The parade at Peninsula Python Days
Springtime can only mean one thing: It’s the beginning of festival season in Ohio, a time when there’s a celebration to honor just about any hobby, haute cuisine, and historical happening in hamlets across the state. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting festivals happening this spring and summer.
Peninsula Python Days
For laugh-out-loud, small-town unusual, head to Peninsula on July 15, when a python leads the parade at Peninsula Python Days. A 100-foot-long, people-powered creation of a fabric covered frame, leads a parade celebrating that June day in 1944, when farmer Clarence Mitchell saw a python slither through his corn field.
The snake, rumored to be up to 22 feet long, had escaped from a circus wagon passing through town — or maybe not. Even though several people throughout the Cuyahoga Valley claimed to see the python throughout the summer — one woman said it swallowed her chicken whole — the reptile was never caught. Regardless of legend or truth, Peninsula residents have turned that bit of small-town folklore into a festival of family fun.
Along with the parade, Peninsula celebrates its lore with python-themed handmade lawn decorations and a variety of python-themed activities. Head to the library to play Peninsula Python Pandemonium, color pages of Peninsula Python ABC, and check out the mural that depicts the python’s legend. There are more Peninsula Python lore and activities at the Cuyahoga Valley Historical Museum and various businesses.
— Jamie Rhein
Ohio Bigfoot Conference and Festival
Bigfoot (or Sasquatch) is closely associated with the Pacific Northwest, but there have been thousands of sightings reported in Ohio and nearby states. If you’re a Bigfoot believer, or even just curious about the subject, the annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference is the place to be.
The event, which began in 2012, features lectures and appearances by a number of nationally known Bigfoot experts and researchers, including this year’s master of ceremonies, Cliff Barackman, co-host of Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” series. Also on hand will be Canton native Robert W. Morgan, a Bigfoot expert who gained notoriety in the 1970s and 1980s through his appearances in documentaries and the TV program “In Search Of.” The conference also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the renowned Patterson-Gimlin film, taken along Bluff Creek in California.
There will be a number of fun events, including hikes and a vendor fair offering a variety of Sasquatch swag, including books, T-shirts, artwork, and even Bigfoot chainsaw sculptures.
The formal conference is followed by the Ohio Bigfoot Festival on Sunday in the picnic area at Salt Fork State Park. The festival includes hands-on demonstrations and clinics on everything from how to cast a footprint in plaster to the proper use of audio/video recording devices and other gear used for Bigfoot spotting.
— Brian Albright
Summer Solstice Lavender Festival
Lavender is one of the most beloved herbs for its natural healing qualities, its delicate flavor in cooking, and its prettiness in gardens and floral arrangements.
The versatile herb will be celebrated in June at the ninth-annual Summer Solstice Lavender Festival at Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm in Martinsville. Activities include food demonstrations, wreath-making, and medication exercises, coupled with the inhalation of the scent of essential oils.
“The festival presents the best time to step into a field of blooming lavender for instant relaxation and amazing photo opportunities,” says Kym Prell, owner of Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm, and a certified reflexologist.
Peaceful Acres offers a 2-acre lavender field and walking trails on a 10-acre plot. There’s also an onsite gift shop, where folks can find plenty of lavender-related merchandise. Visitors may pay to pick blooming lavender at the farm from May through September.
Prime blooming season is in June, during the festival. “Our farm was created to offer a healing, relaxing space for anyone who wants to visit,” Prell says. “We created the festival to share the amazing feeling you get while standing in a fully blooming field.”
— Wendy Pramik
Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival
No town loves brats more than Bucyrus, a.k.a. “The Bratwurst Capital of America.” The Crawford County seat not only has a strong German heritage, but it also serves as the hub for a county-wide cluster of sausage-makers. Every August, Bucyrus celebrates its signature food with a three-day festival on the streets surrounding the town square. The family-friendly fun includes parades, rides, entertainment ranging from tribute bands to polka tunes, and, of course, plenty of tasty, locally made bratwurst links sizzling on grills.
“Our bratwurst producers use family recipes for authentic German bratwurst that have been handed down through the generations,” says Assistant Festival Director Kevin Myers.
The Bratwurst Festival started in 1968, and now ranks among Ohio’s best-attended community events, routinely attracting 100,000 people. In addition to its time-honored beer-stein auction, this year’s 50th Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival features four food-eating contests: bratwurst, ice cream, pizza, and German-style jumbo cream puffs. “The festival is a deep-rooted tradition and a great way to enjoy friends and family while experiencing the sounds of German music and the wonderful smell of bratwurst,” Myers says.
—Damaine Vonada
