5 Ohio Food Festivals in October

As cooler temperatures arrive, the season for comfort food begins and this month’s food festivals don’t disappoint. Indulge in chocolate treats in Dayton and eat mac and cheese for a good cause in Columbus. Those looking for small-town experiences can explore the fall tradition of apple butter in northwest Ohio, and celebrate the potato while supporting local organizations in Spring Valley. 

Columbus Mac and Cheese Festival | Oct. 4
You don’t have to twist our arm to enjoy a delicious bowl of mac and cheese, but eating for a good cause makes it that much better. Visit The Yard at Easton Town Center on Oct. 4 and dig into a variety of mac and cheese samples from local eateries during this festival benefitting cancer research at the OSUCCC-James hospital on the campus of Ohio State University.  After you eat, enjoy live music, prize giveaways, activities for the kids and more. 

Dayton Chocolate Festival | Oct. 5
Sweet treats abound at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds during this annual festival put on by the local Faith and Friends radio station. Explore this free festival during it's 21^st year where the theme is safari, and the chocolate is plentiful. Guests can get a taste of chocolate samples, as well as enjoy inflatables, crafts and activities, food trucks and live music from award-winning Christian music artist, Russ Taff.

MacQueen's Apple Butter Festival | Oct. 5-6
Visit Macqueen’s Orchard in northwest Ohio for a weekend full of delicious apple butter, fresh fruits ripe for the picking and plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained. Throughout the festival, enjoy pony and barrel train rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, corn maze, kiddie rides and more before taking a bite of barbecue, kettle corn, donuts and more from local vendors. Don’t forget to pick apples and pumpkins before you leave too.

Spring Valley Potato Festival | Oct. 5-6
Celebrate all things potato during this annual Spring Valley Potato Festival held on the town’s Main Street. Celebrating 46 years in 2024, the festival supports the local civil air patrol, fire department and parks, and includes two days of fun that kick off on Saturday with the Tater Tot Trot 5K. Throughout the weekend, enjoy classic festival foods as well as live music, local vendors and a mashed potato eating contest.

Ohio Sauerkraut Festival | Oct. 12-13
Though Sauerkraut is a New Year’s superstition, it’s a Waynesville tradition, and has been since 1970 when the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival began as a simple sidewalk sale with a sauerkraut dinner to follow. Today, the festival in downtown Waynesville on historic Main Street includes local vendors and live music, as well as sauerkraut dishes galore, from sandwiches to sauerkraut balls and sausages topped with the stuff.