Upcoming Festival Weekend: July 13-16, 2023

Cultural Fests, the Blob, Eliot Ness, the Circus, Burgers, Pickles, Bastille Day and more!

Welcome back, festival fans.

Hopefully, after a little breather from nearly 2 weeks of festivals, you are ready to hear about the festivals this weekend.

As festivals stay strong in northern states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois, they also pick up as you go south. States like Indiana, Kentucky, New York and Tennessee definitely have a higher festival count this weekend.

As you look through the listings, you may see Tomato Festivals, Blackberry Festivals, Watermelon Festivals, Blueberry Festivals, Peach Festivals and Lavender Festivals.

Music Festivals continue, offering Bluegrass, Reggae, and Rock. Art Festivals, Beer/Wine Festivals, and Church Festivals are also plentiful.

One very popular type of festivals this weekend is the Cultural or Ethnic Festival.

Cultures represented include Colombian, French, African, Greek, Latino, Croatian, Armenian, Caribbean, Scandinavian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Native American, Czech, Slovak, German, and Egyptian.

There are actually a few Colombian celebrations in Florida and Illinois, as well as French festivals – in the form of Bastille Day in both Wisconsin (Review) and Illinois.

Another common-esque theme is the Hamburger.

There’s a Burger Festival in Chicago, Illinois, a BurgerFest in Hamburg, NY and a Burger Bash Arts and Crafts Show in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

From there, themes are all over the place with some rather unique ones as follows:

– BlobFest Street Fair (Phoenixville, PA): Blobfest, named after the movie which was filmed in Phoenixville and other PA cities, takes place around the famous Colonial Theatre over the weekend. The Street Fair is the most festival-like event during BlobFest with plenty of great vendors, live bands, food and more.
– Eliot Ness Fest (Coudersport, PA): While Eliot Ness didn’t move to Coudersport until the 1950’s, long after his dealings with Al Capone, this festival transports you to Ness’s most memorable times during Prohibition.
– Circus City Festival (Peru, Indiana): Along with circus acts, this festival offers rides, games, food and more.
– St. Joe Pickle Festival (St. Joe, Indiana): This is the city where Sechler’s Pickles are and I was able to tour the facility over festival weekend and purchase many many discounted jars of pickles. At the festival, I even nabbed an orange pickle and peanut butter sandwich. I even have a pic to prove it…

This pic was from 2009.

Honestly, there are all sorts of great festivals this weekend, so be sure to go through your state’s festival listing carefully so that you don’t miss anything.

Also be sure to look at the map as there may be festivals not-so-far in neighboring states.

Here are some more interesting pics for each state…

Alabama
River and Blues Music and Arts Festival (Wetumpka)
Delaware
Wilmington Street Food Festival
Florida
Florida Keys BrewBQ (Marathon), Up Up and Away Florida Hot Air Balloon Festival (Lakeland)
Georgia
Beach Bash (Gainesville)
Illinois
Millennium Art Festival (Chicago), Effingham Artisan Fair

Indiana
St. Joe Pickle Festival, Circus City Festival I (Peru)
Kentucky
GonzoFest (Louisville), Augusta Riverfest Days
Maryland
Untwistavus in July (Freeland), Summer Sip Fest (Laurel)
Michigan
Wyandotte Street Art Fair, Laup Fiesta (Holland), African World Festival (Detroit)
Mississippi
Coastfest Car Show (Biloxi), Mississippi Watermelon Festival (Mize)

New York
Hamburg BurgerFest, Scandinavian Folk Festival (Jamestown)
North Carolina
Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival, Firefly Music Festival (Elkin)
Pennsylvania
Eliot Ness Fest (Coudersport), BlobFest Street Fair (Phoenixville)
South Carolina
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Tennessee
Lauderdale County Tomato Festival (Ripley), Lynnville Blackberry Festival

Virginia
Hanover Tomato Festival (Mechanicsville)
Washington, DC
Broccoli City, All American Beer Festival
West Virginia
Weirton Greek Festival
Wisconsin
Bastille Days (Milwaukee), La Fête De Marquette (Madison)

As always, look to the lists and check out the map to see what’s going on around you.

