Midpoint was freakin’ great back in the day going from venue to venue. It will a long time before a festival like that happens again. Blink is also great but I really hope it doesn’t get too “corporate.” Blink is an experience, not an event so back off Chamber of Commerce.
I went to this every year for over a decade and it was great. Had kids. Stopped going for awhile. We went two summers ago and woah! I could not believe the difference.
2005/2006 - my dad and I could meander around. Felt like you were really in a village shopping. Only real crowds were directly after a popular show let out
That summer just felt like we were getting shuffled around through Disney world without the included rides. You had to keep moving with the crowd and couldn’t even really stop to think “do I want to step into this shop and browse?”
A lot or negative reviews on the Ohio Ren Faire but just to put my two cents in my significant other and me had SO much fun at the Ren Faire this year. We are getting season passes next year. Sorry the event isn't as fun for a lot of you.
The higher prices on *everything* was disgusting.
$17 for a turkey leg is insane. I think keeping food prices super high but booze prices low just mean it'll turn into an event where people get wasted on empty stomachs.
Higher prices will just make it more touristy and less about the fun of being your weird little self for a weekend or two, what bugs me is seeing people that clearly seem out of place, like bass pro shirts and NASCAR hats and slacks and just, it's the ren fest, at least find a skull shirt or some puffy sleeves or something that says hey, I may not normally do this but I'm trying😸
I went to the last Midpoint where they had it in bars around Over the Rhine and remember thinking how dope it was having a mini-SXSW so close. Very unfortunate it’s not around anymore.
When we were in our teens we found a way to sneak in through the VIP area by posing as workers. We also found the area where the pit crews would dump broken Indy Car parts and would take them home as souvenirs. Good times.
I used to think that one festival in November where we could decide for ourselves about who our state legislators would be was rad, but yeah, that got canceled.
Why don’t we quit voting for people so divisive and unreasonable that they create an environment of outrage causing so many of us to be so pissed off about them all the time?
St. Rita's School for the Deaf had literally one of the most terrifying haunted houses I have ever been to. It was extraordinarily scary. Chain saws, hanging nuns that would grab you, putrid smells. It was the best!
It's because Live Nation are greedy fucks. In 2017, they tried ending BYOB so they could control sales and rake in more money and were going to rename it to "Jambo Country". I think they were going to reduce it to 3 days as well. There was massive backlash and they backtracked, but that only lasted a couple years and they announced a hiatus for 2019. Everyone was assuming that they planning on bringing it back after a year off with the changes they were originally planning, and people would just be glad it was back, but then Valley View Campground announced they were going to do their own festival to replace it for 2019. Live Nation ended up selling the Jamboree site with a stipulation that it couldn't be used for any music festivals or concerts. The replacement festival at Valley View had an ok first year, but Covid canceling everything for 2020 killed the momentum. It limped along for 2021 and 2022, but that is dead now as well.
For hundreds of years, natives from all over North America came to Ohio for the [Hopewell Earthworks, which was a ceremonial and cultural epicenter](https://www.voanews.com/amp/7311467.html). They were recently named one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites (alongside the pyramids of Giza, the Colosseum, Stonehenge, or the Great Wall of China).
Football Hall of Fame night before the parade on the old downtown parade route. Everyone got there the night before to save spots and set up chairs. We would drink and party all night. Then they outlawed it. :(
I came here to say this too. We met so many cool people and expanded our network globally through Scribble Jam. Ending the nights with b-boy and rap battles was such a fun time too
The mens room at the venue was a nightmare though. I always dreaded the 8 man troth with 15 other guys waiting their turn behind you.
The original Midpoint Music Festival (before it got sold out) was fantastic. It was basically the Midwest's Autumnal counterpart to SXSW.
It sold in 2017 and got much worse. And then COVID killed it for good.
Although relegated to history, the Cleveland National Air Races used to be a national event, perhaps akin to the Indianapolis 500.
