Upcoming Festival Weekend: August 3-6, 2023

August festivals have begun with some great options – particularly in the northern states.

I’m a big fan of August, festival fans, because the festivals really pick up during the last month of summer and before they explode in September.

But I should also mention that I live in the north.

This is important because, right now, the weather is making it difficult to hold a lot of festivals in the south – something this post is evidence of.

With one glance at the map, it’s obvious where the festivals are: Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Western New York. Some states, like West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Maryland aren’t that shabby but it’s really the cooler states that are hosting the majority of festivals.

Looking over the types of festivals, I’m noticing a lot of fruit/food festivals, particularly Peach and Watermelon Festivals (there’s even a Yellow-Meated Watermelon Festival in Alabama). I’m also seeing some Corn, Blueberries, Potato, Tomato and Cherries.

And there are Sauerkraut Festivals in New York and Wisconsin.

Cultural Festivals continue this weekend (Armenian, Jewish, German, Salvadoran, Lebanese, Jamaican, Asian, Puerto Rican, Polish, Italian, Caribbean, and African American) and there are so many Art Festivals, Music Festivals, and BBQ Festivals.

Other festivals that need some serious mentioning include:

The Wausau Possom Festival in Florida, which includes a Possum King/Queen contest and a Possum Auction
the World of Faeries Festival in Illinois with a vendor village and performances by the Harp Twins (I’ve actually seen them perform before).
the Stanton Corn Festival in Kentucky : I saw the vendor list and it looks huge, which makes me think that the festival is also huge.
the Magic Get Together in Michigan is a festival where all sorts of magicians come to celebrate. If you have any interest in illusions, you should definitely check it out.
Peace, Love and Hippies Festival in Michigan because what’s not to love in this combo?
Ocracoke Fig Festival in North Carolina with a Fig Cake Bake-Off
the Waynesboro Wizarding Festival in Pennsylvania (Harry Potter, Baby!)
Lurchfest in West Virginia in the town where Ted Cassidy (who played Lurch) grew up. Live music, craft beer, food, and vendors.
National Mustard Day in Wisconsin at the Mustard Museum.
Root Beer Bash in Wisconsin for the perfect refreshing drink (especially with ice cream) on those warmer days

Here are some more interesting picks for each state…

Alabama
Smoke in the Outfield BBQ Festival (Madison)
Delaware
Peach Festival (Wyoming)
Florida
Wausau Possum Festival
Georgia
The Italian Festival of North Georgia (Canton)
Illinois
Jeff Fest (Chicago), Festa Italiana (Rockford)

Indiana
Zoar Mosquito Fest (Holland), Knox County Watermelon Festival (Vincennes)
Kentucky
Fancy Farm Picnic, Shaker Village Craft Fair (Harrodsburg)
Maryland
Ocean City Taco Festival, Leonardtown Wharf Fest
Michigan
Glad-Peach Festival (Coloma), Harrietta Blueberry Festival, Waterfront Art Festival (Escanaba)
Mississippi
Artesia Day Festival

New York
St. George Macedonian Festival (Syracuse), Jack Craft Fair (Buffalo)
North Carolina
Ocracoke Fig Festival, Reevestock Music Festival (Elkin)
Pennsylvania
Fort Armstrong Folk Festival (Kittanning), Flood City Music Festival – (Johnstown), Woodsmen Show (Galeton)
South Carolina
Little Mountain Reunion
Tennessee
Sumner Fest (Hendersonville)

Virginia
Festival Salvadoreno (Manassas)
Washington, DC
Jollof Festival
West Virginia
Ravenswood Ohio River Festival, Lurchfest (Philippi)
Wisconsin
Racine Cardboard Boat Race, St. Mary’s Sauerkraut Festival (Bear Creek)

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-080623

Also, if you would like email notifications when I publish new posts, you can subscribe at https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/subscribe/. Once you fill out the form and submit it, you’ll get an email with a link to confirm your email. You MUST confirm your email to receive notifications.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Until next week…

Love, Peace and Festival Grease!

Upcoming Festival Weekend: August 3-6, 2023

********************

MAP of festival and fair food cities this weekend.

