7 Labor Day Weekend Festivals

Start your Labor Day weekend at the Columbus Greek Festival, a celebration of Greek culture and cuisine. It’s the perfect beginning to a weekend filled with Ohio’s unique festival traditions, from the more than 70-year-old West Jefferson Ox Roast to the medieval fun of the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Columbus Greek Festival | Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Discover the beauty and history of Greek culture at the 52nd annual Columbus Greek Festival, located at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in downtown Columbus. Tour the cathedral’s ornate mosaics, see dances to Greek folk songs or sample Greek delicacies and liquor from the Festival Taverna. Top off the festivities with an interactive timeline of Greek history at the Cultural Center, or shop Greek ceramics, clothing, jewelry and books throughout the festival’s shops.

Cleveland Oktoberfest | Aug. 21-Sept. 1; Sept. 5-6
All things German come to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds for two full weekends of fun at the annual Cleveland Oktoberfest. Watch Schuhplattler dancers perform skits and choreography at the 55-foot-long Cleveland Glockenspiel, cast your vote in the Best Oktoberfest Microbrew Competition and sample a huge variety of European cuisine from vendors and restaurants across Ohio. For kids, there’s costumed wiener dog races, fireworks and intricate puppet productions from the Friesch Marionette Company.

Perch, Peach, Pierogi & Polka Festival | Aug. 29-31 
Since 2005, Port Clinton has been entertaining travelers and locals alike with this end-of-summer-festival at Denny Bergeman Hall that promises great food, music and dancing. Fill up on perch dinners, pierogies, polish sausage and peach pie with ice cream before dancing the night away with live polka music until 9 p.m. each day of the festival. No worries if you’re a new to polka dancing — there’s lessons on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Ohio Renaissance Festival | Aug. 30-Oct. 26
Help kick off the first weekend of the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Waynesville at this 35-acre rendition of a 16th-century English village. Each weekend has a different theme, so no two visits are the same. Visitors can expect to see hundreds of costumed musicians, dancers, knights and performers re-create the best of Renaissance entertainment across 17 stages and are encouraged to come in costume to play period-themed games, explore the Tower of London Dungeon of Doom and wash down giant turkey legs with a glass of hearty ale.

Harboritaville: A Jimmy Buffett Tribute Festival | Aug. 31 
Harboritaville honors the legacy of legendary musician Jimmy Buffett with a one-day celebration at Veterans Memorial Park in Fairport Harbor. Sing along to classic Buffet hits like the iconic “Margaritaville” from three cover bands while sipping tropical drinks, enjoying fresh eats from area food truck favorites or perusing wares from local vendors on site.

Cotton Candy Festival | Aug. 30 
Get in on the sugar-spun fun during the Cotton Candy Festival at Hobson Freedom Park in Fairborn this Labor Day weekend. Enjoy cotton candy-themed foods as well as inflatable games, activities for kids,  a petting zoo, live music and more during this event put on by Hunger Days Food Truck Rallies. Free admission makes this special event extra sweet.

West Jefferson Ox Roast | Aug. 30
Since 1951, 5,000 pounds of round roast have been seasoned with a secret recipe and slow cooked for around 12 hours overnight in preparation for being served up on the sandwiches offered during the annual West Jefferson Ox Roast. This year’s event is no different, boasting a parade, a bicycle tour, eating contests, pageants, a cruise-in and a charity pie auction benefiting local senior citizens.

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