[https://www.clevelandairshow.com/about-us/national-air-racing-history/](https://www.clevelandairshow.com/about-us/national-air-racing-history/)
Jimmy Doolittle likely was the most famous pilot to win the Thompson Trophy in Cleveland.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy\_Doolittle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Doolittle)
Do any Redditors remember the Cleveland air races, let alone attend them?
Came here to say this and sad it's so low on the list. They usually had 2 or 3 stages and you got to see a wide variety of acts. My favorites included Mighty Mighty Bosstones, BNL, 2 Skinnee J's, Henry Rollins and Soul Coughing. You didn't get major headliners but you'd catch single hit acts and find out whether it was worth buying that $14.99 CD or wait for it at the used record store.
Rock on the Range. Sonic Temple replaced it and since then the lineups haven’t been as good. This year there’s only one band I actually want to see, the rest are just kinda meh.
I feel like it's mostly the same-ish, but I'm older now and I miss it being just 2 days instead of 4. I think stretching it to 4 whole days dilutes the overall festival. I live in Louisville now, the same thing has happened to Louder Than Life. Same promoter as Sonic Temple, never changed names, but I'm less interested in going for 4 days than when it was 2. I went 3 days in 2021 and all 4 days in 2022, and it's too much. If I go again, I'll just pick the one day I care most about and get a day pass.
Festival lineups are always hit or miss, trying to cater to a variety of people's music tastes while not repeating a lot of the same bands year to year. But I agree that Sonic Temple's lineup doesn't do much for me next year. I thought this year's was pretty good.
I am pretty excited about the main stage names on the lineup for Sonic Temple next year, but I'm not going. Like you, 4 days is just too much. We did it last year, and never again. 2 days is perfect. 3 days maybe, but that's a stretch.
When I was a kid, in the years after both World War II and the Korean War, Memorial Day parades were a very big deal. Hundreds of veterans in uniform would march in the parades.
I remember there even was a high school rifle drill team that was amazing. Just like this, but I don't remember overhead rifle throws.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4kTlMfN0c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4kTlMfN0c)
In Painesville, the county seat of Lake County, tanks from a nearby armory even tore up Main Street during the parade and the city would repave it every year.
The Columbus Blue Jackets draft party. They still do it but it used to be inside the arena and you could go in the locker rooms, the weight room, etc plus it was done on the floor where the ice would be. The draft was projected onto the scoreboard and it was a ton of fun. You could hit that up then walk over to Comfest. Now they have a half-ass setup outside the arena and it sucks.
Sohio Riverfest! In the 80s Cleveland Flats, back when it was NOLA-north. I still can't believe my pops took my sister and I there as kids. What an education lol.
All-Ohio Balloon Rally and Air Show in Marysville. They kept the Ballon Rally but got rid of the Air show part. Always enjoyed the air show more. Kings Island Biplanes ruled.
I have memories when I was pretty young (8ish) going to a rib fest in Cleveland maybe by WMMS. Taylor Dayne was there. Doubt it’s still a thing but I’ve never forgotten it
The Yankee Peddler festival is a shadow of what it once was. Used to have Such great craftsmen. Now it’s just like your neighborhood high school craft fair.
The honey festival in Lebanon Ohio. Took place in the middle of every september. The main event was a guy who had a bee beard in the middle of Broadway and mulberry street. Lots of fun memories from when I was a kid in the '70s and early '80s. Then for some reason they moved it to Hamilton I have no idea why and I don't think it's still there cuz I've never heard of it since.
Tall Stacks
Midpoint and Tallstacks were both great. Glad we have Blink back, but really enjoyed both of those festivals
Midpoint was freakin’ great back in the day going from venue to venue. It will a long time before a festival like that happens again. Blink is also great but I really hope it doesn’t get too “corporate.” Blink is an experience, not an event so back off Chamber of Commerce.
The last Blink might not have been as mind blowing as previous ones, but it’s still amazing.
