History comes alive this spring as the Historic Libbey House invites the community to step back into the 1920s for its immersive Thirty Days of Prohibition event series. The early-spring lineup blends history, storytelling, and spirited experiences inspired by the era when prohibition reshaped Toledo’s culture and nightlife.
The series begins Thursday, March 19, with the Libbey Salon Series lecture Toledo Roars into the 1920s, presented by Toledo historian and Michigan State University professor Ted Ligibel. Through photographs and engaging commentary, Ligibel will guide attendees through the places, personalities, and cultural shifts that defined Toledo during the Roaring Twenties. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the lecture beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and include light appetizers and wine.
On Thursday, March 26, guests can raise a glass to Toledo’s rebellious past during a spirited tasting experience hosted by Toledo Spirits. The evening will feature a guided gin tasting of the locally crafted East Side Bathtub Gin alongside Lowertown Bourbon, culminating in a sampling of the classic Suffering Bastard cocktail. Tickets are $40 and guests must be 21 or older.
The Libbey Salon Series continues Thursday, April 9, with historian Tedd Long presenting Reams vs. Licavoli, a dramatic retelling of the 1934 trial that dismantled Toledo’s organized crime syndicate and reshaped the city’s legal history.
The celebration concludes Saturday, April 18, with a free open house honoring the birthday of glass pioneer Edward Drummond Libbey. Visitors are invited to tour the home from 11 am to 3 pm, with donations supporting ongoing restoration efforts.
Tickets and event details are available at libbeyhouse.org. Proceeds from the series support the continued restoration of the historic home.