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

********************

My Experiences of this Weekend’s Festival

8/3-8/6 – Glier’s Goettafest II – Newport – My Review

********************

ILLINOIS

8/2-8/5 – Ag Days – Mt. Carmel
8/2-8/6 – Northbrook Days – Northbrook
8/3 – Downtown Evanston Thursday Night Market III – Evanston
8/3-8/6 – Streator Fest – Streator
8/3-8/6 – Lollapalooza – Chicago
8/3-8/6 – Romeofest – Romeoville
8/4 – Stolp Block Party – Aurora
8/4-8/5 – Party at the Beach Festival – Pontoon Beach
8/4-8/5 – North Aurora Days – North Aurora
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/5 – Bier Rock Fest at Buffalo Creek Brewing – Long Grove
8/4-8/5 – Pow Wow Days – Tiskilwa
8/4-8/6 – Destination Asia Festival – Lisle
8/4-8/6 – Jeff Fest – Chicago
8/4-8/6 – Taste of Roselle – Roselle
8/4-8/6 – North Chicago Community Days – North Chicago
8/4-8/6 – Taste of Orland Park – Orland Park
8/4-8/6 – Festa Italiana – Rockford
8/4-8/6 – Naperville Festa Italiana – Naperville
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/6 – Homecoming und Augustfest – Mascoutah
8/4-8/6 – Endless Summerfest – La Grange
8/4-8/6 – Shorewood Crossroads Fest – Shorewood
8/5 – Taste of Chicago Pop-Up III – Chicago
8/5 – East Dubuque Wingfest – East Dubuque
8/5 – Hazelnut Festival – Hazel Crest
8/5 – Ash Bash Art and Music Festival – Mt. Vernon
8/5 – Wheaton Brew Fest – Wheaton
Weekend continues below…

8/5 – Community Church of Rolling Meadows Cornfest – Rolling Meadows
8/5-8/6 – River City Soul Fest – Peoria
8/5-8/6 – World of Faeries Festival – South Elgin
8/5-8/6 – Taste of Africa Chicago – Chicago
8/5-8/6 – Wilmette Art Fair – Wilmette
8/5-8/6 – David Adler Center Festival of the Arts – Libertyville
8/6 – Peach Festival at Pere Marquette Lodge – Grafton
8/6 – Belize Day in the Park – Chicago
8/6 – German American Central Society Bratfest – Peoria

INDIANA

8/3-8/5 – Onion Days – Wolf Lake
8/3-8/5 – Van Buren Popcorn Festival – Van Buren
8/3-8/5 – Owensville Watermelon Festival – Owensville
8/3-8/5 – Monroeville Harvest Festival – Monroeville
8/3-8/5 – Harlan Days Festival – Harlan
8/3-8/5 – Holy Spirit Parish Festival – Indianapolis
8/3-8/5– State Line Heritage Days – Union City (IN and OH)
8/3-8/5 – Arts, Crafts and Music Festival – Nappanee
8/3-8/6 – Mooresville Old Settlers Festival – Mooresville
Weekend continues below…

8/3-8/6 – Jasper Strassenfest – Jasper
8/4-8/5 – St. Thomas Parish Festival – Fortville
8/4-8/5 – Ole Hickory Days – Colfax
8/4-8/5 – Zoar Mosquito Fest – Holland
8/4-8/5 – St. Leon Fireman’s Festival – West Harrison
8/4-8/5 – Knox County Watermelon Festival – Vincennes
8/4-8/5 – SummerFest Tractor Show and Pull – Claypool
8/4-8/5 – Jackson County Watermelon Festival – Brownstown
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/6 – Fusic Fest – East Chicago
8/4-8/6 – Everybody’s Favorite Barbecue and Hot Sauce Festival: Indianapolis – Indianapolis
8/5 – EnviroFest – Elkhart
8/5 – Brookville On Tap – Brookville
8/5 – San Pierre Spirit of Summer Festival – San Pierre
8/5 – BBQ and Brew Fest – Shipshewana
8/5 – Valpo Kiwanis Corn Roast Fest – Valparaiso
8/5 – River, Set Go! (featuring Fort Wayne Dragon Boat Races) – Fort Wayne
8/5 – Shipshewana Antique Festival – Shipshewana
8/5-8/6 – Chesterton Art Fair – Chesterton
8/6 – St. Boniface Summer Picnic – Fulda
8/6 – Art in the Gardens – Avon
8/6 – Smokin’ on the Water BBQ Festival – Liberty

