September Ohio Festivals, Fairs & Events

Admission to the Nowhere Else Festival starts at $90/person.

• When: September 1 – 3, 2023 (Labor Day Weekend)
• Location: (Map It) 190 Townsend Rd. in Martinsville, Ohio
• Web: http://www.nowhereelsefestival.com/

Nowhere Else Festival featuring Over-The-Rhine is like an extended musical family reunion with some of the best folk and boutique music today, played by musicians near and far on a rural farm in Southwest Ohio. Guests enjoy music throughout the day and evening while lounging with blankets, chairs, and coolers. The hillside is dotted with food trucks, Frisbees, and corn hole. In a nearby renovated barn is an art exhibition featuring imaginative pieces and offers a chance to chat with the artists behind the works. Nearby cabins and camping are available. There’s nowhere else to be Memorial weekend, just a stone’s skip from Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton.

Admission to Obetz Zucchini Fest is free.

• When: September 1 – 4, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Memorial Park at 4175 Alum Creek Drive in Obetz, Ohio
• Phone: 614-491-1080
• Web: click here

The Obetz Zucchini Festival in Obetz, Ohio, is a four-day family festival celebrating the zucchini.  The event includes entertainment, including a national touring act on Saturday, rides, games, pageants, a Friday night cruise-in, a parade, food, and of course, lots of zucchini.  Sunday is Kids Day, with free activities all day.

Admission to Portsmouth River Days in Portsmouth, Ohio, is free.

• When: September 1-3, 2023, from 12pm-11pm, Daily
• Location: (Map It) 4th Street Municipal Parking lot in Portsmouth, Ohio
• Phone: 740-821-6806 or Email bryansmith@friendsofportsmouth.com
• Web: click here or visit Facebook

Visit Portsmouth River Days 60th Year Celebration beginning the Friday thru Sunday of Labor Day weekend. River Days festivities are being held on 4th Street in the Municipal Parking lot and surrounding area near the historic Boneyfiddle district of Portsmouth, Ohio. It is free, nightly entertainment on the riverfront stage. Also, enjoy the arts and crafts, rides and inflatables, and vendor merchants. There’s even Southern Ohio Axe Throwing. And, of course, lots of great food and more. Concerts begin at 7:00pm nightly. The Grand Parade begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, with the Queens Pageant at Shawnee State University Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m (Tickets are required for the Pageant and Little Miss Pageant). Sunday, there will be Children’s activities at 12:00pm near the Music Stage in the Big White tent. Portsmouth River Days will end Sunday Night with a Fireworks Extravaganza at 10:30pm.

Admission to Fort Rowdy Gathering is free.

• When: September 2 – 4, 2023 (Always Sat – Mon on Labor Day weekend) Sat. 10am – 8pm, Sun. 10 am – 6pm, Mon. 10am – 4pm
• Location: (Map It) Community Park, Covington, West U.S. Route 36, Covington, Ohio
• Phone: 937-473-5439

Fort Rowdy Gathering:  From the hovering lights of campfires, frontier enthusiasts gather in groups playing guitars, drums, and washboard, much like small trading villages once participated in the 1800s. The weekend begins with an old-fashioned hometown parade on Saturday, but the highlight of this festival is the mountain man encampment located next to the Stillwater River.  The event and parking are free to the public.

Admission to the Jammin’ Food Truck Fest at Schoenbrunn Village is Free.

• When: September 2, 2023, from 11am – 7pm (Always the Saturday before Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Historic Schoenbrunn Village at 1984 E. High Ave. in New Philadelphia, Ohio
• Phone: 740-922-6776
• Web: Click here

Jammin’ Food Truck Fest at Historic Schoenbrunn Village in New Philadelphia, Ohio delivers some end-of-summer fun that involves food, beer, wine tasting, and shopping.  Have fun playing Bocce Ball, Badminton, volleyball, corn-hole, horse-shoes, and classic children’s games. Listen to live music. Enjoy a variety of specialty foods like ice creams, walking tacos, BBQ classics and fusion, smoked meats, comfort food, mac-n-cheese, pizza, and a variety of other drinks and treats. The event will also have a beer garden that can be enjoyed throughout the lower level. A donation results in a discount at the drink tent, beer garden, wine tasting. All proceeds will benefit the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, Historic Schoenbrunn Village, and The Museum of Clay Industry and Folk Art.

