| Special for Columbus office
If you time it right, you may be able to attend a large percentage of Greater Columbus festivals over Labor Day weekend, but you’ll need to be quick because there are at least eight events taking place this weekend.
The best known of the Labor Day festivals may be the Greek Festival, held at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 555 N. High St.
Like most other Labor Day weekend festivals, it appeared in a less-than-full-scale form last year.
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“We are very excited that we will be able to do the full festival this year,” said John Bizios, one of the festival organizers. “Last year, it really scaled back. We had some unique challenges, with volunteers and not knowing how comfortable our visitors would be, so we scaled back on exhibitors and vendors. It was disappointing for us because we hope to showcase our parish and our parish house every year.”
Now in its 49th year, the festival is back in full force, with parish dancers performing throughout the weekend, cathedral tours, vendors with wares from Greece, cooking demonstrations and everything that visitors have come to expect. festival goers
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This, of course, includes food, from full dinners to a wide selection of pastries.
“We spent the whole summer cooking and stocking our freezers with everything. It is a matter of Greek pride. We are receiving people in our parish house. We will not occupy them with food made by anyone else”, said Bizios.
He has a tip about food.
“We encourage people not to wait until 9 in the evening to come and eat. Then the food lines are getting shorter. The early riser gets the baklava!”
Here’s what you need to know before you go:
Schedule: From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ticket, which covers the whole weekend: $5, or $4 for seniors, and free for children under 12.
Car park: Available in lots and garages around the festival site. The festival organizers recommend using SpotHero.com to find and reserve a convenient parking space.
Information: www.columbusgreekfestival.com
Millersport Sweet Corn Festival
Celebrating its 75th year, the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival offers fresh corn and more Wednesday through Saturday at 2718 Blacklick Eastern Road, Millersport.
The festival features daily corn eating contests, culminating in a grand corn eating contest at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Other contests include a corn-on-the-cob toss for kids and a Hula-Hoop contest for anyone with nimble hips.
Evening entertainment includes Matt Stell at 8.30pm on Friday and the Frontmen at 8.30pm on Saturday. Plus there’s plenty of other things to see and do, including a 5km race, a midway trail with rides and vintage tractors.
All food and game concessions are run by non-profit charities.
What you need to know before you go:
Schedule: From 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday
Entry: free
Car park: $10
Information: www.sweetcornfest.com
Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
Upper Arlington will welcome 120 artists and thousands of guests to the Upper Arlington Labor Days Arts Festival on Monday at Northam Park, 2070 Northam Road, Upper Arlington.
Artists will exhibit and sell paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media and more.
Live music, including performances by Theo’s loose hinges and the Deeptones, will be offered and children will be able to participate in hands-on art activities. There will be refreshments from more than a dozen food trucks.
Here’s what you need to know before you go:
Schedule: Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Entry: free
Car park: Free parking is located at Wellington School, 3650 Reed Road, and free shuttles will depart from there approximately every 15 minutes.
Information: upperarlingtonh.gov/LDAF
Nelsonville Music Festival
The Nelsonville Music Festival is moving to a new location and a new weekend this year. The event, sponsored by Stuart’s Opera House, will take place Friday through Sunday at the Snow Farm Event Center, 5685 Happy Hollow Road, Nelsonville.
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A dozen acts will perform there. Japanese breakfast will be the headline on Friday, I have it i Lucinda Williams Saturday, i Angel Olsen i Case Neko Sunday.
There is camping, food trucks will be on site, and a couple of dozen vendors will be selling glass, ceramics, jewelry and more.
What you need to know before you go:
Tickets: starting at $85 for a single day pass
Car park: memberships start at $50
Information: nelsonvillefest.org
Obetz Zucchini Festival
The Obetz Zucchinifest will span four days over Labor Day weekend at Fortress Obetz, 2015 Recreation Trail.
The celebration of all things zucchini, including an intriguing selection of zucchini-based foods, runs from Friday to Monday.
A car show, parades, the Cincinnati Circus and an OSU vs. Notre Dame watch party are some of the entertainment highlights.
Big names on the concert stage include Great White Friday, Boyz II Men on Saturday and Roots & Boots on Sunday.
What you need to know before you go:
Schedule: From 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from noon to 6 p.m. Monday
Entry: including admission to all concerts, it is free.
Car park: free
Information: obetzucchinifest.com
West Jefferson Ox Roast
The West Jefferson Ox Roast is a full-scale festival again this year, with events Saturday through Monday at Garette Park in downtown West Jefferson.
While 5,000 pounds of round roast is being cooked in a pit, and before sandwiches are served at noon on Monday, multiple events will keep guests satisfied.
In addition to the daily presence of vendors, crafts, bounce houses and games, guests can participate in one of three bike tours, participate in a cornhole tournament, participate in a Hawaiian-themed parade and cheer on participants in a children’s tractor and the Oxy Baby Contest.
Those looking to work up an appetite for the main event can participate in watermelon, donut hole, pie or hot dog contests.
What you need to know before you go:
Hours: Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Monday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Entry: free
Car park: near the site, free
Information: westjeffoxroast.org
Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival
Celebrate a centennial at the 100th annual Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival Saturday through Monday at East Waterloo and North High streets in Canal Winchester.
Musical performances will include Uncle Cracker Sunday at 9pm.
The parade will start on Monday at 1 p.m.
Visitors can also enjoy rides, games, food vendors, a car show, a beauty pageant, mechanical bull rides, an ice cream social, a beer pavilion, and the Zoo and Aquarium Animal Company of Columbus
What you need to know before you go:
Schedule: Saturday from noon to 11.00 p.m., Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. and Monday from 10.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Entry: free
Car park: free
Information: cwlaborday.org
Renaissance Festival
The 33rd Annual Renaissance Festival opens for the season Saturday through Monday at 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville.
The 33-acre complex recreates a 16th-century English village, and visitors can expect more than 100 daily shows, including full-scale armored jousting, a human combat chess game, the “flying snows,” the Queen’s Knights , a “mud” show. and a “naughty pub show” for over 21s.
Food and drink, including turkey legs, spiced dill pickles, shaved ice and Chain Mail Pale Ale, are available in abundance, as are various craft brews.
The festival, which includes themed weekend events, will run until October 30.
What you need to know before you go:
Schedule: From 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Saturday to Monday
Tickets: $28 for adults
Car park: free
Information: www.renfestival.com
