275 Festivals this weekend, mostly in northern states
We are already in August and the northern states are booming with festivals. If you look to the map, you will see tons of pins through such states as Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Western New York. But festivals are even picking up a little in some southern states and will keep picking up as we move into September and October.
In terms of types of festivals this weekend, food is king. There are Watermelon Festivals in Alabama, Indiana and North Carolina (which has 3), a Peach Festival in West Virginia, a Chicken and Beer Festival in Tennessee, BBQ and Sweet Tea in South Carolina, and a Root Beer Bash in Wisconsin.
And the food continues through all the Cultural Festivals going on: Puerto Rican in Wisconsin, Italian in Illinois, Polish in Michigan, Macedonian in New York and so many more.
Then there are some special stand-out festivals going on throughout the states. Allow me to draw your attention to the Possum Festival in Florida, the Goettafest in Kentucky, the Magic Get Together in Michigan, the Sauerkraut Festival in New York, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in New York, the Fig Festival in North Carolina, the Cryptid Bash and Lurchfest (after the actor who played Lurch on the Addams Family) in West Virginia, and the Testicle Festival in Wisconsin.
Just a little bit for all types!
But let’s take a closer look at each of the states this weekend:
Alabama
Any festival called a Yellow-Meated Watermelon Festival gets my vote – you can find this one in Ashland. Some other fests to check out include Rock the South in Cullman and the Weiss Lake Music Festival in Centre.
Florida
Check out the Wausau Possum Festival and the Jacksonville Carnival.
Georgia
There’s an International Festival in Ellenwood, the Summer Heat Music Festival in Hiawassee, the Butts Aglow Festival (in reference to lightning bug butts?) in Jackson, as well as the Atlanta Summer Wine Festival.
Illinois
Festa Italiana in both Rockford and Naperville (there’s also an Irish Fest in Naperville), an Asia Festival in Lisle, the World of Faeries Festival in South Elgin, Pow Wow Days in Tiskilwa, Tastings Festivals in Orland Park and Roselle and many more festivals.
Indiana
Great eating festivals this weekend, including the Popcorn Festival in Van Buren, Onion Days in Wolf Lake, a Corn Roast Festival in Valparaiso, a Chicken and Beer Fest in Indianapolis and a Watermelon Festival in Vincennes. There’s even a festival where you bugs may be eating you AKA the Zoar Mosquito Fest in Holland.
Kentucky
Goettafest continues in Newport as this weekend also offers the Shaker Village Craft Fair in Harrodsburg, the Stanton Corn Festival, the Fancy Farm Picnic and the Summer Beer Fest at Frazier in Louisville.
Michigan
Quite a few in the state (even the U.P) with some interesting ones that include the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, the Magic Get Together in Colon, the Boyne Falls Polish Festival, the Fish Sandwich Festival in Bay Port, the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit Highland Games in Livonia, the Kalamazoo Ribfest, Hippies at the Village Festival in Burton, and Good Times in Goodrich.
New York
Great offerings this weekend, including the Puerto Rican Festival of Rochester, the Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown, the Watkins Glen Italian American Festival, the St. George Macedonian Festival in Syracuse and America’s Grape Country Wine Festival in Dunkirk.
North Carolina
Watermelon and music are the big themes this weekend. Watermelon Festivals are being celebrated in Murfreesboro, Nags Head, and Denton while there’s a Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville, the Reevestock Music Festival in Elkin, the Preddyfest Bluegrass Music Festival in Franklinton and the Sunflower Hippie Festival at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.
Pennsylvania
Along with the many parish festivals going on, McSummerFest continues in McDonald and there are the Erie Blues and Jazz Festival, Brews Bands and Bikes in Mercer, Thunder in the City Classic Car and Bike Show in Meadville and the Woodsmen Show in Galeton.
