8 Labor Day Weekend Festivals

Barberton Labor Day BBQ and Music Fest | Aug. 30–Sept. 1
Visit Lake Park in Barberton for this annual festival. Live music runs all weekend long from the Liverpool Lads on Friday to Disco Inferno on Sunday. Enjoy meats fresh off the barbecue from Mojo’s Famous BBQ and Swine BBQ, and be sure to swing by the beer garden for a cold one. Over the course of the festival, browse craft vendors, check out the car and motorcycle show, and enjoy activities with your little ones.

River Days | Aug. 30–Sept. 1
Spend a weekend along the Ohio River in Portsmouth during this annual festival that celebrates community and the end of summer. Head to Fourth Street to kick things off with a fish fry on Friday. During the weekend, enjoy a parade celebrating 61 years of River Days, outdoor movie screenings, fireworks, live music from the Little River Band (Aug. 31), and the Ducky Derby, where you can adopt a rubber ducky for the race for a chance to win a $1,500 prize. 

Cleveland Oktoberfest | Aug. 30–Sept. 2
Enjoy authentic German fare from The Pierogi Lady, Schmidt’s, Das Schnitzel Haus and more, and grab a brew in the Great Lakes Brewing Co. Bier Garten. The entertainment lineup is stacked, with musical performances on five stages across the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, including one by Taylor Swift cover group Taylor Nation. Wiener dog races, a Bavarian shopping village and a strongman competition top off the Oktoberfest fun. 

Milan Melon Festival | Aug. 30–Sept. 2
Visit Milan, the birthplace of Thomas Edison, and spend a weekend celebrating summer’s sweetest, juiciest fruits with classic carnival rides, the melon festival 5K and the crowning of the Milan Melon Festival Queen. Check out kid-friendly activities and food from local organizations, and remember that no weekend at the Milan Melon Festival is complete without grabbing a scoop of the watermelon sherbet or cantaloupe ice cream. 


West Liberty Labor Day Festival | Aug. 30–Sept. 2
The festival at Lions Club Park in West Liberty begins Friday with a classic car cruise-in, tractor pull and cornhole tournament before Saturday brings the parade and a concert from the Bellefontaine High School band. The weekend festivities include duck races, a tractor pull, craft tent, festival food and live entertainment. The kids can enjoy pint-sized activities like pony and barrel train rides, a splash pad and an animal petting zoo. 


Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival | Aug. 31–Sept. 1
America’s favorite pastime wasn’t always the ballpark spectacle it is today. Celebrate baseball’s humble beginnings during the Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival. This annual event hosts around 30 vintage baseball teams from across Ohio, including Columbus’ own Ohio Village Muffins, and games are held on the grounds of the Ohio History Center. Enjoy free admission and watch the teams play by 1860s rules while wearing period-accurate uniforms. 

Ohio Renaissance Festival | Aug. 31–Sept. 2
Experience the Ohio Renaissance Festival during its opening weekend. This beloved festival in the Warren County community of Waynesville draws Ohioans from every corner of the state to dress up like knights, maidens and more each weekend between Labor Day and the last weekend of October. The opening weekend brings a fall festival theme and activities such as parades, jousting contests, fairy-tale themed live shows and more.

Perch & Pilsner Festival | Aug. 31–Sept. 2
This annual festival in the far northeast Ohio lakeshore community of Conneaut promises to satisfy a summer craving for fresh-caught fish and ice-cold beer. Sign up for the inaugural 5K run or 1-mile walk, held on Saturday at Conneaut Township Park. For the rest of the weekend, grab a bite to eat and enjoy live music from a lineup that includes the Michael Aarons Band, Refuge and the 1980s tribute act Back 2 the Future.