It’s a weekend of eating and culture, festival fans!
As I look over this weekend’s festivals, I am noticing a lot of cultural festivals and food-themed festivals. In Ohio, for example, cultural festivals include the German-American Festival (Oregon), an Egyptian Festival (Seven Hills), a Lebanese Festival (Dayton), One World Day (Cleveland), St. George’s Romanian Heritage Festival (Canton), the Asian Lantern Festival (Cleveland) and the Cleveland Donauschwaben Sommer Oktoberfest (Olmsted Township.
Then there’s the food: the Cleveland Pickle Fest, the Marblehead Lions Club Perch Festival, Bacon Fest (Kettering), Columbus Fiery Food Festival and the Cleveland Garlic Festival.
It definitely should be a good weekend of eating.
I, myself, am hoping to finally make my way to the Cleveland Garlic Festival this year as the idea of garlic ice cream and garlic french fries sounds really appealing. Also, I just want to get some real local garlic with flavor and aroma – unlike the sterilized Chinese garlic I’m usually picking up at Aldi’s (although those peeled and ready cloves in a bag are rather convenient).
Pickle Fest should also be interesting this year. It’s now in Brecksville this year and that may be a better location as the 2019 Cleveland event was overcrowded and a little of a nightmare (they ran out of pickle beer!). With the 2020 event canceled due to Covid, and plenty of time to work out the kinks, this year’s event should go a lot smoother. I’m not sure if there will be pickle beer, though.
I should also say that this culture and food festival emphasis isn’t limited to Ohio. As you look at the other states, you can find some great eating opportunities there as well. Illinois, for example, has Irish, Greek, Pakistani and Armenian festivals as well as food fests about ribs, garlic and corn. Indiana has festivals about tomatoes, Moon Pies, Bacon and BBQ. This continues through the state listings.
Therefore, it’s best just to go through the lists, especially if you can travel, because there are some cool festivals going on this weekend (if you can’t travel, look at the map and see what’s around you). In the least, check out my festival recommendations…
Here are some festivals I would check out in the other states:
Florida (1 Fest): Hops and Hip-Hop Beer Fest (West Palm Beach)
Georgia (6 Fests): Festival Peachtree Latino (Atlanta)
Illinois (36 Fests): Erin Feis: Peoria Irish Fest, Midwest Garlic Fest (Elizabeth)
Indiana (39 Fests): Kouts Pork Fest, BBQ Brawl (Tell City)
Kentucky (10 Fests): Buttermilk Days Festival (Bardstown), Pigfest (Walton)
Michigan (32 Fests): Taste of Greece Festival (Plymouth), Mackinac Island Fudge Festival (Mackinac Island)
New York (19 Fests): Egyptian Festival (North Tonawanda), Multi-Ethnic Garlic Festival (Binghamton)
Pennsylvania (16 Fests): Zabawa Polish Summer Festival (Erie), Mars New Year (Mars)
Tennessee (9 Fests): World Championship Hot Wing Festival (Memphis), Great Americana Barbecue Festival (Franklin)
West Virginia (8 Fests): West Virginia Cupcake Festival (Milton),
Wisconsin (23 Fests): A Taste of Egypt Festival (Oak Creek), Loyal Corn Festival
All these festivals and more are listed below with a wonderful map to help you see where the festivals are happening.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and stay safe. I know many of you are being more cautious with the Delta variant out there. If you haven’t been vaccinated, it’s not too late. Make an appointment to better protect yourself and those around you.
Love, Peace and Funnel Cake Grease!
Festival Weekend: August 26-29, 2021
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MAP of festival and fair food cities this weekend.
If you can’t see the map on your smartphone, click HERE.