South Carolina
As the kids enjoy the Goose Creek Kids Fest in Goose Creek, adults can head to Columbia for Brew at the Zoo. There’s also the BBQ and Sweet Tea Festival in Aiken and the North Main Commons Craft Beer Festival in Anderson.
Tennessee
There’s the Tennessee Smokies BeerFest in Kodak as well as the Memphis Chicken and Beer Festival in Memphis. You can also head to a cavern for a music festival called the Subterranea Festival in Pelham.
West Virginia
There’s a Cryptid Bash going on in Morgantown this weekend as well a Lurchfest in Philippi for you Addams Family fans. If that’s not your jam, you can check out the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, the Pickin’ in Parsons, a Cherry River Festival in Richwood and the West Virginia Peach Festival in Romney.
Wisconsin
Another great festival weekend for you including the Johnsonville Brat Days in Sheboygan, DeerFest in West Bend, the Scandinavia Corn Roast, National Mustard Day in Middleton, a Root Beer Bash in Glendale, a Puerto Rican Festival in Milwaukee, the Jacksonport Cherry Fest and a Testicle Festival at Yuba’s Pine River Inn.
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As always, do not forget to look to the map as there may be something nearby. Also keep in mind that a festival city may have more than one festival – so go through the list carefully and patiently (especially in states that have a lot of festivals this weekend).
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Until next week…
Love, Peace and Festival Grease!
Upcoming Festival Weekend: August 4-7, 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
8/4-8/7 – Glier’s Goettafest II – Newport, Kentucky – My Review
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ALABAMA
8/5-8/6 – Rock the South – Cullman
8/5-8/6 – Clay County Yellow-Meated Watermelon Festival – Ashland
8/5-8/6 – Killen Founder’s Day – Killen
8/5-8/6 – Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days – Athens
8/6 – Weiss Lake Music Festival – Centre
FLORIDA
8/6 – Wausau Possum Festival – Wausau
8/6 – Jacksonville Carnival I – Jacksonville
GEORGIA
8/5-8/6 – Dillard Bluegrass and BBQ Festival – Dillard
8/6 – Atlanta Summer Wine Festival – Atlanta
8/6 – Mad South Jazz Fest – Fayetteville
8/6 – Summer Heat Music Festival – Hiawassee
8/6 – Butts Aglow Festival – Jackson
8/6-8/7 – International Festival – Ellenwood
ILLINOIS
8/3-8/6 – Ag Days – Mt. Carmel
8/3-8/6 – Seneca Shipyard Days Festival – Seneca
8/3-8/7 – Northbrook Days – Northbrook
8/4 – Downtown Evanston Thursday Night Market III – Evanston
8/4-8/6 – RiverFest – Quincy – MOVED HERE FROM FORT MADISON, IA
8/4-8/7 – Windy City Smokeout – Chicago
8/4-8/7 – Taste of Elmwood Park Family Festival – Elmwood Park
8/5 – Stolp Block Party – Aurora
8/5-8/6 – Party at the Beach Festival – Pontoon Beach
8/5-8/6 – Naperville Irish Fest – Naperville
8/5-8/6 – North Aurora Days – North Aurora
8/5-8/6 – River City Soul Fest – Peoria
8/5-8/6 – Cortland Summer Fest – Cortland
8/5-8/7 – Taste of Roselle – Roselle