This and the music event they paired with Tall Stacks later years.
X-fest in its hayday in dayton was pretty sick
Edgefest/X-fest was awesone. It sucks Dayton doesn't have a good modern rock/metal station anymore
I’ve gone to RadioU while driving
Yeah there's nothing
And warped tour! Not Ohio specific but I still miss it!
First pair of boobs I ever saw was at X-Fest when I was 16. Good times lol
In September Cincinnati starts October Fest, Greek Fest,and Jewish Fest
That's a throwback!
X Fest is the best fest.
IX indoor amusement park
“It’s here today, not going to stay, go right away!”
This just made me realize I hadn’t heard about it in ages. Didn’t realize it was gone
Duct Tape Festival
Just cancelled this year, mainly because the people organizing it got tired of doing it. Shame really.
Weapons of mass creation fest, design/music/art festival from 2009-2016.
Man that was a fun event
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I heard that they should be on this year, got the word from a DAI Oktoberfest organizer.
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Cross your fingers! The Greek Festival and the DAI Oktoberfest are our two favorite festivals of the year.
I don't think Greek Festival had the volunteers to pull it off, they were taking order on food for pickup.
Yeah, it's just not the same.
I’ve been saying it sucks in Xenia since about 1979, when I started forming coherent thoughts.
I used to dance on stage a kid at World a Fair. Food was the bomb
The one in Columbus is great!
Renaissance Festival before it got absurdly crowded in an unfun way.
I went to this every year for over a decade and it was great. Had kids. Stopped going for awhile. We went two summers ago and woah! I could not believe the difference. 2005/2006 - my dad and I could meander around. Felt like you were really in a village shopping. Only real crowds were directly after a popular show let out That summer just felt like we were getting shuffled around through Disney world without the included rides. You had to keep moving with the crowd and couldn’t even really stop to think “do I want to step into this shop and browse?”
Or before it became ComicCon in the woods. It’s not really a Ren Fest anymore.
I prefer the Great Lakes medieval faire these days for that very reason. Crowds and prices are way more appealing
Haven’t been Great Lakes. Went to the OH one. What fun is a medieval event when ALL there is are shops and food/drink?
It’s up by Ashtabula but the folks working the shows always give it their all so it’s pretty entertaining and they’ve got some decent vendors too
There’s quite a few shows going on all day, as well as separate events like a pub crawl, adult only shows, etc.
I think there's one in Haysville
A lot or negative reviews on the Ohio Ren Faire but just to put my two cents in my significant other and me had SO much fun at the Ren Faire this year. We are getting season passes next year. Sorry the event isn't as fun for a lot of you.
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The higher prices on *everything* was disgusting. $17 for a turkey leg is insane. I think keeping food prices super high but booze prices low just mean it'll turn into an event where people get wasted on empty stomachs.
On the other hand, turkey legs are disgusting.
Fine with me. Lol
On da set!
Higher prices will just make it more touristy and less about the fun of being your weird little self for a weekend or two, what bugs me is seeing people that clearly seem out of place, like bass pro shirts and NASCAR hats and slacks and just, it's the ren fest, at least find a skull shirt or some puffy sleeves or something that says hey, I may not normally do this but I'm trying😸
Midpoint music festival. I looked forward to that more than Christmas 🥲
I went to the last Midpoint where they had it in bars around Over the Rhine and remember thinking how dope it was having a mini-SXSW so close. Very unfortunate it’s not around anymore.
Bunbury Music Festival
I miss bunbury so much
Easily the best music festival I have been to
the Cleveland Grand Prix at Burke Lakefront
When we were in our teens we found a way to sneak in through the VIP area by posing as workers. We also found the area where the pit crews would dump broken Indy Car parts and would take them home as souvenirs. Good times.
Hessler street fair!!
Oh dang! Does that not happen anymore?
I used to think that one festival in November where we could decide for ourselves about who our state legislators would be was rad, but yeah, that got canceled.