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My Experiences of this Weekend’s Festivals
8/28-8/29 – Cider Dayze Festival – Armada, MICHIGAN – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Cleveland Area Pagan Pride Days – Bedford – My Review
8/29 – St. George Romanian Heritage Festival – Canton – My Review
8/28-8/29 – Shaker Woods Festival III – Columbiana – My Review
8/28 – Galena Summerfest – Galena – My Review
8/28-8/29 – Michigan Renaissance Festival II – Holly, MICHIGAN – My Review
8/26-8/29 – Dragon on the Lake – Lake Orion, MICHIGAN – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Lincoln Park Days Festival – Lincoln Park, MICHIGAN – My Review
8/28-8/29 – Great Trail Festival I – Malvern – My Review
8/27-8/28 – Cleveland Donauschwaben Sommer Oktoberfest II – Olmsted Township – My Review
8/27-8/29 – German-American Festival – Oregon – My Review
8/26-8/29 – “Taste of Greece” Festival – Plymouth, MICHIGAN – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Seven Hills Home Days Festival – Seven Hills – My Review – USUALLY IN JULY
8/27-8/29 – Egyptian Festival – Seven Hills – My Review
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OHIO
8/20-8/28 – Great Darke County Fair – Greenville
8/20-8/28 – Allen County Fair – Lima
8/21-8/28 – Defiance County Fair – Hicksville
8/22-8/29 – Lorain County Fair – Wellington
8/23-8/28 – Monroe County Fair – Woodsfield
8/24-8/29 – Sandusky County Fair – Fremont
8/24-8/29 – Portage County Fair – Randolph
8/25-8/26 – Bash on the Bay – Put-in-Bay
8/26 – Spass Nacht – Kettering
8/26-8/28 – Ohio Rural Heritage Festival – Ripley
8/26-8/28 – Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival – Akron
8/26-8/28 – St. Joan of Arc Festival – Powell
8/26-8/29 – Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Zoo VII – Cleveland
8/27 – Whimmydiddle Country Music Festival IV – Hamilton
8/27-8/28 – Clifton Gorge Music and Arts Festival – Clifton
8/27-8/28 – Summer Babies Festival – Millersburg
8/27-8/28 – Darrtown Fall Festival Reunion – Darrtown
8/27-8/28 – Cleveland Donauschwaben Sommer Oktoberfest II – Olmsted Township – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Austinburg Country Days – Austinburg
8/27-8/29 – Ohio Valley Orchid Fest – Kettering
8/27-8/29 – Bellbrook Lions Club Festival – Bellbrook
8/27-8/29 – German-American Festival – Oregon – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Cleveland Area Pagan Pride Days – Bedford – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Seven Hills Home Days Festival – Seven Hills – My Review – USUALLY IN JULY
8/27-8/29 – Winchester Homecoming Festival – Winchester
8/27-8/29 – Egyptian Festival – Seven Hills – My Review
8/28 – Medina Fest – Medina
8/28 – Cleveland Pickle Fest – Cleveland
8/28 – Water Lantern Festival – Cleveland
8/28 – Bainbridge Rox (formerly Community Ox Roast) – Chagrin Falls
8/28 – Ashland Dickey Church of the Brethren Sunflower Festival – Ashland
8/28 – HAMILPALOOZA – Hamilton – USUALLY IN MAY
8/28 – Avon Lake Beer Fest – Avon Lake
8/28 – Sunflower Harvest Market II – Hartville
8/28 – Southeastern Ohio Beer and Wine Fest – Zanesville
