More UFO’s, Cultural Festivals, Watermelons, Blueberries, Hot Dogs and Goetta.,
As we finish the month of July, I am surprised and delighted to see all the cultural festivals this weekend. Throughout the states, there are festivals celebrating Greek, Italian, Swiss, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Native American, Puerto Rican, Ghanaian, Hmong, Belizean, Irish and German. Wow!
There’s a UFO Festival in Wisconsin, Hot Dog Festivals in both Indiana and West Virginia, a Rain Day Festival in Pennsylvania, Watermelon Fests, Blueberry Fests, Peach Fests, and a Goetta Fest.
Goetta, pronounced (gheh-tah) is “a meat-and-grain sausage or mush of German inspiration that is popular in Metro Cincinnati” (as described by Wikipedia) and the festival offers it in a variety of ways (on nachos, on pasta, as sushi, on cannoli, etc.). Check out my review HERE to learn more about the festival.
As in other weekends in July, the northern states have most of the festivals this weekend. The big festival states are Illinois, Michigan, Western New York and Wisconsin. Honestly, Indiana, Kentucky and Western PA are pretty good this weekend as well.
But let’s take a closer look at each of the states this weekend:
Alabama
Two festivals in the northwest corner in Vina and Florence while those in northeast Alabama should look to Tennessee and Georgia for nearby festivals. There’s also a festival in Mobile.
Florida
A beer festival in Tallahassee, the Junkanoo Fest in Miami Gardens and a Caladium Festival in Lake Placid.
Georgia
Most of the festivals are around Atlanta, where there’s a Peachfest. There are also the Mountain Music and Moonshine Festival in Blairsville, a Moonshine Cruiz-In in Dalton, the Summerville Friendship Festival, and a few others.
Illinois
There’s a large cluster of festivals around Chicago, but there are quite a few in the central part of the state in such cities as Springfield, Taylorville, and Mechanicsburg. Many cultural festivals this weekend celebrating the countries of Japan, China, Greece, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Ghana. Lollapalooza is also this weekend. And, if you live in northern Illinois, you should look to festivals near Milwaukee; if you live south of Chicago, consider the Pierogi Festival in Whiting, Indiana.
Indiana
Festivals are spread throughout the state while those in southeast Indiana should also look to festivals in Ohio and Kentucky. Festivals to consider include Pierogi Fest in Whiting, Swiss Days in Berne and the Frankfort Hot Dog Festival.
Kentucky
Glier’s Goettafest returns to Newport this weekend and the next while the majority of festivals will be going on in the area between Louisville and Lexington. Some parish festivals, music festivals and even a turtle derby.
Michigan
A lot of festivals this weekend. Blueberry, Potato, Bologna, Bacon, Hippy, Italian, Art, and Music Festivals.
New York
A good amount of festivals around Buffalo, the Lake Ontario coastline and a few in the Finger Lakes. Art Festivals, some Cultural Festivals (Ukrainian, Irish, Serbian, Polish), Music festivals and more.
North Carolina
Not a lot of festivals but there are definitely some watermelon and peach festivals to check out.
Pennsylvania
Festivals around Pittsburgh, including the Summer Beerfest and McSummerFest in McDonald. Also some church festivals, music festivals and the Rain Day Festival in Waynesville.
South Carolina
The main festival this weekend is in Fort Mill, where there’s a Beach Bash.
Tennessee
An Irish Picnic, a Swiss Heritage Festival, a River Jam, Shrimp Festival and more.
West Virginia
Wheeling is celebrating both a Grecian Fest AND an Italian Heritage Festival this weekend while there’s a Water Festival in Hinton and a Hot Dog Festival in Huntington.
Wisconsin
A great festival weekend for you! You can celebrate cultural festivals for the Dutch, German, Italians, Native Americans and Hmong people, visit the Flying Saucer Capital of the World for UFO Days in Elmwood and enjoy all sorts of other festivals spread throughout the state.
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Have a great weekend, everyone, and don’t forget to look at the map. You never know if there’s a festival going on around you.
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Until next week…
Love, Peace and Festival Grease!