Admission to Milan Melon Festival in Milan, Ohio, is free.

• When: September 2 – 4, 2023 (Always Sat – Mon on Labor Day weekend)
• Location: (Map It) Village Square on State Route 113 East in Milan, Ohio
• Phone: 419-499-3254 or 419-366-0765

Milan Melon Festival in Milan, Ohio:  Where else can you see things like the Big Wheelie Race, Melon Eating Contest, kiddie pedal-tractor pulls, and a two-hour grand parade? The Melon Festival in Milan provides that and bands, a fireman’s chicken barbecue, arts and crafts, antique car show, and Queen’s Contest.  Oh, and plenty of melons in all shapes, sizes, and forms. This three-day event packs in more than 100,000 visitors.

Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg costs approx. $28/person age 13+ and $10/kids age 5-12 and $25/senior.

• When: Saturdays & Sundays in September & October from 10:30am – 6:00pm, rain or shine.
• Location: (Map It) Renaissance Park in Harveysburg, Ohio on State Route 73 between I-71 and I-75 north of Cincinnati
• Phone: 513-897-7000
• Web: www.renfestival.com
• Click to play a short jousting video

Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg:  Ohio’s premier family event features 11 stages of continuous entertainment, seven food and beverage buildings, and more than 130 arts and crafts shops. Knights, comedy, daring stunt shows, giant roasted turkey legs, bread bowl stews, handmade arts, and crafts abound in the authentically recreated 30-acre 16th Century English village.

Admission to Alumapalooza at the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, Ohio is $95/person (walk-ins).

• When: September 5 – 10, 2023
• Location:  (Map It) 420 W. Pike St. in Jackson Center, Ohio
• Phone: 813-200-8877
• Web: http://alumapalooza.com/

Welcome to Alumapalooz at the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, Ohio.  Alumapa-what you ask?  Alumapalooza is a family-friendly festival for people who love Airstream travel trailers.  Two dozen or so informative seminars and fun presentations are offered throughout the week plus additional things like live music, yoga, trailer open houses, cooking demonstrations, a barbeque, and much more.  Alumapalooza is open to Airstream owners and non-owners alike.

Admission to Fredericktown Tomato Show is free.

• When: September 6 – 9, 2023 (Held the Wed-Sat after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Fredericktown, Ohio
• Web: click here

The Fredericktown Tomato Show in Fredericktown, Ohio, is a community-wide street fair. The event features exhibits of various items such as tomato products, needlework, flower arrangements, and photography. The fest also has two parades, rides, and a craft show. A plate auction is also held. Other featured events are the big wheel race, Little Miss Tomato contest, bathtub races, stage entertainment, and of course, a tomato toss.

Admission to Marion Popcorn Festival in Marion, Ohio is free.

• When: September 7 – 9, 2023, from 11am – Midnight (Always the Thrs – Sat after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Marion, Ohio
• Phone: 740-387-FEST or 740-387-3378
• Web: click here

Marion Popcorn Festival has a lot poppin’. For starters, it’s claimed to be the largest popcorn festival in the world and attracts more than 250,000 visitors annually. It’s no wonder the American Bus Association named it one of the top 100 events in North America. The free entertainment has included headlining bands, parade, bike tour, 5k run, fine arts and crafts, Kiddie Korner, and an over-50 softball tournament. There are numerous rides and activities for the whole family.

Admission to the Black Swamp Arts Festival is free.

• When: September 8 – 10, 2023 (always the first weekend after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) 100 S Main St. in Bowling Green, Ohio
• Phone: 877-865-6082
• Web: click here

Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green is a three-day experience featuring free concerts and fine art shows at Ohio’s largest free music festival. The Black Swamp Arts Festival (BSAF) connects art and the community.

Admission to the Clinton County Corn Festival is free.