8/28 – Marblehead Lions Club Perch Festival – Marblehead
8/28 – ARTFest on Main – Springboro – USUALLY IN JUNE
8/28 – Akron Pride Festival – Akron
8/28 – WAG! Fest – Hilliard
8/28 – Bacon Fest – Kettering
8/28 – Holgate Community Day – Holgate
8/28 – Galena Summerfest – Galena – My Review
8/28 – Solon Pop-Up in the Park – Solon
8/28 – Lakeside Antique Show – Lakeside
8/28 – Not Your Mama’s Indoor/Outdoor Summer Craft Market at Via Vecchia Winery – Columbus
8/28-8/29 – Ohio Cat Show – Medina
8/28-8/29 – Urban Scrawl – Columbus
8/28-8/29 – Columbus Fiery Foods Festival – Columbus
8/28-8/29 – The Lebanese Festival – Dayton
8/28-8/29 – Fulton Farms Sweetcorn Festival – Troy
8/28-8/29 – Great Trail Festival I – Malvern – My Review
8/28-8/29 – Shaker Woods Festival III – Columbiana – My Review
8/28-8/29 – WonderBus Music and Arts Festival – Columbus
8/28-8/29 – Cleveland Garlic Festival – Cleveland – A Friend’s Review
8/29 – Olmsted Falls Vintage Marketplace – Olmsted Falls
8/29 – One World Day – Cleveland
8/29 – St. George Romanian Heritage Festival – Canton – My Review
8/29 – Back Road Reptiles and Exotics Expo – Fremont
8/29 – Jandy’s Farm Garlic Harvest Celebration – Bellefontaine
FLORIDA
8/28 – Hops and Hip-Hop Beer Fest – West Palm Beach
GEORGIA
8/23-8/29 – Gourmet Seafood and Spirits Festival II – Savannah
8/27 – Brew at the Zoo IV – Atlanta
8/28 – Hammer Jam for Habitat – Albany
8/28 – Southern Soul Music Fest – Albany
8/28 – Classic City Brew Fest – Athens – USUALLY IN APRIL
8/29 – Festival Peachtree Latino – Atlanta
ILLINOIS
8/24-8/28 – Le Roy Fall Festival – Le Roy
8/25-8/28 – Bushnell Town and Country Fall Festival – Bushnell
8/26-8/29 – Amboy Depot Days – Amboy
8/27-8/28 – Waterloo Homecoming – Waterloo
8/27-8/28 – Old Capitol Blues and BBQ – Springfield
8/27-8/28 – Mahomet Music Festival – Mahomet
8/27-8/29 – Cowden Pioneer Days – Cowden
8/27-8/29 – Windmill City Festival – Batavia – USUALLY IN JULY
8/27-8/29 – Palatine Street Fest – Palatine
8/27-8/29 – Taste of Greektown – Chicago
8/27-8/29 – Throwback Music Festival – Chicago
8/27-8/29 – Skokie’s Backlot Bash – Skokie
8/27-8/29 – Erin Feis: Peoria Irish Fest – Peoria
8/27-8/29 – DeKalb Corn Fest – DeKalb
8/28 – Alley Art Festival – Aurora
8/28 – Taste of Pakistan – Bolingbrook
8/28 – Rock River Food Truck Fest – Rockford
8/28 – Aledo Main Street Antique Days and Car Show – Aledo
8/28 – Naperville Ale Fest: Summer Edition – Naperville – USUALLY IN JULY
8/28 – Midwest Garlic Fest – Elizabeth
8/28 – Atkinson Heritage Days – Atkinson
8/28 – August Music on the Farm – Richmond
8/28 – Grayslake Color Aloft Balloon Festival – Grayslake
8/28 – Ribs, Rhythm and Brews Fest – Sycamore
8/28 – Decatur Craft Beer Festival – Decatur
8/28 – Utica Craft Beer Street Fest – Utica
8/28 – Staunton Ribfest – Staunton
8/28 – Crossroads Blues Festival – Rockford
8/28 – Ogden Street Fest – Ogden
8/28-8/29 – My House Music Festival – Chicago
8/28-8/29 – Edgewater Arts Festival – Chicago
8/28-8/29 – Port Clinton Art Festival – Highland Park
8/28-8/29 – Festival of the Arts – Glen Ellyn