8/5-8/7 – North Chicago Community Days – North Chicago
8/5-8/7 – Taste of Orland Park – Orland Park
8/5-8/7 – SerbFest – Chicago
8/5-8/7 – Festa Italiana – Rockford
8/5-8/7 – Festa Italiana – Naperville
8/5-8/7 – Homecoming und Augustfest – Mascoutah
8/5-8/7 – Pow Wow Days – Tiskilwa
8/5-8/7 – Endless Summerfest – La Grange
8/5-8/7 – Shorewood Crossroads Fest – Shorewood
8/6 – Hazelnut Festival – Hazel Crest
8/6 – Beecher Lions Club Summerfest – Beecher
8/6 – Wheaton Brew Fest – Wheaton
8/6 – Community Church of Rolling Meadows Cornfest – Rolling Meadows
8/6-8/7 – LatiNxt – Chicago
8/6-8/7 – Long Grove Vintage Days – Long Grove
8/6-8/7 – World of Faeries Festival – South Elgin
8/6-8/7 – Gurnee Days – Gurnee
8/6-8/7 – Wheaton Art Walk – Wheaton
8/6-8/7 – Northalsted Market Days – Chicago
8/6-8/7 – Destination Asia Festival – Lisle
8/6-8/7 – David Adler Center Festival of the Arts – Libertyville
INDIANA
8/4-8/6 – Onion Days – Wolf Lake
8/4-8/6 – Van Buren Popcorn Festival – Van Buren
8/4-8/6 – Owensville Watermelon Festival – Owensville
8/4-8/6 – Monroeville Harvest Festival – Monroeville
8/4-8/6 – Harlan Days Festival – Harlan
8/4-8/6 – State Line Heritage Days – Union City (IN and OH)
8/4-8/6 – Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival – Nappanee
8/4-8/7 – Jasper Strassenfest – Jasper
8/5-8/6 – St. Thomas Parish Festival – Fortville
8/5-8/6 – Ole Hickory Days – Colfax
8/5-8/6 – Zoar Mosquito Fest – Holland
8/5-8/6 – St. Leon Fireman’s Festival – West Harrison
8/5-8/6 – Knox County Watermelon Festival – Vincennes
8/6 – Brookville On Tap – Brookville
8/6 – Pints in the Park – Highland
8/6 – Far Eastside Festival – Indianapolis
8/6 – San Pierre Spirit of Summer Festival – San Pierre
8/6 – Valpo Kiwanis Corn Roast Fest – Valparaiso
8/6 – Chicken and Beer Fest – Indianapolis
8/6 – River, Set Go! (featuring Fort Wayne Dragon Boat Races) – Fort Wayne
8/6 – Shipshewana Antique Festival – Shipshewana
8/6-8/7 – Chesterton Art Fair – Chesterton
8/6-8/7 – Fusic Fest – East Chicago
8/7 – St. Boniface Summer Picnic – Fulda
8/7 – Open Streets – Fort Wayne
KENTUCKY
8/4-8/7 – Glier’s Goettafest II – Newport – My Review
8/5 – African American Heritage Festival – Springfield
8/5-8/6 – St. Joseph Parish Festival – Cold Spring
8/5-8/6 – Hustonville Heritage Days Festival – Hustonville
8/6 – Fancy Farm Picnic – Fancy Farm
8/6 – St. Gabriel Trifecta Festival – Louisville
8/6 – Summer Beer Fest at Frazier – Louisville
8/6 – Old Beach Beer Bash on Kentucky Lake – Gilbertsville
8/6 – Festival on the Lake at AJ Jolly Park – Alexandria
8/6-8/7 – Shaker Village Craft Fair – Harrodsburg
8/6-8/7 – Stanton Corn Festival – Stanton
8/7 – Flea in the Fort II – Fort Thomas
MICHIGAN
8/1-8/7 – Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival II – Grand Haven
8/2 – Sault Summer Arts Festival – Sault Sainte Marie
8/2-8/6 – Milan Music Fest (formerly Bluegrass Festival) – Milan
8/2-8/6 – Elk Rapids Harbor Days – Elk Rapids
8/2-8/7 – Nautical Festival – Rogers City
8/3-8/6 – Magic Get Together – Colon