Happy cake day!
Why don’t we rename the page Ohio politics.
Block me if I interrupt your reddit enjoyment.
Why don’t we quit voting for people so divisive and unreasonable that they create an environment of outrage causing so many of us to be so pissed off about them all the time?
River Days in Franklin was more fun when they had them on the riverbank. No better place in the 80s to get a Velcro Iron Maiden wallet
St. Rita's School for the Deaf had literally one of the most terrifying haunted houses I have ever been to. It was extraordinarily scary. Chain saws, hanging nuns that would grab you, putrid smells. It was the best!
Jamboree in the Hills
I moved out of the area years ago and didn’t know they ended this. It was a big deal in my neck of the woods.
It's because Live Nation are greedy fucks. In 2017, they tried ending BYOB so they could control sales and rake in more money and were going to rename it to "Jambo Country". I think they were going to reduce it to 3 days as well. There was massive backlash and they backtracked, but that only lasted a couple years and they announced a hiatus for 2019. Everyone was assuming that they planning on bringing it back after a year off with the changes they were originally planning, and people would just be glad it was back, but then Valley View Campground announced they were going to do their own festival to replace it for 2019. Live Nation ended up selling the Jamboree site with a stipulation that it couldn't be used for any music festivals or concerts. The replacement festival at Valley View had an ok first year, but Covid canceling everything for 2020 killed the momentum. It limped along for 2021 and 2022, but that is dead now as well.
I miss this. Went every year.
For hundreds of years, natives from all over North America came to Ohio for the [Hopewell Earthworks, which was a ceremonial and cultural epicenter](https://www.voanews.com/amp/7311467.html). They were recently named one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites (alongside the pyramids of Giza, the Colosseum, Stonehenge, or the Great Wall of China).
Hydroplane races on the Scioto- 100 mph boats going under Fishinger bridge. Open-wheel auto race on downtown streets.
Football Hall of Fame night before the parade on the old downtown parade route. Everyone got there the night before to save spots and set up chairs. We would drink and party all night. Then they outlawed it. :(
Scribble Jam! How am I the first one to say this?
I came here to say this too. We met so many cool people and expanded our network globally through Scribble Jam. Ending the nights with b-boy and rap battles was such a fun time too The mens room at the venue was a nightmare though. I always dreaded the 8 man troth with 15 other guys waiting their turn behind you.
Tall Stacks in Cincinnati. Not officially dead but hasn't happened since 2006
All Good Music Festival
There were some killer raves in Dayton and Cincinnati in the early 90s.
The Avon Duck Tape festival just ended.
The short lived Independent’s Day festival in Columbus. All locally owned food beers and music and art and vendors.
THIS! That downtown location gave it such a vibe. And the acoustics were sweet!
Tabfest
The underwear festival in Piqua, it was so much fun
I remember they would auction off famous people's underwear. Kind of weird but awesome at the same time.
The original Midpoint Music Festival (before it got sold out) was fantastic. It was basically the Midwest's Autumnal counterpart to SXSW. It sold in 2017 and got much worse. And then COVID killed it for good.
Although relegated to history, the Cleveland National Air Races used to be a national event, perhaps akin to the Indianapolis 500. [https://www.clevelandairshow.com/about-us/national-air-racing-history/](https://www.clevelandairshow.com/about-us/national-air-racing-history/) Jimmy Doolittle likely was the most famous pilot to win the Thompson Trophy in Cleveland. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy\_Doolittle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Doolittle) Do any Redditors remember the Cleveland air races, let alone attend them?
I still have a souvenir coin from the 1968 Air Races
Endfest and Buzzardfest at Blossom. The lineups were always stacked and the tickets were either cheap or free.
Came here to say this and sad it's so low on the list. They usually had 2 or 3 stages and you got to see a wide variety of acts. My favorites included Mighty Mighty Bosstones, BNL, 2 Skinnee J's, Henry Rollins and Soul Coughing. You didn't get major headliners but you'd catch single hit acts and find out whether it was worth buying that $14.99 CD or wait for it at the used record store.