Upcoming Festival Weekend: July 28-31, 2022
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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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Reviews of this Week’s Festivals
7/28-7/31 – Glier’s Goettafest I – Newport, Kentucky – My Review
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ALABAMA
7/25-7/31 – W.C. Handy Music Festival II – Florence
7/28-7/31 – Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival – Mobile
7/30 – Vina July Fest – Vina
FLORIDA
7/28-7/31 – Junkanoo Fest – Miami Gardens
7/29-7/31 – Lake Placid Caladium Festival – Lake Placid
7/30 – Tallahassee Beer Fest: World of Beer – Tallahassee
GEORGIA
7/26 – Peachfest – Atlanta
7/27-7/30 – Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruiz-In – Dalton
7/29-7/30 – Madison Firefly Festival – Madison
7/29-7/30 – Cave Spring Motorcycle Rally and Music Festival – Cave Spring
7/30 – Bragg Jam – Macon
7/30 – Children Fun Fest and Vendor Show – Marietta
7/30 – Summerville Friendship Festival – Summerville
7/30-7/31 – Mountain Music and Moonshine Festival – Blairsville
ILLINOIS
7/28-7/30 – Tailgate n’ Tallboys Festival II – Taylorville
7/28-7/31 – Sugar Grove Corn Boil Festival – Sugar Grove
7/28-7/31 – Algonquin Founders’ Day Festival – Algonquin
7/28-7/31 – Wood Dale Prairie Fest – Wood Dale
7/28-7/31 – Fiesta del Sol – Chicago
7/28-7/31 – Lollapalooza – Chicago
7/28-7/31 – Lincolnwood Fest – Lincolnwood
7/29 – Summer Wine Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo – Chicago
7/29-7/30 – Merchant Street Musicfest – Kankakee
7/29-7/30 – Findlay Walleye Festival – Findlay
7/29-7/30 – Rumble Down Festival – Mechanicsburg
7/29-7/30 – Downhome Music Festival – Springfield
7/29-7/31 – RidgeFest – Chicago Ridge
7/29-7/31 – Art of Pilsner Festival – Geneva
7/29-7/31 – Jeff Fest – Chicago
7/29-7/31 – Farm Heritage Days – Greenville
7/29-7/31 – Streamwood Summer Celebration – Streamwood
7/30 – Cultural Fest – Bloomington
7/30 – Uncorked Festival – Sumner
7/30 – Pride Community Picnic – Evanston
7/30-7/31 – Chinatown Summer Fair – Chicago
7/30-7/31 – Fiesta en el Rio – Peoria
7/30-7/31 – GhanaFest – Chicago
7/30-7/31 – Japanese Summer Festival – Rockford
7/30-7/31 – Homer’s Taste of Greece – Homer Glen
7/31 – Aurora Puerto Rican Heritage Festival – Aurora
7/31 – Belize Day in the Park – Chicago
INDIANA
7/27-7/30 – Hippy Hill Festival – Morgantown
7/28-7/30 – Swiss Days – Berne
7/28-7/30 – Tailgate N’ Tallboys Offroad – Taylorsville
7/29 – Schererville Corn Roast – Schererville
7/29-7/30 – Frankfort Hot Dog Festival – Frankfort
7/29-7/30 – Darlington Fish Fry and Festival – Darlington
7/29-7/30 – Fingerstyle Guitar Festival – Nashville
7/29-7/30 – Pierceton Days Festival – Pierceton
7/29-7/31 – New Carlisle Hometown Days – New Carlisle
7/29-7/31 – Pierogi Fest – Whiting
7/29-7/31 – Bass Lake Festival – Bass Lake
7/30 – Pennsy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival – Greenfield
7/30 – Dixie Day Festival – North Webster
7/30 – Tacos, Tequila and Margarita Fest – Fort Wayne
7/30 – Cumberland’s Blues, Beer and BBQ II – Cumberland
7/30 – A Taste of Versailles: Legionfest – Versailles