If you are near or plan to travel to Ohio, you may want to check out this week’s post from my sister site Ohio Festivals – https://ohiofestivals.net/ohio-weekend-071623

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Until next week…

Love, Peace and Festival Grease!

Upcoming Festival Weekend: July 13-16, 2023

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MAP of festival and fair food cities this weekend.

If you can’t see the map on your smartphone, click HERE.

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My Experiences of this Weekend’s Festival

7/13-7/16 – La Fête De Marquette – Madison, Wisconsin – My Review

7/13-7/16 – Bastille Days – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – My Review

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GEORGIA

7/14-7/15 – Beach Bash – Gainesville
7/14-7/15 – Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival – Dallas
7/15-7/16 – Butternut Creek Festival – Blairsville

ILLINOIS

7/13-7/16 – Glendale Heights Fest – Glendale Heights
7/13-7/16 – Braidwood Lions Club Summerfest – Braidwood
7/13-7/16 – Windy City Smokeout – Chicago
7/13-7/16 – Vernon Hills Days – Vernon Hills
7/13-7/16 – Taste of Westmont – Westmont
7/13-7/16 – McHenry Fiesta Days I – McHenry
7/13-7/16 – Friendship Festival – Palos Hills
7/13-7/16 – Blarney Island Blarney Gras – Antioch
7/14 – Bastille Day Chicago – Chicago
7/14-7/15 – Yorkville’s River Fest – Yorkville
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/15 – Effingham Artisan Fair – Effingham
7/14-7/15 – Naper Nights II – Naperville
7/14-7/16 – Forge Fest – Lemont
7/14-7/16 – El Gran Festival Colombiano – Chicago
7/14-7/16 – The Big Greek Food Fest of Niles – Niles
7/14-7/16 – Millennium Art Festival – Chicago
7/14-7/16 – Roscoe Village Burger Fest – Chicago
7/14-7/16 – Campfire Music Festival – Saint Anne
7/15 – Taste of Chicago Pop-Up II – Chicago
7/15 – Woodhull Fun Fest – Woodhull
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Egypt Fest – Palatine
7/15 – Honey Festival at Wild Harvest Honey Farm – Heyworth
7/15 – Iron&Glass LagerFest – Romeoville
7/15 – Jazz Up Glen Ellyn – Glen Ellyn
7/15 – Waterman Lions Summerfest – Waterman
7/15-7/16 – Bucktown Garden Walk and Block Party – Chicago
7/15-7/16 – Volleywood – Chicago
7/16 – Mackinaw Valley Vineyard Art and Wine Festival – Mackinaw
7/16 – Woodstock Folk Music Festival – Woodstock
7/16 – Festa Italiana in Mokena – Mokena

INDIANA

7/10-7/15 – Three Rivers Festival II – Fort Wayne
7/12-7/16 – Festival of the Lakes – Hammond
7/13-7/15 – St. Joe Pickle Festival – St. Joe
7/13-7/15 – Bristol Homecoming – Bristol
7/13-7/16 – Northern Indiana Power from the Past – Winamac
7/13-7/16 – St. George Greek Festival – Schererville
7/14-7/15 – Oldenburg Freudenfest – Oldenburg
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/16 – Summer Bash Indiana – Muncie
7/14-7/16 – Culver Lake Festival – Culver
7/15 – Water Lantern Festival – Indianapolis
7/15 – Gateway Mile Auto Fest – Elkhart
7/15 – Coconut Festival – Indianapolis
7/15 – Region Eats Food Festival – Munster
7/15 – Beyond the Beach Festival – Michigan City
7/15 – Firefighters Blues Festival – Mishawaka
7/15 – The Grape Escape Wine, Art and Music Festival – Munster
7/15-7/16 – Circus City Festival I – Peru
7/15-7/16 – St. John the Baptist Summer Festival – Guilford

