With a new year in full swing and spring on the way, you’re probably starting to wonder when and where the best festivals are happening in 2018. Fortunately, Ohio is full of fantastic street fairs with mouthwatering food, one-of-a-kind crafts and bustling downtowns. The following are 10 of our favorites that you’ll want to mark your calendars for this year:
- Athens International Street Fair (Athens)
Ohio University International Week/Facebook Experience food, music and culture from around the world in downtown Athens this April, close to the beautiful campus of Ohio University. (Date and time TBA.)
- Taste of Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
Taste of Cincinnati/Facebook The nation’s longest running free culinary arts festival started in 1979 and now entertains an average of 500,000 attendees each year. The festival features cuisine from more than 40 fine restaurants and continuous live entertainment. Taste of Cincinnati takes place on May 26-28 this year.
- Yellow Springs Street Fair (Yellow Springs)
Yellow Springs, OH/Facebook With more than 250 vendors, this yearly street fair in the small town of Yellow Springs is one of the main events of the summer. Be sure to mark your calendars for June 9 this year.
- Jazz & Rib Fest (Columbus)
Jazz & Rib Fest/Facebook For some amazing “hot ribs and cool jazz,” be sure to attend this year’s Jazz & Rib Fest in Columbus on July 20-22. More than 20 award-winning barbecue teams will compete for “Best Ribs” (and the bragging rights that come with it, of course.)
- Wizardly World of Kent (Kent)
Main Street Kent/Facebook One magical weekend in July, the small town of Kent transforms into a Harry Potter wonderland that will bring out your inner wizard. This year’s festival takes place on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Kent.
- Feast of the Assumption (Cleveland)
Little Italy Cleveland/Facebook Little Italy, Cleveland transforms into an epic food fest for four whole days in mid-August. For more than 100 years, Holy Rosary Church has hosted this beloved festival, taking great pride in the neighborhood’s heritage.
- Ohio Swiss Festival (Sugarcreek)
Ohio Swiss Festival/Facebook Celebrate the Sugarcreek area’s Swiss heritage (and Swiss cheese, of course) with parades, a 5K and all the authentic Swiss cuisine you can eat. This year’s festival will take place on September 28-29.
- Ohio Sauerkraut Festival (Waynesville)
Ohio Sauerkraut Festival - Waynesville, OH/Facebook Get your sauerkraut on at this beloved Ohio festival on October 13-14 this year. Be sure to check out the plethora of arts and craft vendors while you’re here—not to mention more than 60 food options.
- Applebutter Fest (Grand Rapids)
Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest/Facebook Crafts, food, music and (of course) apple butter abound at this beloved festival in the historic village of Grand Rapids. Don’t miss this year’s festival on October 14.
10, Circleville Pumpkin Show (Circleville)
April Dray/Only In Your State “The Greatest Free Show on Earth” in the small city of Circleville features pumpkin flavored everything. (Be sure to try the pumpkin favored burgers, waffles, chili and cheesecake.) This year’s Circleville Pumpkin Show will take place on October 17-20.
Have you been to any of these festivals before? What other street fairs would you add to this list? Let us know!
Ohio University International Week/Facebook
Experience food, music and culture from around the world in downtown Athens this April, close to the beautiful campus of Ohio University. (Date and time TBA.)
Taste of Cincinnati/Facebook
The nation’s longest running free culinary arts festival started in 1979 and now entertains an average of 500,000 attendees each year. The festival features cuisine from more than 40 fine restaurants and continuous live entertainment. Taste of Cincinnati takes place on May 26-28 this year.
Yellow Springs, OH/Facebook
With more than 250 vendors, this yearly street fair in the small town of Yellow Springs is one of the main events of the summer. Be sure to mark your calendars for June 9 this year.
Jazz & Rib Fest/Facebook
For some amazing “hot ribs and cool jazz,” be sure to attend this year’s Jazz & Rib Fest in Columbus on July 20-22. More than 20 award-winning barbecue teams will compete for “Best Ribs” (and the bragging rights that come with it, of course.)
Main Street Kent/Facebook
One magical weekend in July, the small town of Kent transforms into a Harry Potter wonderland that will bring out your inner wizard. This year’s festival takes place on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Kent.
Little Italy Cleveland/Facebook
Little Italy, Cleveland transforms into an epic food fest for four whole days in mid-August. For more than 100 years, Holy Rosary Church has hosted this beloved festival, taking great pride in the neighborhood’s heritage.
Ohio Swiss Festival/Facebook
Celebrate the Sugarcreek area’s Swiss heritage (and Swiss cheese, of course) with parades, a 5K and all the authentic Swiss cuisine you can eat. This year’s festival will take place on September 28-29.
Ohio Sauerkraut Festival - Waynesville, OH/Facebook
Get your sauerkraut on at this beloved Ohio festival on October 13-14 this year. Be sure to check out the plethora of arts and craft vendors while you’re here—not to mention more than 60 food options.
Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest/Facebook
Crafts, food, music and (of course) apple butter abound at this beloved festival in the historic village of Grand Rapids. Don’t miss this year’s festival on October 14.
April Dray/Only In Your State
“The Greatest Free Show on Earth” in the small city of Circleville features pumpkin flavored everything. (Be sure to try the pumpkin favored burgers, waffles, chili and cheesecake.) This year’s Circleville Pumpkin Show will take place on October 17-20.
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