7/30 – Zanesville Lions Club Homespun Day and Car Show – Zanesville
7/30-7/31 – Orland Vermont Settlement Festival – Orland
KENTUCKY
7/27 – Sad Summer Festival: Newport – Newport
7/27-7/30 – Sandy Lee Songwriters Festival – Henderson
7/28-7/30 – St. Michael Parish Picnic – Louisville
7/28-7/31 – Glier’s Goettafest I – Newport – My Review
7/29-7/30 – Cruisin’ the Heartland – Elizabethtown
7/29-7/30 – BKMC Burn Run Weekend – Prestonsburg
7/30 – Cynthiana Bike Night – Cynthiana
7/30 – Buy Local Fair – Louisville
7/30 – Hops and Vine Craft Beer and Wine Festival – Richmond
7/30 – St. Thomas Church Picnic – Bardstown
7/30 – ’80’s Rock the Dam Fest – Beaver Dam
7/30 – Henry County Harvest Showcase – New Castle
7/30 – Rods and Ribs BBQ Festival – Central City
7/30 – Kentucky Heartwood Music Festival – Frankfort
7/30 – Snappin’ Chaplin Turtle Derby – Perryville
7/30-7/31 – Crave Lexington Food + Music Festival – Lexington
MICHIGAN
7/25-7/30 – AuSable River Festival II – Grayling
7/25-7/30 – Marshall Bluegrass Festival – Marshall
7/27-7/31 – Flint Jazz Festival – Flint
7/28-7/30 – Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair – Sterling Heights
7/28-7/30 – Burr Oak Heritage Festival – Burr Oak
7/28-7/31 – Munger Potato Festival – Munger
7/28-7/31 – Great Lakes Flow Festival – Lapeer
7/28-7/31 – Antique-Tractor Engine and Craft Show – Walloon Lake
7/28-7/31 – St. Clair River Classic – St. Clair
7/28-7/31 – Bryon Days Festival – Bryon Center
7/29 – Blueberry Festival – Marquette
7/29-7/30 – Leilapalooza Music Festival – Battle Creek
7/29-7/30 – Art in the Park – Lincoln Park
7/29-7/30 – Holton Days – Holton
7/29-7/30 – Tamarack Music Festival – Morley
7/29-7/30 – Tommystock Music Festival – Lake Orion
7/29-7/30 – Saugatuck Venetian Fest – Saugatuck
7/29-7/31 – Yale Bologna Festival – Yale
7/29-7/31 – Wild Thyme Music Festival at Fat Blossom Farms – Allegan
7/29-7/31 – Saginaw Chippewa Powwow – Mt. Pleasant
7/29-7/31 – Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival I – Grand Haven
Weekend continues below…
7/30 – Mackinaw City Heritage Village Festival – Mackinaw City
7/30 – Day on the Town – Birmingham
7/30 – Peace, Love and Hippies Festival – Port Huron
7/30 – Devils Lake Festival of the Arts – Manitou Beach
7/30 – Marina Fest – Escanaba
7/30 – Ishpeming’s Italian Fest – Ishpeming
7/30 – Port Sanilac Summer Festival – Port Sanilac
7/30 – Michigan Bacon Festival – Lansing
7/30 – Depot Music Fest – Cadillac
7/30 – Muskegon Summer Wine Up – Muskegon
7/30 – Grace Christian Music Festival – Harrison Township
7/30 – Car Capital Auto Show – Lansing
7/30 – IndigoFest – Imlay City
7/30-7/31 – Mo Pop Festival – Detroit
7/30-7/31 – OutBack Art Fair – Marquette
7/30-7/31 – Art on the Rocks – Marquette
7/30-7/31 – Orchard Lake Fine Art Show – West Bloomfield Township
7/30-7/31 – Mid-Michigan Renaissance Festival’s Enchanted Forest III – Vassar
NEW YORK
7/25-7/27 – Kingdom Bound II – Darien Center
7/27 – Taste of Orchard Park (Quaker Days) – Orchard Park
7/28-7/30 – St. Francis and St. Clare Summer Festival – Waterloo
7/28-7/31 – Brantling Bluegrass Festival – Sodus
7/28-7/31 – Jamboree in the Woods – Springville