KENTUCKY

7/12-7/16 – Kentucky Bike Rally – Sturgis
7/13-7/15 – Shriners Bluegrass Festival – Olive Hill
7/13-7/15 – St. Francis of Assisi Church Picnic – Loretto
7/13-7/15 – Master Musicians Festival – Somerset
7/14-7/15 – Leitchfield Fiddling Festival – Leitchfield
7/14-7/15 – Paradise Music and Beer Festival – Covington
7/14-7/16 – BreyerFest – Lexington
7/14-7/16 – GonzoFest – Louisville – LAST FESTIVAL
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/16 – Augusta Riverfest Days – Augusta
7/14-7/16 – St. Pius X Summer Festival – Edgewood
7/14-7/16 – Immaculate Heart of Mary Summerfest – Burlington
7/15 – Pendleton Outdoor Palooza – Pendleton
7/15 – Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival – Alexandria
7/15 – Kentucky Bands, Bourbon and Wine Festival – Oak Grove
7/15 – KY Christmas in July Gathering – Richmond
7/15 – Minnie Adkins Day – Sandy Hook
7/15 – St. Gabriel Festival – Louisville
7/15 – Oldham County Day – La Grange
7/15-7/16 – Kentucky Highland Renaissance Festival VII – Eminence

MARYLAND/WASHINGTON, DC

7/12 – Sad Summer Festival: Baltimore – Baltimore
7/15 – Untwistavus in July – Freeland
7/15 – Summer Sip Fest – Laurel
7/15 – Lake Arbor Jazz Festival – Mitchellville
7/15 – All American Beer Festival – Washington, DC
7/15-7/16 – Summer Reggae Festival at Linganore Winecellars – Mt. Airy
7/15-7/16 – Broccoli City – Washington, DC
7/15-7/16 – Howard County American Indian Pow-Wow – West Friendship
7/16 – The Secret Garden Reggae Music, Arts and Wine Festival II: Caribbean – Westminster

MICHIGAN

7/11-7/15 – Gaylord Alpenfest – Gaylord
7/12-7/15 – Blue Water Fest – Port Huron
7/12-7/15 – Festival Ironwood – Ironwood
7/12-7/15 – Wyandotte Street Art Fair – Wyandotte
7/12-7/16 – Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts – Parchment
7/13-7/15 – Original Dulcimer Players Club Funfest – Evart
7/13-7/15 – Blissfield River Raisin Festival – Blissfield
7/14-7/15 – Scrapfest – Lansing
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/15 – Grass Lake Traffic Jam’in – Grass Lake
7/14-7/15 – Aura Jamboree – Aura
7/14-7/15 – Upheaval Festival – Grand Rapids
7/14-7/15 – Centreville Covered Bridge Days – Centreville
7/14-7/15 – Attica Days Festival – Attica
7/14-7/15 – Minden City Homecoming – Minden City
7/14-7/15 – Houghton Lake Blues Festival – Prudenville
7/14-7/15 – DOE-WAH-JACK BAR-BEE-QUE Summer Festival – Dowagiac
7/14-7/16 – Faster Horses Festival – Brooklyn
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/16 – Tawas Bay Summerfest – East Tawas
7/14-7/16 – Our Lady of Lebanon Mid-East Festival – Flint
7/14-7/16 – Blake’s Lavender Market – Armada
7/14-7/16 – Michigan Brown Trout Festival I – Alpena
7/14-7/16 – Festa Italiana – Sterling Heights
7/14-7/16 – African World Festival – Detroit
7/15 – Night Market at Beacon Park V – Detroit
7/15 – Laup Fiesta – Holland
7/15 – Port Sanilac Summer Festival – Port Sanilac
7/15 – Sunrise Side Wine and Food Festival – Harrisville
7/15 – Battle Creek’s Caribbean Festival – Battle Creek
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Vestaburg Community Days – Vestaburg
7/15 – Carleton’s Cruisin’ For A Cause – Carleton
7/15 – Addison Township Firefighters Strawberry Festival – Leonard
7/15 – Mears Arts and Crafts Festival – Mears
7/15-7/16 – Kaleva Heritage Days – Kaleva
7/15-7/16 – Michigan Honey Festival – Corunna
7/15-7/16 – Cass River Colonial Encampment – Frankenmuth
7/15-7/16 – Mid-Michigan Renaissance Festival’s Enchanted Forest I – Vassar
7/15-7/16 – Czech and Slovak Festival – Dearborn Heights
7/15-7/16 – Charlevoix Venetian Festival I – Charlevoix
7/16 – Detroit Festival of Books – Detroit
7/16 – Midtown Art Fair – Detroit

