Along with all the contests and competitions, rides, games, arts and crafts, and live entertainment, the West Jefferson Ox Roast Festival has 5,000 pounds of ox roasted in a 120 foot long pit. Ox sandwiches are served on Labor Day.
2025 DATE: August 30 – September 1, 2025
Location: Garrette Park
Fellows Ave
West Jefferson, OH 43162
Website: https://wjca.org/schedule
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This post documents my experience on September 3, 2016.
In West Jefferson, there is an annual Ox Roast…
…which is started on Sunday night when a wood-filled pit is lit with flares.
Sand is used for the roast…
…and metal as well…
…not to mention over 5,500 pounds of meat for the 8,000+ sandwiches that are served on Labor Day.
(The Ox Box is where you can buy a ticket.)
Unfortunately, I came before the roast since the Ox Roast Festival had already started…
…offering non-ox food that ranged from Hungarian cabbage rolls to gourmet hot dogs.
Vendors lined a walkway…
…with personal protection products (Damsel in Defense)…
…clothing and sports bracelets…
…some cool Ohio art that utilized local dirt…
…mums…
…local political info (Madison County Republican Party)…
…and more.
Entertainment offerings included a main stage…
…and plenty of rides for the kids…
…not to mention games…
…face painting…
…and a cool mechanical shark.
I’m sure Max would have loved it.