7/28-7/31 – Oswego Harborfest – Oswego
7/28-7/31 – Zoomagination: The Festival of Lanterns and Lights IX – Buffalo
7/29-7/30 – St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Festival – Syracuse
7/29-7/30 – YWCA Arts and Crafts Festival – Westfield
7/29-7/30 – Newfield Old Home Days – Newfield
7/29-7/30 – Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival – Syracuse
7/29-7/31 – Ellicottville Jazz and Blues Weekend – Ellicottville
7/29-7/31 – Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival – Syracuse
7/29-7/31 – Buffalo Irish Festival – Buffalo
7/29-7/31 – Pilgrim Family Fest – Buffalo
7/29-7/31 – Cheektowaga Polish-American Arts Festival – Cheektowaga
7/29-7/31 – Wild America Nature Festival – Panama
7/30 – iMatter Festival – Horseheads
7/30 – Springville Fiddlers Green Country and Bluegrass Festival – Springville
7/30 – Rock Stock and Barrel Music Festival – Rock Stream
7/30 – Newark Valley Summerfest – Newark Valley
7/30-7/31 – Waterfront Art Festival – Webster
7/30-7/31 – Spencerport Canal Days – Spencerport
7/30-7/31 – Saint Stephen Serbfest – Lackawanna
7/30-7/31 – Glen Park Art Festival – Williamsville
7/30-7/31 – Sterling Renaissance Festival V – Sterling
7/31 – Arts on the Water Festival – Derby
7/31 – Masten Jazz Festival II – Buffalo
NORTH CAROLINA
7/28-7/31 – Love Shine Play Yoga Festival – Asheville
7/28-7/31 – Folkmoot Summerfest – Waynesville
7/29-7/31 – Knotts Island Peach Festival – Knotts Island
7/30 – Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival – Fair Bluff
7/30 – Grove Arcade Summer Festival – Asheville
7/30 – Watermelon Bash at Darnell Farms – Bryson City
7/30 – The Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival – Wilkesboro
OHIO
Ohio Festivals can be found at ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/
PENNSYLVANIA
7/25-7/31 – Discover Presque Isle Weekend – Erie
7/26-7/31 – Big Dub Festival – Artemas
7/27-7/30 – Triumph of the Holy Cross Summer Fest – Jefferson Hills
7/27-7/30 – Michaelmas Festival – Pittsburgh
7/29 – Rain Day Festival – Waynesburg
7/29-7/30 – Flood City Music Festival – Johnstown
7/29-7/30 – Mother of Sorrows Community Festival – Murrysville
7/29-7/30 – Pittsburgh Summer Beerfest – Pittsburgh
7/29-7/31 – Rib and Wing Festival – Seven Springs
7/29-7/31 – Grass in the Glades – Bluegrass Festival and Campout – Gibbon Glade
Weekend continues below…
7/30 – Lake City Brews and Hoses Brewfest – Lake City
7/30 – Ebensburg Homecoming – Ebensburg
7/30 – Freedom Fair Fireworks Festival – New Castle
7/30 – Monroeville CommUNITY Day – Monroeville
7/30 – ReMARCable Festival – Meadville
7/30-7/31 – Hermitage Arts Festival – Hermitage
7/30-7/31 – McSummerFest I – McDonald
7/30-7/31 – St. Vincent Basilica Parish Festival – Latrobe
7/30-7/31 – Pittsburgh Blues and Roots Festival – Pittsburgh
7/31 – Concordia Summer Festival – Cabot
7/31 – Vandergrift Arts Festival – Vandergrift
SOUTH CAROLINA
7/27 – Keep the Broad Creek Clean Festival – Hilton Head Island
7/30 – Beach Bash – Fort Mill
7/31 – Groovin’ for Griffin! – Greer
TENNESSEE
7/28-7/30 – Lifest Music City – Bon Aqua
7/28-7/31 – Sound Haven Festival – Jamestown
7/29 – Memphis Summer Cocktail Festival – Cordova
