My favorite festivals.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I returned to the Ohio Pawpaw Festival in 2016. You can read that experience at https://ohiofestivals.net/ohio-pawpaw-festival-albany You can also read about my first experience in 2009 at https://ohiofestivals.net/20-pawpaw-festival-lake-snowden-ohio-91909/ This post documents my experience on September 17, 2011. **** With flavors compared to mangoes, bananas, avocados and pears, the … Read more
The Last Stop Willoughby Festival gets its name from the famous Twilight Zone episode which will play during the festival in the Willoughby Library. But the festival offers much more than a television screening, as there is a parade, a Kids Zone, an outdoor market, food vendors, live music and … Read more
To read a more recent experience of this festival (2024), you can visit: https://ohiofestivals.net/dublin-irish-festival-ohio/This post documents my experience on August 5, 2011. Even though I went to occasional festivals as a youngster, my festival “career” didn’t begin until I came back from a fabulous road trip vacation in Ireland… …where … Read more
Stark County’s Italian-American Festival takes place at downtown Canton’s Centennial Plaza, offering great Italian entertainment, delicious food, and a variety of vendors. 2026 DATE: July 10-12, 2026Location: Centennial Plaza330 Court Ave NWCanton, OH 44702Website: https://cantonitalianfesta.org/This post documents my experience on July 9, 2011 when the festival was located at the … Read more
The Larchmere PorchFest is fun neighborhood festival where multiple porches and lawns become the stages for local bands. Walk, run or bike from porch to porch to catch as many performers as possible while nabbing food along the way. 2026 DATE: June 13, 2026Location: Larchmere Blvd. around E 128th Street … Read more
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I went back to the festival in 2016, which you can read about at https://ohiofestivals.net/tremont-greek-fest-2016/ This post documents my experience on May 28, 2011. **** It had been years since I’d been able to make my way to the Annunciation Church for their Greek festival, usually due to … Read more
AUTHOR’S NOTE: For a 2017 updated experience, please visit https://ohiofestivals.net/hessler-street-fair This post documents my experience on May 22, 2011. ******************** Sometimes, when things look like they’re about to end… …they simply don’t. Such was the case when, in the late 1960’s, University Circle, Inc. wanted to knock down the houses on Hessler Road … Read more
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I returned to the Ashville Viking Festival in 2018. You can read that experience here: https://ohiofestivals.net/9-ashville-viking-festival-april-30-2011/ This post documents my experience on April 30, 2011. ******************** When I first heard that there was a Viking Festival in Ashville, Ohio, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had … Read more
This post documents my experience on October 23, 2010. For my 2025 visit, you can read an updated post at https://ohiofestivals.net/circleville-pumpkin-show-ohio **** Over a hundred years ago, when farmers came to Circleville, it was usually to pay taxes…not a happy time at all. So, in 1903, to put Circleville in … Read more