MISSISSIPPI

7/12-7/15 – Choctaw Indian Fair – Philadelphia
7/14-7/15 – Mississippi Watermelon Festival – Mize
7/15 – Coastfest Car Show – Biloxi
7/15 – Cherry Creek Orchards Peach Festival – Pontotoc
7/15 – Delta Soule Picnic Festival – Greenville

NEW YORK

7/11-7/14 – Old Home Days – Williamsville
7/12-7/15 – Hilton Fire Department Carnival – Hilton
7/13-7/15 – Kendall Carnival – Kendall
7/13-7/16 – Skydive the Falls Fest – Youngstown
7/13-7/16 – St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival – Syracuse
7/14 – ZooBrew III – Rochester
7/14-7/15 – Warsaw Valley Fest – Warsaw
7/14-7/15 – Clarence HollowFest – Clarence
7/14-7/15 – St. Patrick’s Irish Festival – Syracuse
7/14-7/15 – Cobblestone Live Music and Arts Festival – Buffalo
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/16 – Lyons Peppermint Days – Lyons
7/14-7/16 – Deposit Lumberjack Festival – Deposit
7/14-7/16 – Canandaigua Art & Music Festival – Canandaigua
7/14-7/16 – Galbani Italian Heritage Festival – Buffalo
7/15 – Fairy House Festival – Lewiston
7/15 – Hamburg BurgerFest – Hamburg
7/15 – Holiday in Homer – Homer
7/15 – St. John’s Festival – Olean
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – St. John’s Ukrainian Days Weekend Festival – Johnson City
7/15 – Buffalo Taco, Beer, Tequila Festival – Buffalo
7/15 – Porter on the Lake Summerfest – Youngstown
7/15 – ROC Pride Festival – Rochester
7/15 – ZugFest – Geneva
7/15-7/16 – Oatka Festival – LeRoy
7/15-7/16 – Scandinavian Folk Festival – Jamestown
7/15-7/16 – Can-Am Festival – Sackets Harbor
7/15-7/16 – Elmira Street Painting Festival – Elmira
7/15-7/16 – Sterling Renaissance Festival III – Sterling
7/16 – Waldfest – East Aurora
7/16 – Steel Rail Revival – Fairport
7/16 – Canal Fest of the Tonawandas I – Tonawanda/North Tonawanda

NORTH CAROLINA

7/13-7/15 – NC Peach Festival – Candor
7/13-7/16 – Wild Goose Festival – Union Grove
7/14-7/15 – NC Blackberry Festival – Lenoir
7/14-7/15 – Sunrise Theater Blues Fest – Southern Pines
7/14-7/16 – Everybody’s Favorite Barbecue and Hot Sauce Festival: Gastonia – Gastonia
7/15 – Sunflower Hippie Festival at Darnell Farms – Bryson City
7/15 – Farmers Day – China Grove
7/15 – Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival – Ridgeway
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Guam Liberation – Camp Lejune
7/15 – Hometown Heritage Day – Franklin
7/15 – CLT Edge Fest – Charlotte
7/15 – Firefly Music Festival – Elkin
7/15 – MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove – Sugar Grove
7/15 – Front Street Arts and Crafts Show – Dillsboro
7/15-7/16 – Catalyst – Asheville
7/16 – Radio La Grande’s The Summer Festival – Wilmington
7/16 – “All Things Groovy” Hippie Festival – Wilmington