• When: September 8 – 10, 2023 (Always the weekend after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Clinton County Fairgrounds at 958 W. Main St. in Wilmington, Ohio
• Phone: 937-383-Korn
• Web: click here

Clinton County Corn Festival is a bushel of fun for everyone. This family-fun event was started over 40 years ago by the Antique Power Club. Enjoy seeing the steam bellow from antique tractors, partake in the skillet and rolling pin toss, or pie-eating and tug-of-war competitions. Watch the crosscut saw competition. The big events you won’t want to miss are the Corn Olympics complete with outhouse races, the tractor pulls, and the evening concert. There is plenty of antiques, crafts, a flea market, and food booths offering corn on the cob or course as well as delicious pork and steak sandwiches, ice cream, and all your fair favorite foods and drinks.

Admission to Columbus Oktoberfest is free but parking is approx $8.

• When: September 8 – 10, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Ohio Expo Center and Ohio State Fairgrounds (Natural Resource, Commercial Pavilion area) in Columbus, Ohio
• Phone: 614-444-5908
• Web: click here

Columbus Oktoberfest in Columbus, Ohio, celebrates decades of fabulous food, frothy beverages, lively polkas, and much more. Two entertainment halls, an arts and crafts area, a children’s area, COSI on Wheels, polka contests, a cream puff eating contest, and a display of the Columbus Historical Society are just some of the festivities to expect.

Lithopolis Honeyfest admission, parking, and shuttle are free.

• When: September 8 & 9, 2023 (Fri & Sat after Labor Day) from 3-7pm and 10am-7pm, respectively
• Location: (Map It) Along Columbus Street in the village center of Lithopolis, Ohio (20 minutes southeast of Columbus)
• Phone: 614-829-7355
• Web: www.lithopolishoneyfest.com

Lithopolis Honeyfest is a honey festival in Lithopolis Ohio:  Celebrate National Honey Month at Ohio’s only honey festival. Experience the science and art of apiculture (beekeeping) in a robust atmosphere of art, music, food, fun, and people. With the involvement of honeybee associations, this event is seen as a component in preserving apiculture. Learn about beekeeping and honey. Don’t miss the bee beard and honey extracting, observation hives, and the opportunity to sample different types of honey. Come hungry for delicious honey-made food and treat yourself to tasting in the Meade and Wine Garden. Browse the works of fine quality artisans and crafters while listening to the sounds of R&B, Jazz, Funk, Swing, Folk, and Gospel music. Create kids’ crafts in the Busy Beehive, buy an entry to the Honey Cook-off Sale and meet the American Honey Princess. There’s also free parking and shuttle service.

Admission to Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta, Ohio, is free.

• When: September 8 – 10, 2023 (Always the Fri – Sun after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Ohio River Levee at Front and Greene Streets in Marietta, Ohio
• Phone: 800-288-2577
• Web: click here

Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta, Ohio:  Enjoy a weekend of family fun. Entertainment, fireworks, and more than 30 Sternwheelers docked along the levee in historic downtown Marietta. Three days of music with national entertainers, a care show, Sternwheel pageant, fantastic food, children’s activities, and Sternwheeler races. Visitors can walk to dozens of shops, cafes, restaurants, and world-class museums throughout downtown and Historic Harmar Village.

Admission to Beavercreek Popcorn Festival is free.

• When: September 9 & 10, 2023 (Usually the Sat & Sun after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Beavercreek, Ohio
• Phone: 937-602-CORN
• Web: http://beavercreekpopcornfestival.org

The Beavercreek Popcorn Festival in Beavercreek, Ohio:  Hop on over to Beavercreek and see what’s poppin’. This event was one of the top-100 events in North America according to the America Bus Association. With it comes popcorn sculpture, popcorn showers, and other popcorn specialties. It also features a 300+ unit parade, balloon rally, and nationally recognized entertainment.

Admission to Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival at Freshwater Farms is approx. $5/adult, $2 for ages 3-12.