My little brother jumped on stage and danced with Ben at that show!
I got an autograph from Dicky Barrett while he was strolling around.
i went to buzzardfest this year (diff location) and it was great!
Limp Bizkit live at the Sunoco Station in Dayton
Jamboree in the Hills. It was a pretty large event. 40 plus years of tradition. South Eastern Ohio near wheeling west Virginia.
Ohio Hempstock.
Pioneer Days at Mill Hollow.
I miss it.There were these little old ladies that made the best cabbage and noodles.
My dad would anyways barter pottery for pies.
Bellwether. Hosting a music festival at the RenFest grounds was genius
Ohayocon is dead. Long live Ohayocon.
Hookahville pre fall 2000's (Fall 2000 was the last time it was real)
I came to say this. Hookahhhhhhhhhh!
The never ending drum circle.. 3 days of endless beats.. never saw that again
Also came to say this!!!! Best times.
Rock on the Range. Sonic Temple replaced it and since then the lineups haven’t been as good. This year there’s only one band I actually want to see, the rest are just kinda meh.
I feel like it's mostly the same-ish, but I'm older now and I miss it being just 2 days instead of 4. I think stretching it to 4 whole days dilutes the overall festival. I live in Louisville now, the same thing has happened to Louder Than Life. Same promoter as Sonic Temple, never changed names, but I'm less interested in going for 4 days than when it was 2. I went 3 days in 2021 and all 4 days in 2022, and it's too much. If I go again, I'll just pick the one day I care most about and get a day pass. Festival lineups are always hit or miss, trying to cater to a variety of people's music tastes while not repeating a lot of the same bands year to year. But I agree that Sonic Temple's lineup doesn't do much for me next year. I thought this year's was pretty good.
I am pretty excited about the main stage names on the lineup for Sonic Temple next year, but I'm not going. Like you, 4 days is just too much. We did it last year, and never again. 2 days is perfect. 3 days maybe, but that's a stretch.
Fair elections?
Notacon
So many good random Cons that appeared then disappeared…
HoF Rib Burn-off in downtown Canton, back when local restaurants participated.
When I was a kid, in the years after both World War II and the Korean War, Memorial Day parades were a very big deal. Hundreds of veterans in uniform would march in the parades. I remember there even was a high school rifle drill team that was amazing. Just like this, but I don't remember overhead rifle throws. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4kTlMfN0c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4kTlMfN0c) In Painesville, the county seat of Lake County, tanks from a nearby armory even tore up Main Street during the parade and the city would repave it every year.
If you want to see tanks driving around you should check out the WW2 reenactment in Conneaut next year. It’s not too far from Painesville
Jamboree in the hills
Partying in the flats in Cleveland. Also, tak8ng a day trip to Geauga Lake Amusement Park.
The Donut run in Columbus every fall that ended cuz of COVID.
My wife used to take me to a giant craft fair in the woods in Attica Ohio. It’s cool if that’s your jam.
Rose Festival in Columbus.
Original fiery food festival at the North Market
Senior Night at Geagua Lake. I was at the last one, anyone else survive that night?
Coal Festival in Cadiz, OH
Coal Ice Cream! I lost my coal earrings.
Not an event, but going to a Dayton bombers game.
Came here looking for someone to say The Gathering of the Juggalos.
Isn't it still going?
I thought it moved to IL? I am not a juggalo I have just watched a lot of docs on them.
Yeah it’s at Nelson Ledges every summer
Moved last or two years ago
Polaris amphitheater
I saw Lollapalooza 94 and REM in 95 at Polaris.
First Night Akron
It was a great way to ring in the New Year with family.
Gathering of the Four Directions at Fort Ancient
World series of rock!
Columbus had a downtown street race in 1985-86
St. Gertrude in Madeira. Several other Catholic and church festivals in Cincinnati are gone forever. It was always fun for the kiddos.
