Festive Fall Fun: 3 Events to Mark on Your Calendar
Blog by Stacha Yundt
Mornings are cool and foggy, the leaves are beginning to change colors, and everything pumpkin spice is beginning to appear on the shelves: fall is coming.
There’s no doubt about it: when it comes to festivals, fall is the can’t-miss season in Ohio’s Largest Playground. With events happening every single weekend, there’s no such thing as the wrong time to visit. As we prepare to trade our swimsuits in for sweaters, here are three of the top festivals happening this season.
Waynesville Fall Fest
Weekends September 13th - November 2nd
Waynesville Fall Fest is a two-time runner up for Best Festival in Warren County and it’s not hard to see why this annual event is such a favorite. A relative newcomer to the Warren County festival scene, Waynesville Fall Fest debuted in 2019 (and took a break in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions) and has quickly found its place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Situated on a massive piece of land that was once a 9-hole golf course and driving range, festival operators have packed a huge amount of fun into their space.
Not only does Waynesville Fall Fest feature plenty of fall-time favorites like the classic corn maze, petting farm and pumpkin patches, it’s also home to unique additions that you won’t find anywhere else. One of their most famous attractions, the Wildwater Mining Co., is a 3-story playset that’s been themed after an abandoned mining company and sits next door to Ghost Town Village, the now-abandoned former home of the miners of Wildwater. A spin on the classic hayride, S.L. Expeditions ferries visitors into the woods where there have been reported sightings of the Skelepeople of Skeleville. Other attractions include an 18-hole mini golf course, pedal cars, a corn bin, giant skee-ball and more. Their store is full of seasonal decor, souvenirs and plenty of seasonal treats and small bites.
Don’t forget to grab a Conewich before you go, Waynesville Fall Fest’s signature dish and another contender for a Best of Warren County title!
The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival
October 11th & 12th
You may have never wondered what sauerkraut ice cream tastes like before, but isn’t it time that you did?
The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival has been a Warren County staple for 55 years. First held in 1970, this popular festival celebrating all-things sauerkraut has grown to feature more than 400 vendors from across 25 different states and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to the village of Waynesville. Over the course of the weekend, the festival serves up approximately seven tons of sauerkraut in every way imaginable, from pizza and fudge to more classic dishes like cabbage rolls and soup. Non-kraut related food is available, but adventurous eaters find plenty to love at this Warren County classic festival!
There’s plenty of live music and entertainment to find during the festival, and no shortage of opportunities to shop until you drop. Craft vendors selling art, decor, souvenirs and more line the streets among the food booths, and Waynesville is home to a number of local boutique and antique shops that will be open throughout the festival weekend.
The Ohio Renaissance Festival
Weekends August 30th - October 26th
If you’ve never been to a renaissance festival, there’s never been a better time to experience it. Renaissance festivals across the country have been growing in number, size and popularity, and according to USAToday’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards, the Ohio Renaissance Festival ranks as the second-best renaissance fair in the entire country.
While dressing up for the occasion is highly encouraged (up to and including themed weekends for everything from fantasy to time travelers), it’s by no means required. Attendees can expect to spend the day exploring the 16th century English village Willy Nilly-on-the-Wash and enjoying live entertainment like the classic full armored joust, comedy and stunt acts and dueling swordsmen. The Ohio Renaissance Festival is filled with chances to chow down on everything from the ren fest staple turkey legs to woodfired pizza. Shopping at the renaissance festival is another unique experience, featuring fine leather goods, authentic swords and daggers, beautiful pieces of art and so much more.
From jousting knights to sauerkraut sundaes and pumpkin-filled adventures, fall in Warren County is anything but ordinary. With so many unique festivals filling the calendar, the hardest part is choosing which one to experience first. Start planning your getaway today and see for yourself why Ohio’s Largest Playground is the place to be this season.