• When: September 9, 16, 23 in 2023 (3 Saturdays in a row) from 10am – 10pm
• Location: (Map It) Freshwater Farms of Ohio at 2624 N US Hwy 68 in Urbana, Ohio
• Phone: 937-652-3701 or 800-634-7434
• Web: click here

Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival at Freshwater Farms in Urbana:  Celebrate Ohio’s freshwater shrimp harvest. Get your fill of mouth-watering seafood selections while enjoying a live music stage, games, and activities for the whole family. Explore live displays of fish, frogs, turtles, and other native critters. Swing by the fish farm market to taste gourmet smokes and trout products. Participate in the Trout Feeding Frenzy, sand castle play zone, and their famous sturgeon pool, where guests can pet Ohio’s largest native fish. Stuff yourself in the Shrimp Peeling & Eating Contest, take home a souvenir t-shirt, and enjoy the country atmosphere at the farm. Freshly harvested shrimp will be for sale beginning Saturday morning at 10am.

Admission to the Wood Carver Show is free, but carousel rides are $1 inside the Merry-Go-Round Museum.

• When: September 9, 2023, from 10am – 4pm (Always the first Saturday after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) The Merry-Go-Round Museum at 301 Jackson St. in Sandusky, Ohio
• Phone: 419-626-6111

Wood Carver Show at the Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky: More than 20 talented woodcarvers exhibit, demonstrate and discuss their carving skills and techniques. Kids can ride on the historic indoor carousel.

Admission to Delaware All Horse Parade is free.

• When: September 10, 2023, starting at 3pm
• Location: (Map It) downtown Delaware, Ohio
• Phone: 740-272-7636
• Web: click here

The All Horse Parade in Delaware, Ohio:  Okay, no horsing around; this special parade kicks off the annual Delaware County Fair. Hundreds of horses participate, and many pull vintage memorabilia from Yesteryear, including a horse-drawn milk wagon, sleigh, carriage, fire engine, mail coach, and even a Hearse. The horses come in all sizes, shapes and colors, and breeds.

Admission to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is free.

• When: September 14 – 17, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Cincinnati, Ohio
• Phone: 513-579-3197
• Web: oktoberfestzinzinnati.com

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is Cincinnati Oktoberfest:  Since its humble beginning as a block party in 1976 celebrating Cincinnati’s deep German heritage, the event has grown to be recognized as North America’s largest Oktoberfest attracting half a million people annually and is second only to the original in Munich as annually decreed by the mayor of Munich. Approximately 80 booths serve authentic German food, beer, wine, soft drinks, and souvenirs. Vendors serve up tasty delicacies from the homeland at appetizing prices. Major stages and large tents feature live entertainment from big bands to accordion players to German folk dancers performing throughout the weekend. For the kids, there are amusement rides and interactive games.

Where else can you get 87,542 metts; 80,500 bratwursts; 64,000 sauerkraut balls; 56,250 sausages; 24,640 potato pancakes; 23,004 soft pretzels; 16,002 strudel; 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut; 1,875 pounds of German potato salad; 702 pounds of Limburger cheese; 700 pounds of pigtails and 400 pounds of pickled pigs feet? In 1994, the Crown Prince of Bavaria attended the event and helped set a world record for the world’s largest chicken dance, with more than 48,000 people participating. The record was published in the Guinness Book of World Records, 1995-97 editions.

Admission to the Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow: $10/adult, $6/child, Pre-school age Free

• When: September 15 – 17, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Mohican Reservation Camp & Festival Grounds at 23270 Wally Road in Loudonville, Ohio 44842
• Phone: 800-766-2267
• Web: www.mohicanpowwow.com

The Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow:  A past top-100 event in the USA by the American Bus Association. Learn Native American cultures and lifestyle through live music, dancing, and drum competitions, plus storytelling and tomahawk throwing and fire-starting demonstrations. In addition, there are artisans, craftsmen, and traders, plus plenty of food. It is held rain or shine.

Admission to Log Cabin Days is $5/person (free for kids 12 and younger).

• When: September 15 & 16, 2023, from 10am – 6pm on Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturday, with an early bird breakfast from 1-10am
• Location: (Map It) 552 State Route 95 in Loudonville, Ohio
• Phone: 800-368-1015
• Web: www.hochstetlerloghomes.com

Log Cabin Days is a 2-day family-friendly fun event that all ages will enjoy! Support the American Cancer Society and go on the self-driving Log Home Tour. Visit the exhibit floor and talk with suppliers for all your home needs. Test your skills at axe throwing in the lumberjack demo area. The food tent will be filled with mouth-watering Amish-cooked food. Step back to the time of the steam engines powering a sawmill. Children will enjoy the petting zoo, covered wagon rides, and many other activities that are set up in the Kids Zone.