OHIO

Ohio Festivals can be found at ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/

PENNSYLVANIA

7/10-7/16 – Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival IV – Philadelphia
7/11-7/16 – Philipsburg Heritage Days – Philipsburg
7/12-7/15 – Curwensville Days – Curwensville
7/12-7/15 – St. Alexis Festival – Wexford
7/12-7/15 – Holy Family Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
7/12-7/16 – Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts – State College
7/13 – Hermitage Night Market I – Hermitage
7/13-7/15 – Art in the Orchard – Port Matilda
7/13-7/15 – Woodward Township Riverfest – Lock Haven
7/13-7/15 – St. Raphael Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
7/13-7/15 – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Festival – Swoyersville
7/13-7/15 – Cranberry Township Community Days – Cranberry Township
7/13-7/15 – St. Rita’s Festival – Connellsville
Weekend continues below…

7/13-7/15 – Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Festival – Coraopolis
7/13-7/16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival – Crabtree
7/13-7/16 – Terre Hill Days Festival – Terre Hill
7/13-7/16 – People’s Choice Festival – Boalsburg
7/13-7/17 – Black Music Festival – Pittsburgh
7/14 – Summer Wine Festival at Bear Creek Mountain Resort – Macungie
7/14-7/15 – Wine Down Music Festival – North East
7/14-7/15 – St. Patrick’s Festival – White Haven
7/14-7/15 – St. Faustina Parish Festival – Prospect
7/14-7/15 – Blueberry Festival at Blueberry Hill – Red Lion
7/14-7/15 – East Brady Riverfest – East Brady
7/14-7/15 – Townville Old Home Days – Townville
Weekend continues below…

7/14-7/15 – Nativity of Our Lord Parish Picnic – Duryea
7/14-7/15 – St. Barbara Parish Festival – Harrison City
7/14-7/16 – Inclusion Festival – Kempton
7/14-7/16 – Red, White and Blueberry Festival – Reynoldsville
7/14-7/16 – Rib and Wing Festival – Seven Springs
7/14-7/16 – Eliot Ness Fest – Coudersport
7/14-7/16 – Northside Music Festival (formerly Deutschtown) – Pittsburgh
7/15 – Latin Fusion Fest – Stroudsburg
7/15 – River of Life Summer Fun Fest – Lehman
7/15 – Harrisburg Water Lantern Festival – Harrisburg
7/15 – Stone Lake Winery Sangria Around the World Festival – Saylorsburg
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Nazareth Days – Nazareth
7/15 – BlobFest Street Fair – Phoenixville
7/15 – Mifflinburg Blueberry Festival – Mifflinburg
7/15 – Great Lakes Taste of Summer Festival – North East
7/15 – Sad Summer Festival: Philadelphia – Philadelphia
7/15 – Dauphin County BrewFest – Harrisburg
7/15 – Selinsgrove Brewfest – Selinsgrove
7/15 – Pittsburgh Summer Beerfest – Pittsburgh
7/15 – The Beer and Wine Music Fest – Seven Fields
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Enon Valley Community Day and Bluegrass Festival – Enon Valley
7/15 – Snack Town Street Fair – Hanover
7/15-7/16 – Good Shepherd Parish Festival – Drums
7/15-7/16 – Freedom Farms Wildflower Festival – Valencia
7/15-7/16 – Lawn Luau Summer Festival at Armstrong Valley Winery – Halifax
7/15-7/16 – Bethlehem Blueberry Festival at Burnside Plantation – Bethlehem
7/16 – Warminster Pop-Up Summer Fresh Market – Warminster
7/16 – Reading Pride Celebration – Reading
7/16 – East Brandywine Food Truck Festival – Downingtown
7/16 – Barnes on the Block – Philadelphia
7/16 – Mercersburg Summer Food Truck Festival – Mercersburg

