7 August Food Festivals in Ohio

Bacon Fest 2024 | Aug. 3
Celebrate one of America’s favorite sizzling side dishes at Bacon Fest in Kettering. This free, annual festival returns to Lincoln Park Aug. 3 and centers around all things bacon, with vendors serving different variations on the classic breakfast side, as well as dishes that incorporate bacon in a new way. Dig into the salty, crispy delight while enjoying live music and entertainment from acts like the Will Freed Band and DV8.  

Peaches and Cream Summer Harvest Festival | Aug. 10
This festival at Quarry Hill Orchards fits the summer vibe perfectly, with fresh, juicy peaches as its focal point.  Scoop up a bite of homemade peach ice cream (made by Mitchell’s in Cleveland) topped off with peach slices and other fresh fixins, all while enjoying live music and other food vendors. Younger attendees will love the wearable-art and flower-crown workshops, and the whole family can enjoy a visit with the baby goats who call the orchard home.

Pickle Fest | Aug. 11
Visit Akron’s Cascade Plaza on Aug. 11 for this one-day festival filled with activities, vendors and plenty of pickles. This free event features plenty of food and entertainment, as well as the quirky, exciting contests the annual event is known for. Watch (or partake in) the Pickleympics, complete with events like pickle bobbing, a pickle-eating contest, a greased-pickle toss and more.

Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival | Aug. 15-17 
Celebrated annually since 1967, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival returns to downtown Bucyrus this year with plenty of authentic bratwurst from local butchers whose families emigrated to the region from Germany generations ago. Grab a bite and watch the crowning of bratwurst royalty as well as the daily parade. Rides, an art show, games, a beer garden, live entertainment and a beer stein auction top off the festivities.

Blueberry Festival | Aug. 15-18
Visit the Heartland Church in the village of Lexington to celebrate 22 years of the Blueberry Festival. Take a bite out of blueberry-flavored treats or try your hand at the Blueberry Bash games. The schedule of events is stacked with family activities, like the Big Wheel Race and the treasure hunt. Also enjoy live performances from Sorelle, singing sisters from Lexington who were finalists on “The Voice”in 2023. 

Cleveland Garlic Festival | Aug. 24-25   
Follow the scent of one of the most pungent bulb vegetables to Cleveland’s North Union Farmers Market for a celebration of all things garlic. Garlicky delights range from crispy garlic fries to gourmet eats that make the festival’s namesake flavor the star of the show. Even if younger visitors are not the biggest fans of garlic, they will love the inflatables, face painting, petting zoo and Kids Zone activities.


Obetz Zucchini Fest| Aug. 30-Sept. 1
This Columbus suburb’s summer tradition offers a wide selection of family-friendly activities to fill Labor Day weekend. Kick things off on Friday with the car show and the first of the nightly free concerts with a performance from Southend Boys. Rolling into the weekend, check out the parade, COSI science shows, food vendors, rides and more free music, including shows from country favorites Parmalee and Gary Allan.