KENTUCKY

8/3-8/6 – Glier’s Goettafest II – Newport – My Review
8/4 – African American Heritage Festival – Springfield
8/4-8/5 – Van Lear Days – Van Lear
8/4-8/5 – Soul of 2nd Street Festival – Danville
8/4-8/5 – St. Joseph Parish Festival – Cold Spring
8/5 – Fancy Farm Picnic – Fancy Farm
8/5 – Fox Fest – Louisville
8/5 – St. Matthews Potato Festival – Louisville
8/5-8/6 – Stanton Corn Festival – Stanton
8/5-8/6 – Shaker Village Craft Fair – Harrodsburg
8/6 – Flea in the Fort II – Fort Thomas

MARYLAND/WASHINGTON, DC

8/2-8/6 – East Coast Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – Little Orleans
8/4-8/5 – Sudlersville Peach Festival – Sudlersville
8/4-8/6 – Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival – Cordova
8/4-8/6 – Leonardtown Wharf Fest – Leonardtown
8/5 – Caribbean Wine Splash Festival – Rising Sun
8/5 – Corn Roast Festival – Westminster
8/5 – Washington DC Water Lantern Festival – Washington, DC
8/5 – Betterton Day – Betterton
8/5 – Strawberry Festival at Grace Rocky Hill Lutheran Church – Woodsboro
8/5 – Jollof Festival – Washington, DC
8/5 – Trio Fest: Wine, Jerk and Curry Festival – Poolesville
8/5 – Southern Maryland Italian Heritage Festival – Leonardtown
8/5 – Peach Festival at Calvin B. Taylor House Museum – Berlin
8/5-8/6 – Ocean City Taco Festival – Ocean City
8/5-8/6 – Peach and Blackberry Festival at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm – Parkville

MICHIGAN

8/1-8/6 – Fern Fest – Walkerville
8/1-8/6 – Nautical Festival – Rogers City
8/2-8/5 – Magic Get Together – Colon
8/2-8/5 – Elk Rapids Harbor Days – Elk Rapids
8/3-8/5 – Heritage Festival at Montcalm Community College – Sidney
8/3-8/5 – Lansing JazzFest – Lansing
Weekend continues below…

8/3-8/6 – Midland Area River Days – Midland
8/3-8/6 – Boyne Falls Polish Festival – Boyne Falls
8/4-8/5 – Fish Sandwich Festival – Bay Port
8/4-8/5 – Good Times in Goodrich – Goodrich
8/4-8/5 – Allen Park Street Fair – Allen Park
8/4-8/5 – St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit Highland Games – Livonia
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/5* – Brighton Art and Music Festival – Brighton – CANCELLED
8/4-8/5 – Kalamazoo Ribfest – Kalamazoo
8/4-8/5 – Timberfest – Lewiston
8/4-8/5 – Royal Oak Pride – Royal Oak
8/4-8/5 – Port Sanilac Blues Festival – Port Sanilac
8/4-8/5 – Blues, Brews and BBQ – Westland
8/4-8/6 – Grateful Bear Campout – Trufant
8/4-8/6 – Hogstravaganza Festival – Homer
8/4-8/6 – Michigan Lighthouse Festival – Marquette
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/6 – Onekama Days – Onekama
8/4-8/6 – Farm Block Festival – Allouez
8/4-8/6 – Merrill Farm Fest – Merrill
8/4-8/6 – Buy Michigan Now Festival – Northville
8/4-8/6 – St. Mary Parish Fair – Milford
8/4-8/6 – Marine City Maritime Days – Marine City
8/4-8/6 – Dearborn Homecoming Festival – Dearborn
8/4-8/6 – Blue Water SandFest – Port Huron
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/6 – Hispanic Festival – Grand Rapids
8/4-8/6 – Frankenmuth Flower Festival – Frankenmuth
8/5 – Night Market at Beacon Park VIII – Detroit
8/5 – Sidewalk Festival II – Detroit
8/5 – Peace, Love and Hippies Festival: Lapeer – Lapeer
8/5 – Pointe aux Barques Heritage Day Festival – Port Hope
8/5 – Waterfront Art Festival – Escanaba
8/5 – Straits Brew Bash (formerly Blues and Brew Festival) – St. Ignace
8/5 – Tawas Uncork’d – East Tawas
8/5 – Ann Arbor Pride – Ann Arbor
Weekend continues below…