8/28-8/29 – Sweet Corn Circus (formerly Sweet Corn Blues Festival) – Normal
8/29 – Walk in the Park Summer Art Fair – Arlington Heights
8/29 – Taste of Armenia – Evanston
INDIANA
8/25-8/28 – Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show – Portland
8/26-8/28 – Bean Blossom Blues Fest – Nashville
8/26-8/28 – St. Ann Parish Festival – Indianapolis
8/26-8/28 – Sellersburg Celebrates – Sellersburg
8/26-8/29 – Swiss Wine Festival – Vevay
8/27-8/28 – Birdseye Park and Fire Department Picnic – Birdseye
8/27-8/28 – Greencastle Music Fest – Greencastle
8/27-8/28 – Ouibache Music Festival – West Lafayette
8/27-8/28 – Leota Country Frolic – Scottsburg
8/27-8/28 – Archway Days Festival – Centerville
8/27-8/28 – Summer’s End Festival – Rossville
8/27-8/28 – Bowling Green Old Settlers Picnic – Bowling Green
8/27-8/28 – Sulphur Springs Community Days – Sulphur Springs
8/27-8/29 – Frog Follies – Evansville
8/27-8/29 – Hoosier Hardwood Festival – Indianapolis
8/28 – Canal Days – Winona Lake
8/28 – Taste of the Arts – Fort Wayne
8/28 – Feast of Lanterns – Indianapolis
8/28 – Moon Pie Mania Car, Truck and Bike Show – Bluffton
8/28 – Kouts Pork Fest – Kouts
8/28 – Carousel Fun Day – Logansport
8/28 – Nickel Plate Music and Arts Festival – Rochester
8/28 – Heirloom Tomato Festival – Pierceton
8/28 – Red, White and Brauen Music Festival – Jasper
8/28 – Middlebury Riverfest – Middlebury
8/28 – Ethos Celebration of the Arts – Franklin
8/28 – Cumberland’s Blues, Beer and BBQ III – Cumberland
8/28 – Water Lantern Festival – Indianapolis
8/28 – Beers Across the Wabash – West Lafayette
8/28 – Bloomington Pridefest – Bloomington
8/28 – Hola Latino Festival – Evansville
8/28 – Rock the Junction Craft Beer and Music Festival – Westfield – USUALLY IN MAY
8/28 – Taste of Montgomery County – Crawfordsville
8/28 – Indiana Bacon Festival of Carroll County – Delphi
8/28-8/29 – St. Mary’s Festival – Greensburg
8/28-8/29 – BBQ Brawl – Tell City
8/28-9/4 – Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival – Auburn
8/29 – Wicker Park Food Truck and Artisan Fest – Highland
8/29 – Open Streets – Fort Wayne – USUALLY IN JULY
KENTUCKY
8/26-8/28 – Manchester Music Festival – Manchester
8/27 – Old Lou Brew Craft Beer Festival – Louisville
8/27-8/28 – Summer Salute Festival – Hopkinsville
8/27-8/28 – Buttermilk Days Festival – Bardstown
8/27-8/28* – Bourbon on the Banks – Frankfort – MOVED TO 10/22-10/23
8/27-8/28 – PigFest – Walton – USUALLY IN JUNE
8/27-8/28 – Kenlake Hot August Blues Festival – Hardin
8/27-8/28 – Garrard County Rural Heritage Tobacco Festival – Lancaster
8/27-8/28 – Jenkins Homecoming Days Festival – Jenkins
8/27-8/29 – St. Augustine Festival – Augusta
8/28 – Cynthiana Rod Run – Cynthiana
8/28 – Hops on the Ohio Beer Festival – Owensboro
8/28-8/29 – Railbird Festival – Lexington
MICHIGAN
8/26-8/29 – Midland Folk Music Festival – Midland
8/26-8/29 – Michigan Culture and Diversity Festival – Dearborn Heights
8/26-8/29 – “Taste of Greece” Festival – Plymouth – My Review
8/26-8/29 – Dragon on the Lake – Lake Orion – My Review
8/26-8/29 – Cedar Polka Festival – Cedar – USUALLY IN JUNE