8/4-8/6 – Cowpie Music Festival – Caledonia
8/4-8/6 – Heritage Festival at Montcalm Community College – Sidney
8/4-8/6 – Lansing JazzFest – Lansing
8/4-8/7 – Midland Area River Days – Midland
8/4-8/7 – Boyne Falls Polish Festival – Boyne Falls
8/4-8/7 – Woodtick Music Festival – Hermansville
8/5 – Fish Sandwich Festival – Bay Port
8/5-8/6 – Allen Park Street Fair – Allen Park
8/5-8/6 – Hogstravaganza Festival – Homer
8/5-8/6 – Scottville 10 + 31 Celebration (formerly SummerFest and Harvestfest) – Scottville
8/5-8/6 – St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit Highland Games – Livonia
8/5-8/6 – Michigan Lighthouse Festival – Marquette
8/5-8/6 – Brighton Main Street – Wine Art Music Festival – Brighton
8/5-8/6 – Kalamazoo Ribfest – Kalamazoo
8/5-8/6 – Timberfest – Lewiston
8/5-8/6 – Vassar Riverfest – Vassar
8/5-8/6 – Port Sanilac Blues Festival – Port Sanilac
8/5-8/6 – Blues, Brews and BBQ – Westland
Weekend continues below…
8/5-8/7 – Onekama Days – Onekama
8/5-8/7 – Merrill Farm Fest – Merrill
8/5-8/7 – Buy Michigan Now Festival – Northville
8/5-8/7 – St. Mary Parish Fair – Milford
8/5-8/7 – Marine City Maritime Days – Marine City
8/5-8/7 – Dearborn Homecoming Festival – Dearborn
8/5-8/7 – Blue Water SandFest – Port Huron
8/5-8/7 – Farm Block Festival – Allouez
8/5-8/7 – Deckerville Homecoming – Deckerville
8/5-8/7 – Hispanic Festival – Grand Rapids
8/5-8/7 – Frankenmuth Flower Festival – Frankenmuth
8/6 – Hop Riot Beer Fest – Bay City
8/6 – Island Art Fair – Grand Ledge
8/6 – Pointe aux Barques Heritage Day Festival – Port Hope
8/6 – Waterfront Art Festival – Escanaba
8/6 – Straits Brew Bash (formerly Blues and Brew Festival) – St. Ignace
8/6 – Peace, Love and Hippies Summer Festival – Houghton Lake
8/6 – Good Times in Goodrich – Goodrich
8/6 – Tawas Uncork’d – East Tawas
8/6 – I Chews The Blues Fest – Davison
8/6 – TuscolaPalooza – Caro
8/6 – A Glimpse of Africa Festival – Grand Rapids
8/6 – Harrietta Blueberry Festival – Harrietta
8/6 – 906 Festival – Curtis
8/6 – Art in the Park – Lake Odessa
8/6-8/7 – Petoskey Antiques Show II – Petoskey
8/6-8/7 – Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival – Bangor Township
8/6-8/7 – Grand Blanc Summer Art Fair – Grand Blanc
8/6-8/7 – Glad-Peach Festival – Coloma
8/6-8/7 – Lexington Fine Arts Street Fair – Lexington
8/6-8/7 – Hippies at the Village Festival – Burton
NEW YORK
8/1 – Taste of Clarence and Cruise Night – Clarence
8/3 – Sad Summer Festival: Lewiston – Lewiston
8/3-8/7 – SENTIENT Fest – Moravia
8/4-8/6 – Puerto Rican Festival of Rochester – Rochester
8/4-8/7 – Eden Corn Festival – Eden
8/4-8/7 – Holy Helpers Summerfest – West Seneca
8/4-8/7 – Lima Crossroads Festival – Lima
8/4-8/7 – Zoomagination: The Festival of Lanterns and Lights X – Buffalo
8/4-8/7 – Phelps Sauerkraut Weekend – Phelps
8/5-8/6 – Block Party (Lucille Ball Comedy Festival) – Jamestown
8/5-8/6 – Watkins Glen Italian American Festival – Watkins Glen
8/5-8/7 – Buffalo’s Country Music Festival – Akron