8/5 – Harrietta Blueberry Festival – Harrietta
8/5 – 906 Festival – Curtis
8/5 – Art in the Park – Lake Odessa
8/5-8/6 – Belle Isle Art Fair – Detroit
8/5-8/6 – Petoskey Antiques Show II – Petoskey
8/5-8/6 – IndigoFest – Imlay City
8/5-8/6 – Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival – Bangor Township
8/5-8/6 – Grand Blanc Summer Art Fair – Grand Blanc
8/5-8/6 – Lexington Fine Arts Street Fair – Lexington
8/5-8/6 – Glad-Peach Festival – Coloma
8/6 – Gratiot Cruise – Clinton Township

MISSISSIPPI

8/3-8/5 – Artesia Day Festival – Artesia
8/4-8/5 – Watermelon Carnival – Water Valley
8/4-8/6 – Overbrook Songwriters Festival – Brookhaven

NEW YORK

8/2-8/5 – Spencer Picnic – Spencer
8/3-8/5 – Puerto Rican Festival of Rochester – Rochester
8/3-8/6 – Eden Corn Festival – Eden
8/3-8/6 – Holy Helpers Summerfest – West Seneca
8/3-8/6 – Lima Crossroads Festival – Lima
8/3-8/6 – Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend – Phelps
8/4 – Marilla Fire Company’s Carnival – Marilla
8/4-8/5 – Block Party (Lucille Ball Comedy Festival) – Jamestown
8/4-8/6 – Niagara Tattoo Expo – Niagara Falls
8/4-8/6 – St. George Macedonian Festival – Syracuse
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/6 – Spiediefest and Balloon Rally Expo– Binghamton
8/5 – German-Polish Celebration – East Aurora
8/5 – Adams Cheddar Cheese Festival – Adams
8/5 – Lincoln Hill Farms BrewFest – Canandaigua
8/5 – Village Music Fest – Youngstown
8/5 – Wild Brews II – West Falls
8/5 – Oliver Street Art Festival – North Tonawanda
Weekend continues below…

8/5 – Cayuga Waterfront Festival – Cayuga
8/5 – Bark Bash – East Aurora
8/5 – Arts Off Main Festival (formerly Arts and Wine Festival) – Cortland
8/5 – Jack Craft Fair – Buffalo
8/5-8/6 – America’s Grape Country Craft Beverage Festival – Dunkirk
8/5-8/6 – Angelica Heritage Days – Angelica
8/5-8/6 – Sterling Renaissance Festival VI – Sterling
8/6 – Asian Food and Cultural Festival – Buffalo
8/6 – Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic – Preble

NORTH CAROLINA

8/2 – Raleigh Night Market VII – Raleigh
8/2-8/5 – North Carolina Watermelon Festival – Murfreesboro
8/3 – Outer Bank Watermelon Festival – Nags Head
8/3-8/5 – Mountain Dance and Folk Festival – Asheville
8/3-8/5 – Preddyfest Bluegrass Music Festival – Franklinton
8/3-8/6 – AVLFest – Asheville
8/4-8/5 – Ocracoke Fig Festival – Ocracoke
8/4-8/5 – Reevestock Music Festival – Elkin
8/4-8/5 – Mount Mitchell Arts and Crafts Fair – Burnsville
8/4-8/5 – Cary Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival – Cary
8/4-8/6 – Gears and Guitars Music Festival – Winston-Salem
8/5 – Peach Jam at Darnell Farms – Bryson City
8/5 – NC Rock Autism Music Festival – Elizabeth City
8/5-8/6 – Arts and Craft Festival at Sapphire Valley II – Sapphire
8/5-8/6 – Art on the Greene III – Banner Elk

OHIO

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

PENNSYLVANIA

8/1-8/5 – McSummerFest II – McDonald
8/1-8/7 – Cresson Volunteeer Fire Company Carnival – Cresson
8/2-8/5 – St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
8/2-8/5 – St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Festival – Munhall
8/3 – Wingfest at Tussey Mountain VII – Boalsburg
8/3-8/5 – Dan Rice Days – Girard
8/3-8/5 – Pleasantville Community Festival – Pleasantville
8/3-8/5 – Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish Community Festival – Elizabeth
8/3-8/5 – Archangel Gabriel Catholic School Festival – McKees Rock
8/3-8/6 – Fort Armstrong Folk Festival – Kittanning
Weekend continues below…

