The Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival takes place at Urbana’s Freshwater Farms, where there are fishery tours, games, music, vendors and food.
2023 DATES
September 9, 2023
September 16, 2023
September 23, 2023
Location: Freshwater Farms of Ohio
2624 US-68
Urbana, OH 43078
Website: https://fwfarms.com/festival/
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This post documents my experience on September 17, 2011.
Freshwater Farms of Ohio was founded in 1986 by Dr. Dave Smith (marine science/nutritional sciences expert) and his father Dick (electrical engineer) when they converted a bankrupt chicken farm into an innovative fish farm where you can now…
…buy their various fish products…
…tour the fishery in the back of the property…
…or even attend a Fish and Shrimp Festival.
Celebrating it’s 10th year, the Fish and Shrimp Festival is the perfect excuse to not only tour Freshwater Farms, but to sample the critters they hatch and raise in their fishery.
When I arrived that Saturday evening, the road in front of the farm was heavily filled with parked cars.
I eventually found a spot, walked to the main entrance, paid my $3 admission…
…and strolled down the drive…
…touring inside their store…
…listening to some great music (Bunty Station)…
…taking note of the possible evolution of pizzelle cookies…
… and searching the various vendors…
…for fish-themed merchandise that helped both local business…
…and charitable organizations (Creative Foundations).
When I reached the end of the drive…
…I found myself before the fishery.
Here, the outside tanks utilized water fountain systems…
…which make up a division of Freshwater Farms (Watersmith).
With the sun’s glare….
…I was able to see fish in those tanks…
…but I followed a local inside the fishery for a better view.
Among the various animals, I got to admire…
…the turtles…
…crayfish…
…fish by the masses…
…a rescued alligator named Fluffy…
…and quite a few sturgeon (which you were invited to pet).
For kids especially, petting the sturgeons was an obvious draw. But the festival had more kids’ activities, like…
…coloring…
…jumping…
…and playing fish bowl games.
I, myself, came for some great fish or shrimp and the festival really delivered, thanks to…
…Wild Tree‘s fish sandwiches…
…the Grub Shack‘s fish tail sandwiches…
…sushi from Asian Gourmet…
…and even Freshwater Farms…
…with a full menu of tasty-looking dishes.
In the end, I decided to get dinner from Freshwater Farms….
…and carry it to a spot on the hill.
Here, as Talk of the Moon performed below…
…I enjoyed a wonderful coconut shrimp dinner.