Stephanie Knight Photography

Admission to the Ohio Pawpaw Festival is $15 for a one-day pass or $30 for a weekend pass (senior/military rate is $10 and $20, respectively). Kids 12 and younger get in free.

• When: September 15 – 17, 2023, from 4pm – Midnight on Friday, 10am – Midnight on Saturday, and 10am – 5pm on Sunday.
• Location: (Map It) Lake Snowden (5900 US 50) in Albany, Ohio
• Phone: 800-878-9767 or email pawpawfest@gmail.com
• Web: www.ohiopawpawfest.com/

Ohio Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio, features pawpaw food, craft beer, education, history, art, competitions, sustainable living workshops, live music, and kids’ activities. The fest celebrates the pawpaw (Asimina triloba), North America’s largest native tree fruit.  The fun includes contests for the best pawpaw, best pawpaw-related work of art, a pawpaw cook-off, and the pawpaw-eating contest.

Admission to Rebel Run Lima is $5 for those age 13 and older.

• When: September 15 & 16, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Allen County Fairgrounds at 2750 Harding Hwy. in Lima, Ohio
• Phone: 419-225-8545
• Web: http://rebelrunlima.com/

Rebel Run Lima is a classic car, truck and motorcycle event in Lima, Ohio. This annual event is for car, truck, and motorcycle enthusiasts. It offers a little bit of everything: Live music, parts vendors, muffler rapping, burnout, and flame-throwing contests, and much, much more. There will be plenty of great food too.

Admission to Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival is free, with the exception of the Living History Village, which is approximately $3.

• When: September 15 – 17, 2023 (Held the 3rd weekend in Sept from Fri – Sun)
• Location: (Map It) downtown Tiffin, Ohio and Hedges-Boyer Park between Summit and Coe Street
• Phone: 419-447-4141
• Web: www.tiffinfestival.com

Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival:  One of Ohio’s premier festivals draws thousands of people to Tiffin. History is brought to life at Heritage Village. Working craftspeople in authentic period dress demonstrate early American crafts. Civil War units re-enact the skills of the time. In the children’s area, youngsters are encouraged to experience hands-on activities related to the heritage of our country. Downtown, unique arts and crafts will be for sale, along with ethnic food wagons. There are also amusement rides and musical groups perform continuously throughout the weekend.

Admission to Aullwood Fall Fest at Aullwood Farm is approx. $8 for children 4 – 12, $10.00 for seniors 65 and over and active duty military with ID, and $12 for adults 13 to 64. Children 3 and under and Friends of Aullwood members with membership cards are free.

• When: September 16 & 17, 2023, from 10am – 5pm
• Location: (Map It) Aullwood Farm at 9101 Frederick Pike in Dayton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-890-7360 or email AskUs@aullwood.org
• Web: click here

Aullwood Fall Fest is an autumn celebration with delicious food, live entertainment, craft activities, and much more. It’s a treat for all ages. Spend a day (or two!) enjoying the rustic ambiance of Aullwood Farm and all the sights, sounds, and aromas of Fall Fest! Try homemade apple pie, freshly pressed cider, grilled cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, and homemade chili! Purchase a bag of apples or find the perfect pumpkin. Ullery’s Ice Cream will offer ice cream, root beer floats, and milkshakes. Other delicious treats await!

Entertainment abounds at Fall Fest. Kids will love the free activities, games, crafts, and old-fashioned fun in the Children’s Activity Tent. Chris Rowlands will bring his famous songs and puppets to entertain and educate in the old bank barn. Plus, there will be engaging nature shows about Aullwood’s animals! Everyone can enjoy a tractor-pulled wagon ride and a visit with farm animal friends or explore the trails and meet Aullwood’s giant trolls! Try your hand at cider pressing and sample apple pie baked in a Dutch oven. Artisan and craft exhibitors will offer needle crafts, sand art, painted pumpkins, garden ornaments, wood crafts, jewelry, doll clothes, soaps, lotions, and more.