8/3-8/6 – Antique Tractor Festival – Stoystown
8/3-8/6 – Portersville Steam Show – Portersville
8/4 – Stewartstown Night Market VI – Stewartstown
8/4 – Outlaw Music Festival – Hershey
8/4 – Wampum Homecoming Weekend’s Car Cruise – Wampum
8/4-8/5 – Thunder in the City Classic Car and Bike Show – Meadville
8/4-8/5 – Waynesboro Wizarding Festival – Waynesboro
8/4-8/5 – Mother of Sorrows Community Festival – Murrysville
8/4-8/5 – Flood City Music Festival – Johnstown
8/4-8/5 – Spirit Fest – Palmyra
Weekend continues below…

8/4-8/5 – Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair – Bellefonte
8/4-8/5 – Montrose Blueberry Festival – Montrose
8/4-8/6 – Clarion Summer Fest III – Clarion
8/4-8/6 – Scranton Jazz Festival – Scranton
8/4-8/6 – Musikfest I – Bethlehem
8/4-8/6 – St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Picnic – McAdoo
8/4-8/6 – Woodsmen Show – Galeton
8/4-8/6 – St. Jude Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
8/4-8/6 – St. Agnes Parish Bazaar – North Huntingdon
8/4-8/6* – Erie Blues and Jazz Festival – Erie – CANCELLED
8/5 – Reggae at Riverview – Pittsburgh
Weekend continues below…

8/5 – Springettsbury’s Saturday in the Park – York
8/5 – St. Joseph the Worker Hometown Summer Fair at St. Maurice – Forest Hills
8/5 – Outlaw Music Festival – Philadelphia
8/5 – Pittsburgh VegFest – Pittsburgh
8/5 – The Great Ethnic Food Festival at St. Richard’s – Barnesville
8/5 – Linvilla Orchards Peach and Sunflower Festival – Media
8/5 – Brews Bands and Bikes – Mercer
8/5-8/6 – The Moraine State Park Regatta at Lake Arthur – Portersville
8/5-8/6 – Summer Days at Port Farms I – Waterford
8/5-8/6 – Lebanese Heritage Days Festival – Easton
8/5-8/6 – Peach Festival at Peddler’s Village – Lahaska
8/6 – ACANA Festival at Penn’s Landing – Philadelphia
8/6 – 2nd Street Festival – Philadelphia
8/6 – August Fun Fest – Belle Vernon
8/6 – Brew Kids on the Block – York
8/6 – Holy Sepulcher Summerfest – Butler

SOUTH CAROLINA

8/4 – Brew at the Zoo – Columbia
8/4-8/5 – Little Mountain Reunion – Little Mountain
8/5 – Goose Creek Kids Fest – Goose Creek

TENNESSEE

8/3-8/6 – Byrd’s Creek Music Festival – Crossville
8/4 – Friday Night Market in the BORO and Food Truck Festival XVIII – Murfreesboro
8/4-8/5 – Clay County Museum Festival – Celina
8/5 – Sumner Fest – Hendersonville

VIRGINIA

8/4-8/5 – Steppin’ Out – Blacksburg
8/5 – Virginia Beach Water Lantern Festival – Virginia Beach
8/5 – Caribbean Wyne Festival – Hustle
8/6 – Festival Salvadoreno – Manassas

WEST VIRGINIA

7/30-8/5 – Valley District Fair Motorsports Festival – Reedsville
7/31-8/5 – Cherry River Festival – Richwood
8/1-8/5 – Pickin’ in Parsons – Parsons
8/2-8/6 – Appalachian String Band Festival – Clifftop
8/3-8/6 – Multifest – Charleston
8/4-8/6 – Pinch Reunion – Pinch
8/4-8/6 – Festival of Glass – Milton
8/4-8/6 – Lewisburg Literary Festival – Lewisburg
8/4-8/6 – West Virginia Peach Festival – Romney
8/4-8/6 – Ravenswood Ohio River Festival – Ravenswood
8/5 – Highwall Music Festival – Matewan
8/5 – Summersville Lake Lighthouse Festival – Mt. Nebo
8/5 – Lurchfest – Philippi

WISCONSIN

8/1 – National Night Out – Eau Claire
8/2 – Loon Day – Mercer
8/3-8/5 – County Line Country Fest – Prairie Du Chien
8/3-8/5 – Blues on the Chippewa – Durand
8/3-8/6 – Mile of Music – Appleton
8/4-8/5 – Sugar Maple Music Festival – Madison
8/4-8/5 – Onalaska Community Days – Onalaska
8/4-8/5 – Peacetree Music Festival – Kenosha
8/4-8/6 – DAS Fest USA – Elkhorn
Weekend continues below…