8/27-8/28 – Breakaway Music Festival – Grand Rapids
8/27-8/28 – Marquette Rotary West HarborFest – Marquette
8/27-8/28 – Flow Fest/Bless Fest – Lansing
8/27-8/28 – Harrison Street Fair – Harrison
8/27-8/28 – Quincy Main Street Festival – Quincy
8/27-8/28 – Metamora Country Days and Hot Air Balloon Festival – Metamora
8/27-8/29 – Lincoln Park Days Festival – Lincoln Park – My Review
8/27-8/29 – Forest Trail Music Festival – Freesoil
8/27-8/29 – Dozynki Polish Festival – Grand Rapids
8/27-8/29 – Sun Dried Music Festival – Mason
8/27-8/29 – Kingsley Heritage Days – Kingsley
8/27-8/29 – Hastings Summerfest – Hastings
8/27-8/29 – Turtle Lake Resort Music Fest – Union City
8/27-8/29 – Mackinac Island Fudge Festival – Mackinac Island
8/27-8/29 – Grand Rapids Yassou! Greek Cultural Festival – Grand Rapids
8/27-8/29 – St. Joseph Parish Festival – Dexter – USUALLY IN JULY
8/27-8/29 – Michigan Made Festival – Lake Orion – USUALLY IN JULY
8/27-8/29 – Kalamazoo Balloon Fest – Richland
8/27-8/29 – Blues by the Bay Festival – East Tawas
8/28 – Red Mill Community Day – Portland
8/28 – Dogfest – Pinckney
8/28 – Barks and Brews Festival – Kalamazoo
8/28 – Route 23 Craft Beer Walk – Milan
8/28 – Saranac Bridge Festival – Saranac
8/28 – Wolf Lake Festival – Jackson
8/28 – Burning Foot Beer Festival – Muskegon
8/28-8/29 – St. Clair Art Fair – St. Clair – USUALLY IN JUNE
8/28-8/29 – Cider Dayze Festival – Armada – My Review
8/28-8/29 – Michigan Renaissance Festival II – Holly – My Review
NEW YORK
8/26-8/28 – Groton Olde Home Days – Groton
8/26-8/29 – Pickin’ in the Pasture – Lodi
8/27 – GUSTO! Italian Festival – Endicott
8/27 – Wine and Artisans Festival – Newark – USUALLY IN JUNE
8/27-8/28 – Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival – Rochester
8/27-8/29* – Serling Fest – Binghamton – MOVED TO 10/15-10/17
8/27-8/29 – Bravo Italiano Festival – Watertown
8/27-8/29 – Fredonia Farm Festival – Fredonia
8/27-8/29 – Southern-Tier Antique Gas and Steam Show – Maine
8/27-8/29 – Egyptian Festival – North Tonawanda
8/28 – Audubon Monarch Butterfly Festival – Jamestown
8/28 – Germanfest in Attica – Attica
8/28 – Jam on the Lift Music and Arts Festival – Glenwood
8/28 – Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade Festival of WNY – Buffalo
8/28 – Multi-Ethnic Garlic Festival – Binghamton
8/28-8/29 – Chalkfest Buffalo -Buffalo
8/29 – Binghamton Porchfest – Binghamton
8/29 – Wild Wing Festival – Delevan
8/29 – Ukrainian American Day – Buffalo
8/29 – Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Festival – Buffalo
PENNSYLVANIA
8/26-8/29 – The Last Rock Show – Austin
8/27-8/28 – The Band Jam Grass Roots Music Festival – Slippery Rock
8/27-8/28 – Mars New Year – Mars
8/27-8/29 – Seven Springs Wine Festival – Seven Springs
8/27-8/29 – Zabawa Polish Summer Festival – Erie
8/27-8/29 – Kinzua Heritage Arts and Music Festival – Russell
8/27-8/29 – Crook Farm Country Fair and Old Time Music Festival – Bradford
8/27-8/29 – Butler Italian Festival – Butler
8/28 – Craft and Cask Festival – Canonsburg
8/28 – St. Joseph Summer Festival – Everson
8/28 – Tarentum Music, Arts and Craft Beer Fest – Tarentum