Please note that Aullwood’s Nature Center at 1000 Aullwood Road will be closed on both days during Fall Fest. Aullwood’s trails will remain open to Fall Fest attendees.

Admission to Johnny Appleseed Festival in Lisbon, Ohio, is free.

• When: September 16 & 17, 2023, from 10am – 6pm and 10am – 5pm, respectively
• Location: (Map It) Downtown Lisbon, Ohio
• Phone: 330-424-1803
• Web: click here

Johnny Appleseed Festival in Lisbon, Ohio:  Tinsmiths, apple pressers, and blacksmiths galore, plus apples, apples, apples galore! There is old-fashioned apple butter, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple ice cream, and apple-everything, from apple pie baking contests to more than 30 concessionaires, all set in the historic downtown of Lisbon, Ohio. Festivities kick off with a parade and are followed by dancing, music, and theater. Arts and crafts feature yarn spinning, goat milk soap, and chain saw wood crafts. The fun continues with games, a dunk tank, and more. There’s even a 1950s auto and motorcycle show.

Admission to Lorain Firefish Festival is Free.

• When September 16, 2023 (with the “burning of the fish” finale)
• Location: (Map It) downtown Lorain, Ohio
• Web: click here

Lorain Firefish Festival: Experience Lorain’s Broadway Avenue as it ignites with HOT arts and fire performances orchestrated in unexpected places! Re-imagine downtown Lorain during this free arts festival as it becomes a stage for a scorching array of art, dance, music, and FIRE!

Opera on a fire truck, art installations lighting up storefronts, fire dancing on rooftops, ballet in an alley, or cabaret in an abandoned building – anything is possible at FireFish!

Local food and beverage vendors, regional artists and artisans, and interactive activities round out the festivities. The pulse of live music, dance, and a larger than life “FireFish” leads to the dusk performance, where drums,  fire dancers and fire jugglers light the way to a blaze of art and performances-  sizzling against the stunning backdrop of a  historic cityscape and the Black River Landing waterfront.

Admission to Preble County Pork Festival is free.

• When: September 16 & 17, 2023 (Always the third Sat & Sun in September)
• Location: (Map It) Preble County Fairgrounds, 722 S. Franklin St. in Eaton, Ohio
• Phone: 937-456-7273
• Web: click here

Preble County Pork Festival in Eaton, Ohio:  Food, food, and more food! The best pork chops, side dishes, or breakfast pancakes and sausage in the region and nearly 500 arts and crafts vendors – most of which are under one roof. There’s a huge parade, live entertainment, pig races, and more. No matter what you choose to do, you will find this to be more than your ordinary festival.

Admission to WACO Fly-In at WACO Airfield in Troy, Ohio, is approx. $6/person ($3/kids 4-17 years old). Parking is free.

• When: September 16 & 17, 2023, from 8am – 5pm
• Location: (Map It) Historic WACO Field at 1865 S. County Rd. 25-A in Troy, Ohio (Exit #69 from I-75, two miles North)
• Phone: 937-335-9226
• Web: http://wacoairmuseum.org
• Play Video

WACO Fly-In at WACO Airfield in Troy, Ohio is held by the WACO Historical Society. It’s always a special experience for those who attend and enjoy the WACOs and other vintage airplanes which fly in from all parts of the country. Pilots will be available to provide rides in their beautiful open-cockpit biplanes. Interested persons should register with the WACO ride scheduler when they arrive. If you prefer to view the activities from the ground, bring your lawn chair and enjoy the air show. Afterward, browse the field to see close up.

Short North Tour of Homes and Gardens in Columbus Early Bird Tickets are $20, and day of tour tickets are $25.

• When: September 17, 2023 (Always the third Sunday in September) from 10am – 4pm (Click web link below to confirm the date, time, and rates)
• Location: (Map It) Columbus, Ohio’s Short North area
• Phone: 614-228-2912
• Web: click here

Short North Tour of Homes and Gardens in Columbus, Ohio:  Victorian Village residents welcome thousands of visitors from across the Midwest to their annual tour of homes and gardens.