8/5-8/7 – St. George Macedonian Festival – Syracuse
8/5-8/7 – Spiediefest and Balloon Rally Expo– Binghamton
8/5-8/7 – America’s Grape Country Wine Festival – Dunkirk
Weekend continues below…
8/6 – DeWitt Canal Day – DeWitt
8/6 – Village Music Fest – Youngstown
8/6 – Fox Fest – Syracuse
8/6 – Howl in the Hills – Holland
8/6 – Oliver Street Art Festival – North Tonawanda
8/6 – Cayuga Waterfront Festival – Cayuga
8/6 – Sherman Day – Sherman
8/6 – Bark Bash – East Aurora
8/6 – Arts Off Main Festival (formerly Arts and Wine Festival) – Cortland
8/6 – Jack Craft Fair – Buffalo
8/6 – Oswego Dragon Boat Festival – Oswego
8/6-8/7 – Chalkfest Buffalo -Buffalo
8/6-8/7 – Fox Run Vineyards Garlic Festival – Penn Yan
8/6-8/7 – Angelica Heritage Days – Angelica
8/6-8/7 – Sterling Renaissance Festival VI – Sterling
8/7 – Pioneer Picnic – Perry
8/7 – Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic – Preble
NORTH CAROLINA
8/3-8/6 – North Carolina Watermelon Festival – Murfreesboro
8/4 – Outer Bank Watermelon Festival – Nags Head
8/4-8/6 – Ocracoke Fig Festival – Ocracoke
8/4-8/6 – Mountain Dance and Folk Festival – Asheville
8/4-8/6 – The Big What? – Pittsboro
8/5-8/6 – Reevestock Music Festival – Elkin
8/5-8/6 – Preddyfest Bluegrass Music Festival – Franklinton
8/5-8/6 – Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair – Burnsville
8/5-8/6 – Cary Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival – Cary
8/6 – Denton Watermelon Festival – Denton
8/6 – Sunflower Hippie Festival at Darnell Farms – Bryson City
8/6-8/7 – Arts and Craft Festival at Sapphire Valley II – Sapphire
8/6-8/7 – Art on the Greene III – Banner Elk
OHIO
Ohio Festivals can be found at ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/
PENNSYLVANIA
8/1-8/6 – McSummerFest II – McDonald
8/3-8/6 – St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
8/3-8/6 – St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Festival – Munhall
8/3-8/7 – Western Pennsylvania Balloon Quest – New Castle
8/4-8/6 – Dan Rice Days – Girard
8/4-8/6 – Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish Community Festival – Elizabeth
8/4-8/6 – Archangel Gabriel Catholic School Festival – McKees Rock
8/4-8/6 – Clarion Summer Fest III – Clarion
8/4-8/7 – Fort Armstrong Folk Festival – Kittanning
8/4-8/7 – Portersville Steam Show – Portersville
8/5 – Wampum Homecoming Weekend’s Car Cruise – Wampum
8/5-8/6 – Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair – Bellefonte
8/5-8/6 – Holy Spirit Parish Best of the Fest – New Castle
8/5-8/7 – Woodsmen Show – Galeton
8/5-8/7 – St. Jude Parish Festival – Pittsburgh
8/5-8/7 – St. Agnes Parish Bazaar – North Huntingdon
8/5-8/7 – Erie Blues and Jazz Festival – Erie
8/5-8/7 – The Moraine State Park Regatta at Lake Arthur – Portersville
8/6 – Brews Bands and Bikes – Mercer
8/6 – Thunder in the City Classic Car and Bike Show – Meadville
8/6 – WineStock at Christian W. Klay Winery – Chalkhill
8/7 – August Fun Fest – Belle Vernon
8/7 – Holy Sepulcher Summerfest – Butler
8/7 – Taste of Franklin – Franklin
