Return of The Frogman

Leap Into the Legend! Don't miss the debut of Return of The Frogman on Oct. 12.

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Join a NEW event hosted by the City of Loveland to celebrate our famous local cryptid: The Loveland Frogman.

Also referred to as the Loveland Frog or Loveland Lizard, the Frogman has been likened to Paul Bunyan. A tall tale — or is it? Sightings have made it a legend in Ohio folklore since 1955.

Leap Into the Legend at Return of The Frogman!

Activity Map

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Attractions & Activities

1 – 3 PM – Book Release — Paxton’s Grill, 126 W Loveland Ave.
Don’t miss the book release of Josie and Doug: An Adventure with the Loveland Frogman. This is a children’s book written by local author Mike Meldon. Josie and Doug will be available for photos!

1 – 6 PM — The Frogman Classic Arm Wrestling Tournament — Hops and Berry Taproom, 118 S Karl Brown Way
Double elimination tourney with cash prizes. Learn more.

4 – 6 PM – Photos with the Loveland Frogman — Nisbet Park Gazebo & Surrounding Area
This is a one-of-a-kind photo op! Hop on over to meet the Loveland Frog, AKA the city’s mascot.

4 – 6 PM – The Lily Pad Kids’ Zone — Loveland Stage Company, 111 S. 2nd St.
Kids/families are invited to the theater for frog-themed activity stations, photo ops, story time and sing-a-long!

4 PM – Lily Pad Activity Stations begin (ongoing through evening)
4:30 PM- Story time featuring Are Enchanted Forests Real? by local author Jenna Schroeder, followed by book signing
5 PM – Princess and the Frog sing-a-long
5:30 PM – Princess and the Frog meet-and-greet & photo op

4, 5 & 6 PM – Story Time — Bike Trail Books, 113 Karl Brown Way
At the top of each hour, meet for a frog-themed kids’ story time.

4 – 8 PM – Scavenger Hunt — Historic Downtown
Frog artwork is hiding in businesses throughout downtown. Can you find all the frogs? Guess how many for the chance to win a prize! Winners will be selected at random.

4 – 8 PM – Escape Room — Railroad Avenue
The Frogman isn’t the only mystery in town… Can you spot the puzzle clues to escape?

4 – 8 PM – Make Frogman Pottery — Whistle Stop Clay Works, 119 Harrison Ave.
Loveland Frogman dishes will be available to paint. Suitable for ages 3+. Pre-registration encouraged.

4 – 8 PM – Frog Hop Game Zone — Railroad Avenue
Hop over to the game area, featuring fun for kids of all ages! There will be cornhole, lawn games, and more. The Ben Morrison Fund and Izaak Walton League will set up festival games. A DJ and the Frogger Face Off will also be set up in this area.

4:30 – 8 PM – Frogger Face Off — Railway Barber Shop, 106 Railroad Ave.
Try your luck at this arcade favorite and leap your way into a pile of cash! Railway Barber Shop is hosting a Frogger gaming competition open to all ages and skill levels. There will be grand prizes for the top 3 scores! To enter, visit Railway Barber Shop between Sept. 3 – Oct. 5 to register and set your score for Round 1. Then, on Oct. 12, attend Return of The Frogman. Finals will start at 4:30 p.m. at Railway. Finals will consist of several rounds in a single elimination format where you are welcome to enjoy music and festivities until your turn to play.

6:30 – 10 PM – ‘Laugh Til You Croak’ Comedy Hop — Multiple Locations
Laugh the night away! Hop along to different locations in Historic Downtown, where you’ll enjoy seeing 15 comedians perform. See times and locations.

8:30 PM – Frogman Movie— Loveland Stage Company, 111 S. 2nd St.
Filmed in 2023, this movie tells the story of three friends in search of the Loveland Frogman. Is he more than just a local legend? Doors open at 8 p.m. and the movie begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 –purchase in advance or the night of the show. Please note this is a horror movie for adults. Presented by Love Our Land and Loveland Stage Company.

Laugh Til You Croak Comedy Hop

We bet you’ve never done a comedy hop! Think of it like a bar crawl, but instead you’ll be hopping locations to see a can’t-miss lineup of stand-up comedians who have been featured on the Bob & Tom Show, Sirius XM, Go Bananas Comedy Club, Comedy Lab, Keep It Open Cincy, as openers for Dave Chappelle, and more! And the best part? Admission is FREE!