SOUTH CAROLINA

7/12-7/16 – South Carolina Peach Festival I – Gaffney
7/14-7/15 – Pageland Watermelon Festival – Pageland
7/14-7/16 – Beaufort Water Festival I – Beaufort
7/15 – Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival – Charleston
7/15 – Banjo Extravaganza at Hagood Mill – Pickens

TENNESSEE

7/10-7/16 – Gatlinburg Craftmen’s Summer Craft Fair II – Gatlinburg
7/14 – Friday Night Market in the BORO and Food Truck Festival XV – Murfreesboro
7/14 – Memphis Summer Cocktail Festival – Cordova
7/14 – Music City Brewer’s Festival – Nashville
7/14-7/15 – Pioneer Days – Livingston
7/14-7/15 – Lauderdale County Tomato Festival – Ripley
7/14-7/16 – Fun Fest I – Kingsport
Weekend continues below…

7/15 – Watertown Jazz Festival – Watertown
7/15 – Highland Volunteer Fire Department Fireworks in the Park – Portland
7/15 – Lynnville Blackberry Festival – Lynnville
7/15 – Summer of Love Hippie Festival – Spring City
7/15 – Tomat-O-Rama Festival – Nashville
7/15 – Karns Community Fair – Karns
7/15 – Q ‘n Brew at the Chattanooga Zoo – Chattanooga
7/15 – Murfreesboro Hot Chicken Festival – Murfreesboro
7/15 – Tri-State Outdoors Fest – Cumberland Gap
7/16 – Top Tomato Festival – Chattanooga
7/16 – Farm Fest – Kingsport

VIRGINIA

7/11 – Sad Summer Festival: Portsmouth – Portsmouth
7/14-7/15 – Hanover Tomato Festival – Mechanicsville
7/14-7/16 – Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days – Smith Mountain Lake
7/14-7/16 – Sunflower Festival at Sinkland Farms I – Christiansburg
7/15 – Key West Fest at Breaux Vineyards – Purcellville
7/15 – Southern Soul Music Festival – Richmond

WEST VIRGINIA

7/12-7/15 – Durbin Days Heritage Festival – Durbin
7/13-7/15 – 4848 Festival – Snowshoe
7/14 – Weirton Greek Festival – Weirton
7/14-7/15 – Good Neighbor Days – Bruceton Mills
7/14-7/15 – Friends of Charity Auto Fair – Beckley
7/14-7/15 – Skyline Bluegrass Festival on the River – Ronceverte
7/14-7/16 – Bike Bash WV (formerly Dirt Rag Dirt Fest) – Bruceton Mills
7/15 – Ye Olde Medieval Fest – New Cumberland
7/15 – Grant Town VFD Fireman’s Festival – Grant Town
7/15 – July Sun and Moon Festival – Hedgesville
7/15-7/16 – Almost Heaven Etsy WV Festival – Dunbar

WISCONSIN

7/12-7/16 – Elkhorn Ribfest – Elkhorn
7/12-7/16 – Milwaukee Rally at West Bend Harley – West Bend
7/13-7/15 – Delafield Block Party – Delafield
7/13-7/15 – Rock Fest – Cadott
7/13-7/15 – Country Boom – West Salem
7/13-7/15 – Endeavor Broiler Fest – Endeavor
7/13-7/16 – Milwaukee Rally – Milwaukee
7/13-7/16 – New Richmond Fun Fest – New Richmond
7/13-7/16 – Bastille Days – Milwaukee – My Review
Weekend continues below…