AUTHOR’S NOTES: I was given a press pass admission so that I could document the event.
I returned to Donut Fest in 2022, which you can read at ohiofestivals.net/cleveland-donut-fest/
This post documents my experience on February 12, 2017.
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Within Cleveland’s Hotcards building…
…the first annual Donut Fest was taking place.
Festival goers entered at their ticketed time, where they received a bag…
…holding donut sample tickets (along with coffee tickets and coupons)…
…and perhaps even more swag, depending on the type of admission they purchased.
Then, after making their way down the art-filled hallway…
…through the coat room…
…and into the main festival area…
…guests could go to each numbered table (Madsen Donuts)…
…deposit the matching numbered ticket (Brewnuts)…
…and collect a sample (Beckers).
With the presence of such fine bakeries as George’s Donuts, MaryAnn Donuts…
…Peace, Love and Little Donuts (the judges’ pick – congrats!)…
…and the memorable Jack Frost Donuts (the people’s choice – congrats!)…
…there were quite a few people attending this event…
…and they really loved donuts.
Donut-eating mood music filled the room…
…and festival fans marched along a long line that circled the island of donut vendors…
…collecting their samples in boats…
…and later devouring them at standing tables…
…where they washed down the sugar with local coffee (Solstice/Rising Star)…
…local donut-infused coffee (46 and 2 Brewing)…
…or some local dairy (Hartzler’s).
Afterwards, sugared and caffeinated guests could take home a souvenir in the form of a photograph…
…or even via donuts available for purchase at select tables.
Take-home boxes at the merchandise table made it easy to carry out the extra donuts…
…although they were also perfect for putting your samples in…
…just in case you wanted to take them all home to share with your family.