6:30 PM Set – Cappy’s, 309 W Loveland Ave.
Featuring Max Jensen, Mike Franke and Loveland’s own Vince Stevens

8 PM Set – Multiple Locations – Get Hopping!

Location	Featured Comedians
Bishop’s Quarter (Barrel Room), 212 W Loveland Ave.	Mark Chalifoux, Faith Mueller, Michael Holder
Loveland Station (Community Room), 110 S 2nd St., Ste. A	Andrew Rudick, Chris Siemer, Shawn Braley
Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar, 110 S 2nd St., Ste. B	Dennis Piper, Rashika Jaipuriar, David Stewart
The Works Brick Oven Restaurant, 20 Grear Millitzer Pl.	Gabe Kea, Billy DeVore, Ian Squintz

9 PM Set – Multiple Locations – Get Hopping!

Location	Featured Comedians
Bishop’s Quarter (Barrel Room), 212 W Loveland Ave.	Dennis Piper, Shawn Braley, Billy DeVore
Loveland Station (Community Room), 110 S 2nd St., Ste. A	Chris Siemer, Ian Squintz, David Stewart
Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar, 110 S 2nd St., Ste. B	Gabe Kea, Faith Mueller, Michael Holder
The Works Brick Oven Restaurant, 20 Grear Millitzer Pl.	Mark Chalifoux, Rashika Jaipuriar, Andrew Rudick

Food Trucks & Vendors

Food and fun available 4-8 p.m.

Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen – Cajun & Creole cuisine
Streetpops – Green frozen treats
Cincy Smash – Burgers & sliders
Let’s Glow Crazy – Lights and novelties
LIMITED EDITION Return of The Frogman t-shirts will be for sale on Railroad Avenue

Local Specials

More Frogman fun can be spotted all around town!

‘The Loveland Frog’ Cocktail — The Works Brick Oven Restaurant, 20 Grear Millitzer Pl.
Try this famous signature drink!

‘The FrogTail’ Drink — Cindy’s Friendly Tavern, 125 S Karl Brown Way

Themed Cocktail — Hops and Berry Taproom, 118 S Karl Brown Way

7:30 – 10 PM — Concert — Cappy’s, 309 W Loveland Ave.
Hear Chuckie’s In Love perform a blend of nostalgic hits and yacht rock from the 70s and 80s. You’ll be singing along to the tunes of Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac.

Frog Merchandise for Sale:

Lemons and Limes Boutique, 301 W Loveland Ave.
Cincy Shirts, 295 W Loveland Ave.
Plaid Room Records, 122 W Loveland Ave. (Fall Sale)
Whistle Stop Clay Works, 119 Harrison Ave. (Limited edition Loveland Frogman mugs)
Railroad Avenue (Limited edition t-shirts for the event)
Loveland Stage Company, 111 S 2nd St. (Loveland Frogman merchandise on sale at 8 PM before movie screening)

Directions & Parking

For GPS driving directions, please use 120 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, Ohio 45140. This is the location of City Hall in the center of Historic Downtown Loveland.

There are several free public parking lots in Historic Downtown Loveland. View the public parking map. Event parking is encouraged at the David B. Kennedy Parking Lot, Linda Cox Trailside Parking Lot, and East Loveland Nature Preserve Lot. Additionally, some downtown businesses operate private lots for a fee.

FAQ

Answers to our most frequently asked questions.

What is Return of The Frogman?
This is a new event hosted by the City of Loveland to commemorate the mysterious sightings of the Loveland Frogman. It will be held on Leap Years (every four years).

What is a cryptid?
A cryptid is a creature found in stories that some people believe exists or say they have seen, but that has never been proven to exist — does Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster come to mind? The Loveland Frogman has joined the ranks of mysterious cryptids and has a following, especially in the Midwest.

What is the Loveland Frogman legend?
The Loveland Frogman is described to stand 4 feet tall with leathery skin and a frog face. According to various reports, the creature first was sighted by a businessman late at night in 1955. Some say the Frogman holds a wand over its head that sprays magical sparks. More recent spottings occurred in 1972 and 2016.

How much does the event cost?
Admission is free! There may be some attractions that have a fee (will be noted), but the city welcomes sponsors to keep the event affordable.

Is Return of The Frogman affiliated with the Frogman Festival?
No, the Frogman Festival is organized by a private party and typically has been held in the spring at a conference center. It features cryptid-themed vendors, cosplay, educational guest speakers, and more. Unlike the city’s Return of The Frogman, it is held annually.