Chow Down at 7 Ohio Food Festivals in July

Summer time in Ohio is rich with food festivals bringing the flavor, from mouthwatering racks of ribs to the German breakfast meat Cincinnatians can’t live without. Mark your calendar for these seven tasty gatherings, including a lively small-town celebration serving hearty chicken dinners and a get-together on Ashtabula’s harbor featuring your pick of the area’s best wines.


Mesopotamia Ox Roast | July 3-5
Since 1973, this township has put on this food fête dedicated to slow-cooking chuck roast. This year’s festival promises shopping from over 160 vendors, as well as live entertainment. In Mesopotamia Center, grab a “famous” roast beef sandwich, fries and beverage starting each day at 10 a.m., or head to town hall for a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. trulytrumbull.com


Delta Chicken Festival | July 9-11
Help the village of Delta celebrate the 70th anniversary of its poultry-packed affair at Delta Municipal Park. The gathering features carnival rides and inflatables, a car, truck and motorcycle show, wagon rides, bingo and a three-versus-three basketball tournament. Of course, attendees can purchase a $15 chicken dinner, which includes half a chicken, mini potatoes, applesauce, a roll with butter and a 12-ounce drink. deltachickenfestival.com

Twin Oast Brewing Apricot Fest | July 10-11
This Port Clinton brewery plays host to a stone fruit soirée once a year, which coincides with the release of its fruity seasonal ale, Apricatawba. Visitors will love grabbing a bite at food trucks, listening to live music and bringing the little ones to the Kid Zone, which features a petting zoo and bounce house. Make sure to swing by the vendor market, and consider taking part in the Apritrot 0.5K, where you’re rewarded at the finish line with a refreshing drink. apricotfest.com


Taste of Tremont | July 19
Head to the heart of this Cleveland neighborhood to sample signature dishes from the area’s standout chefs. The lineup for this year’s event has not yet been announced, but years past have featured dishes from Corner 11, known for its poké bowls and wraps, Hi and Dry, which serves delicious American eats and craft beer, and Cookie Boy CLE, a microbakery making inventive desserts, including cookie ice cream sandwiches. experiencetremont.com

Glier’s Goettafest | July 23-26, July 30-Aug. 2
Spend one of two (or two of two, we won’t judge!) weekends at this gathering celebrating the Cincinnati area’s favorite breakfast meat. Held in Newport, Kentucky, on the Ohio Riverfront, this festival features over 50 unique goetta creations — empanadas, mac and cheese and sweet treats, to name a few. Guests can enjoy two stages of live music, which will feature more than 40 bands across eight days, and learn about how the meat is made at the festival’s experience booth. goetta.com


Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest | July 24-26
Spend three days in our capital city’s West Bank and Bicentennial Park with this get-together promising a lineup of talented musicians and award-winning barbecue. Each day brings new performers, including the Columbus Jazz Orchestra with Byron Stripling and the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective. While listening to smooth tunes, grab some grub from food stands and trucks like Belly Out BBQ, Carolina Rib King and Chicago BBQ Company. hotribscooljazz.org

Wine & Walleye Festival | July 24-26
Sample bottles from a dozen local winemakers, including 2 Roses Cellar, CLE Urban Winery and The Winery at Spring Hill along the Historic Ashtabula Harbor. This annual lake town festival honors the late Bill Holden of Buccia Vineyard with this year’s theme: Peace, Love and Wine. Visitors can participate in a lighted boat parade and are encouraged to decorate their vessels in classic-TV-themed regalia. Attendees are welcome to join the gathering’s early morning fishing tournament, sail on fishing schooner Lettie G. Howard and stop at over 50 vendor booths. wineandwalleyefestival.com

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