8/28 – Squirrel Hill Night Market II – Pittsburgh
8/28-8/29 – Mountain Spirit Pow Wow at Mason Dixon Park – Mt. Morris, PA/Core, WV
8/28-8/29 – Mason-Dixon Outlaw Music Festival – Gibbon Glade
8/28-8/29 – Shadyside: The Art Festival on Walnut Street – Pittsburgh
8/29 – Memories Car Cruise – New Castle
TENNESSEE
8/27-8/28 – Great Americana Barbecue Festival – Franklin
8/27-8/28 – Deep Tropics Music Art and Style Festival – Nashville
8/27-8/28 – Second Bell Music Festival – Knoxville
8/27-8/28 – Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival – Cross Plains – USUALLY IN APRIL
8/28 – First Lutheran’s GermanFest – Knoxville
8/28 – World Championship Hot Wing Festival (formerly Southern Hot Wing) – Memphis – USUALLY IN APRIL
8/28* – Rail and Hops Brewers Festival – Chattanooga – MOVED TO 5/7
8/28* – TriPride Festival – Bristol TN/VA – MOVED TO 10/16
8/28 – Cherokee Heritage Day – Elizabethton
8/28 – Thirsty Orange Brew Extravaganza – Johnson City – USUALLY IN APRIL
8/28-8/29 – Beersheba Springs Arts and Craft Fair – Beersheba Springs
WEST VIRGINIA
8/26-8/28 – Fly In Festival – Huntington
8/26-8/29 – Metal in the Mountains – Pipestem
8/27-8/28 – Appalachian Festival – Beckley
8/27-8/28 – Ohio Valley Pride Festival – Wheeling – USUALLY IN MAY
8/27-8/28 – West Virginia Cupcake Festival – Milton
8/28 – Mountain Spirit Pow Wow at Mason Dixon Park – Mt. Morris, PA/Core, WV
8/28 – Central WV Pagan Pride – Flatwoods
8/28 – The I Steadies Reunion Party – Shenandoah Junction
WISCONSIN
8/26-8/28 – Bluegrass in the Pines – Rosholt
8/26-8/29 – Loyal Corn Festival – Loyal
8/26-8/29 – West Bend GERMANfest – West Bend
8/26-8/29 – Orton-Front Festival – Madison (Orton Park Fest and Marquette Riverfront Festival)
8/27-8/28 – Country in the Burg – Cedarburg
8/27-8/28 – Taste of Portage Market Fair – Portage
8/27-8/29 – Middleton Good Neighbor Festival – Middleton
8/27-8/29 – Artstreet – Green Bay
8/27-8/29 – Mexican Fiesta – Milwaukee
8/27-8/29 – Leon Gatorfest – Leon
8/27-8/29 – DandiLion Daze – Muskego
8/27-8/29 – A Taste of Egypt Festival – Oak Creek
8/27-8/29 – St. James Parish Festival – Mukwonago
8/27-8/29 – Great River Folk Festival – La Crosse
8/27-8/29 – Moosefest – Newton
8/28 – St. Croix Falls Music Festival – St. Croix Falls
8/28 – Root Beer Bash – Glendale
8/28 – Business in the Park and Car Show – Twin Lakes
8/28 – Dodgeville Dodgefest – Dodgeville
8/28 – Loganville Firemen’s Festival – Loganville
8/28 – Death’s Door BBQ – Washington Island
8/28 – Summer Wine Up and Craft Beer Festival – Friendship
8/28-8/29* – Orton Park Festival – Madison – MOVED TO 8/26-8/29 ORTON-FRONT
8/28-8/29 – Festival of the Pines – Eau Claire
8/28-8/29 – Bark N Brew – Wauwatosa
8/28-8/29 – Bristol Renaissance Faire VIII – Kenosha
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Festival Schedule Pages
Miami | Tallahassee/Florida Panhandle | Tampa
Akron/Canton | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Columbus | Dayton | Toledo
Knoxville | Memphis | Nashville
Eau Claire | Madison | Milwaukee
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