7/29-7/30 – St. Patrick’s Irish Picnic – McEwen
7/30 – Swiss Heritage Festival – Gruetli-Laager
7/30 – Ocoee River Jam – Ocoee
7/30 – Oliver Springs Community Festival – Oliver Springs
7/30 – Spring Hill Shrimp Festival – Spring Hill
7/30-7/31 – Mountain Market for Arts and Crafts – Monteagle
7/31 – Chattanooga Bluegrass – Chattanooga
WEST VIRGINIA
7/27-7/30 – Grecian Fest – Wheeling
7/29-7/30 – WV State Water Festival – Hinton
7/29-7/30 – Fling at the Springs – Sweet Springs
7/29-7/30 – Williamsburg Community Fair – Williamsburg
7/29-7/31 – WV Homegrown Harvest Fest – Eglon
7/29-7/31 – Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival – Wheeling
7/30 – The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival – Huntington
7/30 – Augusta Festival – Elkins
7/30 – Old Mill Festival – West Milford
WISCONSIN
7/28 – A Taste of Germantown – Germantown
7/28-7/30 – Moon Dance Music Festival – Gleason
7/28-7/30 – Taste of Wisconsin – Kenosha
7/28-7/31 – The Midsummer Bluegrass Music Festival – Manitowish Waters
7/28-7/31 – Waunafest – Waunakee
7/29 – Taste of Lake Country – Pewaukee
7/29-7/30 – Parkfest – Lyndon Station
7/29-7/30 – St. Mary’s Summer Festival – Tomahawk
7/29-7/30 – Maxwell Street Day and Vintage Square – Burlington
7/29-7/30 – Prairie Dog Blues Festival – Prairie du Chien
7/29-7/30 – Hub City Days – Marshfield
7/29-7/30 – Holland Fest – Cedar Grove
7/29-7/31 – German Fest – Milwaukee
7/29-7/31 – Roma Lodge Italian Festival – Racine
7/29-7/31 – Lionsfest (South Milwaukee Heritage Days) – South Milwaukee
7/29-7/31 – UFO Days – Elmwood
7/29-7/31 – Union Thresheree – Symco
7/29-7/31 – Rumblefest Auto Show – Medford
7/29-7/31 – Port Washington LionFest – Port Washington
7/29-7/31 – One Fest – Chippewa Falls
7/29-7/31 – Butternut Pioneer Days – Butternut
7/29-7/31 – St. Croix Casino Contest Pow Wow – Turtle Lake
7/29-7/31 – Cheech’s Deecefest Family Music Festival – La Crosse
Weekend continues below…
7/30 – Milwaukee Brewfest – Milwaukee
7/30 – Art Fair on the Green – La Crosse
7/30 – Celebrate Plover – Plover
7/30 – Armstrong Creek Polish Heritage Days – Armstrong Creek
7/30 – Brady Street Festival – Milwaukee
7/30 – Northwoodstock – Land O’Lakes
7/30 – St. Sharbel Festival – Sturtevant
7/30 – Suamico Firefighters Festival – Suamico
7/30 – Elkhorn Truck and Shuck (formerly Corn and Brat Days) – Elkhorn
7/30 – Big Foot Lions Club Lobster Boil and Steak Fry – Fontana-On-Geneva Lake
7/30-7/31 – Bristol Renaissance Faire IV – Kenosha
7/30-7/31 – Hmong Wausau Festival – Wausau
7/30-7/31 – AtwoodFest – Madison
7/30-7/31 – Granville Blues Fest II – Milwaukee
7/30-7/31 – Iron County Heritage Days I – Hurley
7/30-7/31 – Washburn Community Brownstone Block Party – Washburn
7/30-7/31 – Williams Bay Fine Art and Fine Craft Fest – Williams Bay
7/31 – Stanley Watermelon Festival – Stanley
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Festival Schedule Pages
Miami | Tallahassee/Florida Panhandle | Tampa
Akron/Canton | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Columbus | Dayton | Toledo
Knoxville | Memphis | Nashville
Eau Claire | Madison | Milwaukee
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