CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Chillicothe VA Medical Center has announced the return of its largest event of the year: the 18th Annual Veterans Appreciation Celebration.
Scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, the community-wide event will take over the historic Memorial Stadium located on the Chillicothe VA campus at 17273 State Route 104. Designed as a day of honor, entertainment, and memory-making, the celebration features a packed schedule ranging from a morning 5K to an evening baseball game capped off with fireworks.
A Packed Day of Activities
The event kicks off in the morning and transitions into an afternoon of family-focused entertainment and direct Veteran support services. The full activity schedule includes:
- 10:00 AM: Veterans Appreciation 5K & Historical Tours The 5K run/walk route spans more than 300 acres of the historic VA campus, with the starting line marked by a blue tent in the Memorial Stadium parking lot. Simultaneously, historical tours will open at the Mace House—a one-of-a-kind museum located near the golf course by the north entrance—remaining open until 4:00 PM.
- 12:00 PM: Resource Fair, Food Trucks, & Home Run Derby The afternoon portion opens with a massive Resource Fair in the gymnasium, hosting over 30 local and VA organizations dedicated to providing tailored information and benefits for Veterans. Outside, a lineup of popular food trucks—including Sour Pig, Burrito Buggy, Up n Smoke, and Amish Homemade Ice Cream—will open for service alongside kids’ games and bounce houses. Additionally, baseball fans can participate in the event’s inaugural Home Run Derby for a chance to win custom Paints merchandise (registration slots are limited).
- 2:00 PM: Veteran Registration Opens Veterans can arrive at the Memorial Stadium parking lot to pick up their free event t-shirts, food vouchers, and tickets to the evening baseball game.
Evening Game and Fireworks
The celebration will shift entirely to Memorial Stadium for an evening of baseball. Gates open and food service begins at 5:35 PM, followed by pregame ceremonies at 6:30 PM. During the pregame, the Chillicothe VA executive team will take the mound, and a local Veteran will be formally honored with the Neil Miller Appreciation Flag.
The main event—the Veterans Appreciation Baseball Game—will see the Chillicothe Paints face off against the Lafayette Aviators, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. A post-game fireworks display will close out the night.
How to Register
While the celebration is heavily supported by dozens of community partners, including the DAV Department of Ohio, local VFW posts, and the American Legion, attendees are asked to register in advance.
Veterans and family members can secure their spot online via Eventbrite or by calling 740-772-7070 to leave a registration voicemail.