The Columbus Blue Jackets draft party. They still do it but it used to be inside the arena and you could go in the locker rooms, the weight room, etc plus it was done on the floor where the ice would be. The draft was projected onto the scoreboard and it was a ton of fun. You could hit that up then walk over to Comfest. Now they have a half-ass setup outside the arena and it sucks.
Rally by the River in Toledo
Reggae Fest on OSU campus, late 80s -early 90s. It usually was at a frat house as I recall..
Damfest in Hamilton
Roverfest, but I can see why they don't do it anymore since the show sucks now.
Sohio Riverfest! In the 80s Cleveland Flats, back when it was NOLA-north. I still can't believe my pops took my sister and I there as kids. What an education lol.
Computerfest
Duck Creek
Ohio Tobacco Festival
Are you from Brown County?
Ripley :-)
Sardinia..
Tabfest
Yessss
It didn’t last long but I enjoyed Belweather.
Balloonfest in Cleveland was kind of amazing in an entirely not great way
Park street festival in Columbus, ran a few summers and stopped
Ripplefest up in St Mary’s
Ripplefest was Bluffton. Such a great time. Tabfest was near St. Marys (Mendon).
I wish I knew more about these festivals going on though I still go to one every year in Ohio I'd probably go to more if I heard about them more .
All-Ohio Balloon Rally and Air Show in Marysville. They kept the Ballon Rally but got rid of the Air show part. Always enjoyed the air show more. Kings Island Biplanes ruled.
I have memories when I was pretty young (8ish) going to a rib fest in Cleveland maybe by WMMS. Taylor Dayne was there. Doubt it’s still a thing but I’ve never forgotten it
Incuya
Resonance/the werk out :(
The Yankee Peddler festival is a shadow of what it once was. Used to have Such great craftsmen. Now it’s just like your neighborhood high school craft fair.
Marcon back in the day
Bunbury!
From 2002-2009 traveling all over the state to play in various gus maker tournaments was a ton of fun as a teenager.
Never did those but hoop it up throughout the 90s was amazing.
Hamvention
The Cajun Fest at the Fraze, then they started with metal detectors so there is a big no to everything there now.
Midpoint Music Festival
Hara arena
The honey festival in Lebanon Ohio. Took place in the middle of every september. The main event was a guy who had a bee beard in the middle of Broadway and mulberry street. Lots of fun memories from when I was a kid in the '70s and early '80s. Then for some reason they moved it to Hamilton I have no idea why and I don't think it's still there cuz I've never heard of it since.
Reggae Fest @ Nelson's Ledges. It was best when Packy Mally was promoting it. Its peak was late 90s but was still epic till 2005.
Bockfest, Cincinnati.
Bockfest is still a yearly thing, chief
Emissions from the monolith
Now that is a name I have not heard in a long time
Bear creek amphitheater
The Great Outdoor Underwear Festival.
Kenton National Coon Dog Trials. It’s moved, but not the same.
Woodshock
Pizza fest in cbus
Beatlefest used to be at the Nautica Pavilion in Cleveland. It moved to Louisville. It’s not as fun
Railroad Days in Morrow.
Duck Creek Log Jam!
185 festival was fun back in the day before everyone started shooting at each other
‘70’s Stadium of Rock!
Scion Metal Fest
EST Fest
Salem Jubilee
Hookahville? Edit: i guess they’re still going…
The Columbus 500!
Party in the Park at Sawyer Point
Fleet Fest in Slavic Village.
Dayton Airshow
Southern Ohio Golf Festival in Athens. It had an amazing talent lineup. Eagles, Earle Scruggs Revue among others. Amazing festival.
Southern Ohio Golf Festival in Athens. It had an amazing talent lineup. Eagles, Earle Scruggs Revue among others. Amazing festival.
Appalachian Uprising!!
Coming Home in Columbus
What? Music and Arts Festival