Visit the Ohio Farm Where Bob Evans Got Its Start

Most of us in the Midwest can recall sliding into a booth at a Bob Evans restaurant for a Sunday brunch after church, a stop for breakfast on the way to family vacation or a comfort food dinner when you want good eats without all the hassle.

Bob Evans started his homestyle food and restaurant business from a farm in Rio Grande, Ohio, and the historic farmstead is opened to visitors each fall to celebrate that legacy during the Bob Evans Farm Festival (Oct. 10 through 12 this year).

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Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in September 2024 but was most recently updated in October 2025 to include this year's festival dates and incorporate changes to the visitor experience, including the performance lineup and activities. An interview for this story was conducted in 2024 with Bob Holtcamp, who still holds the title of president and chief marketing officer for Bob Evans Restaurants. 

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“The farm festival is really just a once-a-year tribute to Bob Evans,” says Bob Holtcamp, president and chief marketing officer for Bob Evans Restaurants. “It is also a tribute to the farming community of which he was a part of.”

Holtcamp says opening the farm for the annual festival gives attendees an inside look into Bob Evans’ history and the very real people behind the iconic name.

“This is a brand that is very human and very personal. This company was built by a man and a family,” Holtcamp says. “And, so I think the invitation that we bring to the community feels very real to people.”

Attendees will find a classic festival atmosphere filled with entertainment and eats. Apple cider slushies, sausage sandwiches and the Bob Evans festival specialty of bean soup will be on the menu as will a full lineup of live music. This year’s acts include Tigirlilly Gold, Alex Miller and “The Voice” winner Jake Hoot.

The farm festival also has lumberjack challenges, a petting zoo, hay-bale maze, amusement rides and works by over 60 artisans from around the country. Through all the fun, the original importance of the festival shines through, according to Holtcamp.

“It started as Bob Evans’ invitation to the community, which in many cases was a community of farmers,” he says of the festival, “and we want to keep that alive.”

For more information on the Bob Evans Farm Festival, visit bobevans.com/farm-festival

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