new Celebrate Hudson! newsletter (issued on Jan. 20), we asked readers to submit guesses to answer Hudson Trivia Question #3: The building that now is home to the Noble House restaurant at 60 W. Streetsboro Rd. (Ohio Rt. 303) was once an auto dealership. What brand of cars were sold there? DeSoto, Plymouth and/or Chrysler would have been accepted as a correct answer.

Village Motors Inc. at 60 Peninsula Street (now 60 West Streetsboro Rd.) sold DeSoto and Plymouth cars in the 1940s and 1950s. Both were brands made by Chrysler Corporation. DeSoto was discontinued in 1961. The dealership became known as Hannaford Chrysler Plymouth, owned by Hudson’s Hannaford family. Allan Sveda of Hudson purchased the building in 1982 and renovated it into a restaurant, originally known as Hudson House Dining Room. Today, it’s Noble House.

See below a photo of that building around 1950. (That appears to be a 1949 DeSoto parked to the right.)

The winner of our January trivia contest was Suzanne Morgan. In the answer submitted by Suzanne, she remembered seeing the autos as they arrived on railroad flat cars and were unloaded across the street from the dealership.



To reflect our community’s rich history of business and commerce, Suzanne's prize included items from two Hudson businesses, presented in a vintage DeSoto tote bag:

• A gift card from Noble House restaurant, serving delicious Chinese cuisine at 60 W. Streetsboro Rd.
• And to celebrate her own automobile, a set of fuzzy nice and new car air freshener from the automotive aisle of Discount Drug Mart, 5863 Darrow Rd., Hudson.

Email us at celebratehudson@myhcf.org with comments, questions or to add your Hudson non-profit organization’s event to future issues of Celebrate Hudson!

Thank you for reading Celebrate Hudson! To receive future issues of this monthly eNewsletter, be sure you subscribe.