Tour and Preview Party proceeds go to fund community activities such as Screen on the Green, Music in the Park, Neil Ave planters, local grants, and more.  This beautiful area was developed in the late 1800s but fell on hard times in the 1900s as people moved to the suburbs. In 1974, the area was named Victorian Village due to the architectural styles of the century-old homes, and an architectural review commission and neighborhood society were formed. Thus a renaissance began and today this is one of the most desirable communities in Columbus.

It is located between the downtown skyscrapers and the sprawling OSU campus. The eastern boundary of the Victorian Village is the Short North Arts District – reputedly the largest gathering of art galleries between New York and Chicago. There are also many wonderful restaurants and B&Bs in the area.

Admission to Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is free.

• When: September 21 – 24, 2023 (Always the last full weekend in September)
• Location: (Map It) Barnesville, Ohio
• Phone: 740-425-2593
• Web: click here

The Barnesville Pumpkin Festival has many interesting activities taking place. Its contests include hog calling, pumpkin rolling, largest pumpkin, pumpkin pie eating and banjo, and fiddle contests. If that weren’t enough, there is a giant pumpkin parade, tall tales, an antique car show, quilts, crafts, farm machinery, music, food, and entertainment.

Admission to The Little Brown Jug is purchased in addition to fair fees and parking.

• When:  September 21, 2023
• Location:  (Map It) 236 Pennsylvania Avenue in Delaware, Ohio
• Phone:  (800) 335-3247 or (740) 362-3851
• Web:  www.littlebrownjug.com

Come celebrate the annual The Little Brown Jug on the fastest half-mile track in harness racing.  Come for the tradition and the beauty of the season’s best three-year-old pacers.  Cheer on your favorite driver, people watch, or enjoy your favorite fair food in the stands between races.  The Little Brown Jug is an American pacing classic without equal.  Check out the website for ticket prices and availability.

Admission to the Cleveland Ingenuity Festival of Arts & Technology is $10 for weekend passes (free for kids under 12 years old).

• When: September 22 – 24, 2023
• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Phone: 216-589-9444
• Web: http://ingenuitycleveland.com

Cleveland Ingenuity Festival of Arts & Technology in Cleveland, Ohio:  It’s a celebration of art, technology, music, and food designed for audiences of any age or experience. Visitors see how technology becomes a natural extension of art and artistic expression flows freely from the exploration of science, engineering, and math. They don’t simply bring the two disciplines together, they highlight the creativity and innovation taking place at the edge of both worlds. Ingenuity pushes boundaries, creating a unique festival experience that draws and celebrates diversity, and involves the audience as both spectator and participant.

Admission to Geneva Grape Jamboree is free.

• When: September 23 & 24, 2023 (Always the last full weekend in September)
• Location: (Map It) Geneva, Ohio
• Phone: 440-466-5262
• Web: http://www.grapejamboree.com

Geneva Grape Jamboree in Geneva, Ohio: Thousands descend on this resort community to celebrate the grape harvest with a traditional grape stomping contest and two parades. Visitors are encouraged to taste grapes freshly squeezed and other grape products. Other treats include street entertainment, unique exhibits, grape culinary contest, arts and crafts, amusement rides and other activities for the entire family.

Admission to Germantown Pretzel Festival is free.

• When: September 23 & 24, 2023 – Saturday 9am – 9pm and Sunday, Noon – 6pm (Always the 4th full weekend in September)
• Location: (Map It) Veterans Memorial Park in Germantown, Ohio
• Phone: 937-867-2228
• Web: click here

Germantown Pretzel Festival in Germantown, Ohio:  Visit this scenic community and enjoy its free fall festival held annually since 1980. It features handcrafts, good food, live music, and shows. The park is handicap accessible with sidewalks. There’s also a historic railroad depot, caboose, log cabin, and children’s play area.

Admission to Pyramid Hill Art Fair in Hamilton, Ohio, is approx. $10/carload

• When: September 23 & 24, 2023
• Location: (Map It) 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road in Hamilton, Ohio
• Phone: 513-868-1234
• Web: click here

Pyramid Hill Art Fair features a juried show and sale by more than 70 artists. The artists are set up across the sweeping landscapes among the incredible permanent works of art dotting the hillsides, ponds, and woods. Guests will enjoy live music, fair foods, and plenty of fun activities. The park spans over 300 acres and features about 60 permanent outdoor sculptures, plus a museum of ancient sculptures.

