Fairs & Festivals Ohio Renaissance Festival Aug 31–Oct 6 Costumed kings, queens and knights from 400 years ago are all part of the Ohio Renaissance festival in Harveysburg. The festival has nearly 100 shows daily, 135 unique arts and crafts shops and hearty food and drink from the Renaissance period. Ticket prices vary, Sat & Sun 10:30am-6pm, 10542 E State Route 73, Waynesville, renfestival.com.
Old West Festival Sept 7–Oct 6 Taking a trip back to the Old West doesn’t require a Delorean with the Williamsburg Old West Festival. The 6th Annual Old West Festival is your chance to experience life in a 19th century Wild West town. Visitors can take in a saloon show or gunfight reenactment while browsing the local goods for their own pair of chaps. For the kids, the festival offers covered wagon rides to make them feel like real pioneers. $12, Sat & Sun, 10am-6pm, 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd, Williamsburg, oldwestfestival.com.
Riverfest Sept 1 What better way to welcome fall and say goodbye to summer than the annual P&G Riverfest on the Ohio River. The event features the Cincinnati Bell–WEBN fireworks set to music just after 9 p.m., one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest. Get there early to lay claim to a good spot. The event draws about half a million people to both sides of the river. Prices vary, 12pm, Sawyer Point, Yeatman’s Cove and Bicentennial Commons, riverfestcincinnati.com.
ALYSIA PALMER PHOTOGR APHY
Harvest Home Fair Sept 5–8 Called the biggest little fair in Ohio, the Harvest Home Fair has been a tradition in Cheviot for 154 years. It’s the kind of event where families annually set out lawn chairs along Harrison and North Bend roads to view the festival parade, which kicks off on Friday at 6pm, to Harvest Home Park. The theme of this year’s fair is “Spirit of OUR 76.” The fair includes livestock, arts and crafts exhibits, amusement rides and plenty of food. $5, free children under 12, Sept 6, 5 pm; Sept 7&8 12pm, harvesthomefair.com.
Salt Festival Oct 18–20 Big Bone Lick State Park recreates pioneer life at its 28th annual festival with hands-on demonstrations and activities for the whole family such as salt making, weaving, tomahawk throwing, storytelling, music and much more. Purchase a handmade craft in the crafter corner and refuel at the food court, but don’t forget to visit the bison herd and the newly renovated nature center. 9am-5pm, 3380 Beaver Rd, Union, KY, 859-384-3522, friendsofbigbone.org, or parks.ky.gov.
Sauerkraut Festival Oct 12–13 What can you do with seven tons of fermented cabbage? For 43 years, Waynesville has held the annual Ohio Sauerkraut Festival during the second full weekend of October. The event features everything from sauerkraut pizza to fudge. The festival also features more than 450 craft vendors from as far away as Florida and Hawaii. Free, 9am, $5 parking at Wayne Local Schools, shuttle to and from festival available all day, 10 B North Main St, Waynesville, sauerkrautfestival.com.
Olde Thyme Herb Fair Oct 11-13 The Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair and Harvest Celebration offers the tradition of herbs, crafts and natural products from the Wheat Ridge Amish Community in Adams County. More than 150 artisans are featured at the Erwin family’s working farm. If the antiques, food and crafts aren’t your thing, you can watch the air-powered pumpkin cannon fire gourds from the ridge. Free, 10am-6pm, 817 Tater Ridge Rd, West Union, adamscountytravel.org. w w w.
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