SOUTH CAROLINA
8/5 – Brew at the Zoo – Columbia
8/6 – Goose Creek Kids Fest – Goose Creek
8/6 – BBQ and Sweet Tea Festival – Aiken
8/6 – North Main Commons Craft Beer Festival – Anderson
TENNESSEE
8/5 – East Nashville Night Market VII – Nashville
8/5-8/6 – Subterranea Festival – Pelham
8/6 – Clay County Museum Festival – Celina
8/6 – Tennessee Smokies BeerFest – Kodak
8/6 – Memphis Chicken and Beer Festival – Memphis
8/6 – Sumner Fest – Hendersonville
8/6 – Festival of the Nations – Nashville
WEST VIRGINIA
8/1-8/6 – Cherry River Festival – Richwood
8/2-8/6 – Pickin’ in Parsons – Parsons
8/3-8/7 – Appalachian String Band Festival – Clifftop
8/4 – Celebrate Youth Festival – Wheeling
8/4-8/6 – 8 Rivers Rally – Marlinton
8/4-8/7 – Ravenswood Ohio River Festival – Ravenswood
8/5-8/6 – Lewisburg Literary Festival – Lewisburg
8/5-8/6 – Pinch Reunion – Pinch
8/5-8/6 – War Summer Festival – War
8/5-8/7 – Multifest – Charleston
8/5-8/7 – West Virginia Peach Festival – Romney
8/6 – Cryptid Bash – Morgantown
8/6 – Saint Albans Heritage Festival – Saint Albans
8/6 – Lurchfest – Philippi
WISCONSIN
8/1-8/7 – Iron County Heritage Days II – Hurley
8/2 – National Night Out – Eau Claire
8/3 – Loon Day – Mercer
8/4-8/6 – County Line Country Fest – Prairie Du Chien
8/4-8/6 – Blues on the Chippewa – Durand
8/4-8/7 – Mile of Music – Appleton
8/5 – Sad Summer Festival: Milwaukee – Milwaukee
8/5-8/6 – Sugar Maple Music Festival – Madison
8/5-8/6 – Johnsonville Brat Days – Sheboygan
8/5-8/6 – Onalaska Community Days – Onalaska
8/5-8/6 – Peacetree Music Festival – Kenosha
8/5-8/6 – Whitewater Maxwell Street Days – Whitewater
8/5-8/7 – Mishicot Riverfest – Mishicot
8/5-8/7 – DAS Fest USA – Elkhorn
8/5-8/7 – Tribute Island Music Festival – Kenosha
8/5-8/7 – Door County Classic and Wooden Boat Festival – Sturgeon Bay
8/5-8/7 – DeerFest – West Bend
8/5-8/7 – Scandinavia Corn Roast – Scandinavia
8/5-8/7 – St. Peter’s Family Festival – Kenosha
8/5-8/7 – Menominee Nation Contest Powwow – Keshena
8/5-8/7 – Flambeau Rama – Park Falls
Weekend continues below…
8/6 – Deerbrook Rumble – Gleason
8/6 – National Mustard Day – Middleton
8/6 – Root Beer Bash – Glendale
8/6 – Testicle Festival at Pine River Inn – Yuba
8/6 – Dodgeville Dodgefest – Dodgeville
8/6 – Black Arts Fest MKE – Milwaukee
8/6 – Fire Fest – New Glarus
8/6 – Jacksonport Cherry Fest – Jacksonport
8/6 – Waupun Fine Art and Craft Fair – Waupun
8/6 – Ellison Bay Goes Hog Wild – Ellison Bay
8/6-8/7 – Bristol Renaissance Faire V – Kenosha
8/6-8/7 – St. Mary’s Sauerkraut Festival – Bear Creek
8/6-8/7 – Tallman Arts Festival – Janesville
8/7 – Starving Artist Fair – Racine
8/7 – Fireman’s Picnic – Three Lakes
8/7 – Puerto Rican Festival – Milwaukee
8/7 – St. John-Sacred Heart Parish Car Show and Picnic – Sherwood
8/7 – St. Mesrob Armenian Fest – Racine
8/7 – Brewtown Rumble – Milwaukee
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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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