Welcome to Cartoon Crossroads Columbus

• When: September 27 – October 1, 2023
• Location: (Map It) City-wide in Columbus, Ohio
• Web: cartooncrossroadscolumbus.com
  

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, or CXC, is a comics, art, and animation festival where the greatest talent from the world of cartooning and comics descend at this annual celebration of the world’s most exciting art form.

Cartooning superstars headline a group of guests and 45 exhibitors appearing at the city-wide comics’ literary festival.

The group responsible is Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, aka “CXC”, a non-profit organization uniting a dozen Columbus arts organizations and bringing together individuals with over 250 collective years of experience in cartooning and comics-making.

“I love Columbus, and I love comics,” said Jeff Smith, creator of the popular BONE series of graphic novels and CXC’s Festival President and Artistic Director. “I want to bring the two together.”

The CXC approach differs from standard comics conventions by first concentrating on the comics-makers as authors and then focusing heavily on the cartooning itself as laudable art rather than as creative fodder for film, television, and toys. At CXC, comics and cartoon art are in the spotlight, and cartoonists are the stars.

CXC also welcomes practitioners that embody a variety of different approaches to cartooning, from graphic novels to gag panels to newspaper strips to webcomics to superhero comics to animated film. CXC features comics to read for audiences aged 2 to 102.

CXC’s city-wide approach — with a dozen partnership institutions and five major Columbus venues— seeks to transform Columbus into an every-year, world-class destination for several multi-billion dollar industries: a Sundance for comics; a Cannes for the cartoon arts.

“I’ve been attending comics shows all over the world for 25 years now,” says Smith. “I want to bring the best of what I’ve experienced to CXC.”

Please e-mail cxcfestival@mail.com or visit cartooncrossroadscolumbus.com for more information, including a full schedule, art as needed, and complete guest lists and programming.

Admission to the Wizard of Oz Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, is approx. $5/person.

• When: September 27 & 28, 2023
• Location: (Map It) Aurora, Ohio
• Phone: 800-261-7947
• Web:  click here

Wizard of Oz Expo in Aurora, Ohio, is a walk down the yellow brick road to the land of Oz for fans to celebrate the iconic film. There are many activities for all ages and plenty of artisans and food trucks.  Enjoy the fantasy before you click your heels to go home.

Admission to Ohio Swiss Festival is free.

• When: September 28 – 30, 2023 (Always the 4th Thrs – Sat after Labor Day)
• Location: (Map It) Sugarcreek, Ohio
• Phone: 330-852-4113
• Web: click here

Ohio Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek, Ohio:  Experience the best of Switzerland here in the “Little Switzerland of Ohio.” Visitors will be drawn to the Swiss music and authentic Swiss costumes. Tons of Swiss cheese, polka bands, alpine horn players, and a parade are just some of the highlights.

Admission to Oktoberfest at the Wolf Creek Grist Mill in Mohican is approx. $5/person age 21 and over.

• When: September 30, 2023, from noon – 11pm
• Location: (Map It) State Route 3 South, Loudonville, OH 44842
• Phone: 419-541-0161
• Web: click here

Oktoberfest at the Wolf Creek Grist Mill in Mohican has three large tents so come rain or shine. This incredible fundraiser is full of food, rubber duck races, beer, wine, games, and entertainment. The Wolf Creek Grist Mill provides a chance for visitors to help this historic site while enjoying the scenery, food and tastings all at the same time.

Oktoberfest at The Mill has become such a popular event because unlike many Oktoberfest’s that only offer a limited selection of beer, this event features over 75 different kinds of beer. Patrons love being able to sample any variety offered so they can experience many different beers without having to commit to an entire glass or bottle of something they’ve never had before.

Each visitor that is 21 years old and over, has the opportunity to taste beers that range from seasonal selections, craft beers, local selections to include nearby craft brewers Millersburg Brewing Company, international selections, ciders, gluten-free choices, draft and bottle selections. Wines include varieties from D&D Smith Winery and Paper Moon vineyards.

This is Wolf Creek Grist Mill’s biggest fundraiser of the year.