Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, Outdoor Experience join list of canceled festivals

We will continue to update this story as we learn about more impacted festivals and fairs. With news changing quickly, please check event sites and/or with organizers to verify events are still on before making plans to attend.

LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ohio Sauerkraut Festival

The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival has been canceled.

On June 24, the festival committee announced the decision to cancel the 51st annual event, one of Warren County’s biggest tourist draws and the key source of income for local non-profits and small businesses.

The festival was canceled “due to health concerns for the coronavirus pandemic. The health concerns for the public were of top priority and it has become difficult to produce a safe and successful show for the community, guests, merchants, vendors, and non-profit food groups,” according to Thursday’s announcement.

“We understand that this will stir many emotions, and we want all of our participants to understand this decision was truly one made with heavy hearts, but with the best intentions in mind for all involved.”

>> One of fall’s biggest festivals — Ohio Sauerkraut Festival — canceled

Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience

Five Rivers MetroParks has canceled this year’s Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience, Dayton’s two-day celebration of the outdoors.   The annual event was scheduled for Oct. 3 and 4 at Eastwood MetroPark.

Safety concerns for MetroPark’s staff, volunteers and the community during the pandemic led to the cancellation, according to a press release.

The event has many hands-on activities such as fly fishing, paddling and climbing that require shared equipment that cannot be easily sanitized and instruction that makes social distancing impossible.

>> Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience —a celebration of the outdoors — is canceled

South Vienna Corn Festival

This year’s annual event was scheduled for Sept. 11-13.

Beyond the celebration of sweet corn, the annual celebration includes cornhole, cook-offs, crafts a parade and entertainment.

The village of South Vienna plans to return its corn festival in 2021. For more information, head to the festival's website.

Holiday at Home Festival

The festival was set to take place, as it does every other year, over the Labor Day weekend, from Sept. 6-7.  Each year, this Labor Day celebration features a parade, a 5K, an arts and craft show, an auto show, children’s activities, live music and more. Each year, more than 100,000 spectators flock to Kettering to enjoy this festival.

Plans for the 2021 Holiday at Home parade and festival are already in the works, and event organizers hope that it will be the best version of the Labor Day celebration to date.

For more information about the Holiday at Home cancellation, and to stay up-to-date on all future announcements, visit the event's website or Facebook page.

Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest

Originally set for Saturday, July 11, the Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest was hosted by the Miami Valley Restaurant Association and Fraze Pavilion. This cancellation is a part of a bigger series of cancellations at Fraze Pavilion.

Typically, the Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest celebrates the community’s love of chicken wings and live music. No plans have been announced regarding the future of the festival.

For more information about the Kickin' Chicken Wing Fest, head to Fraze Pavilion's website.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

Jewish Cultural Festival

After being initially rescheduled to a later date on Aug. 9, 2020, the Jewish Cultural Festival, put on by Temple Israel in Dayton, has been canceled. The celebration of Jewish art, food and ritual has been postponed to the summer of 2021. There is no specific date set for next year’s celebrations.

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“The health and safety of our community is our top priority,” said Courtney Cummings, music and program director at Temple Israel, in a press release. “Although we cannot gather this summer, we are looking forward to coming together again next year to celebrate and share our Jewish culture and tradition with the entire Miami Valley.”

Despite the cancellation of the festival, the accompanying Oy Vey 5K is now being held as a virtual event. Those who wish to participate in the event can create their own routes and can sign up by visiting racesignup.com.

For more information about Temple Israel and the Jewish Cultural Festival, head to their website and Facebook page. 

Enon Apple Butter Festival

This year, Enon would have been celebrating its 41st Enon Apple Butter Festival, but, due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the popular event has been canceled. Originally scheduled to take place on Oct. 10 and 11, the festival usually gathers a large crowd of people looking to revel in apple butter in its various forms.

No dates have been set for next year’s celebrations.

For more information about the Enon Apple Butter Festival, visit the Enon Community Historical Society's website.

Americana Festival

Just last week, the Centerville-Washington Township Americana Festival Board of Trustees announced via Facebook that the locally-beloved Americana Festival, set to take place on July 3 and 4, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This includes the cancellation of all Americana Festival-related events, including the fireworks display, 5K run, parade, street fair, auto show and children’s area activities.

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"The safety and health of our guests, volunteers, staff, performers, vendors and entire community is our first priority," said Americana Festival president Arno Weller on Facebook. "Our volunteer committee has been planning this event for months, so we understand the community's disappointment."

Despite this cancellation, the board looks forward to rescheduling the fireworks display for a later date.

For more information about the cancellation of the Americana Festival, pay a visit to the festival's Facebook page or website.

City of Fairborn July 4 Parade and Fireworks

The city of Fairborn has officially announced the cancellation of its annual Fourth of July festivities, including the accompanying block party scheduled for July 3 and parade and fireworks display set to take place on July 4.

"We were looking forward to celebrating America's independence with the entire community, but our primary concern continues to be the health, safety, and welfare of our residents, employees, and visitors," said the City of Fairborn in a Facebook post.

For over 70 years, the city of Fairborn has celebrated the Fourth of July with a large parade and fireworks display, and the event’s organizers hope to be able to at least reschedule the fireworks display for a later date in 2020.

For more information about this cancellation, pay a visit to the festival's Facebook page.

Troy Strawberry Festival

On April 3, the Strawberry Festival Board of Directors announced that they would be canceling the 2020 Troy Strawberry Festival, originally scheduled to take place on June 6 and 7 in downtown Troy. For decades, the Troy Strawberry Festival has offered its dedicated following a festive parade, treats and local goods all centered around the delicious strawberry. (We'll especially be missing the strawberry donuts). To stay up to date on the latest news regarding the Troy Strawberry Festival, follow them on Facebook.

>> Troy Strawberry Festival canceled due to coronavirus concerns

Yellow Springs June Street Fair

The June installation of the Yellow Springs Street Fair, originally set to take place on Saturday, June 13, has been canceled. The festival, which takes place in downtown Yellow Springs, features an assortment of over 200 arts, crafts and food vendors, two music stages, a beer garden and street performers. Luckily, fans of the Yellow Springs Street Fair can look forward to the fall version of this popular event, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 10. For more information about the Yellow Springs Street Fair, pay a visit to the fair's website.

>> Yellow Springs’ whimsical and wondrous street fair canceled

Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival

Though organizers of the Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival had originally hoped to reschedule this local favorite, it appears as though, at least for the time being, that the event is canceled. Originally taking place from April 24-26, the Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival is a local celebration of the Sugar Maple tree, featuring live entertainment, food, beer from local breweries and, of course, you guessed it — Ohio-made maple syrup. For more information about the festival, check out its Facebook page.

>> EVENT CANCELLATIONS: What’s canceled or postponed in area due to coronavirus concerns

Wright State International Festival

Wright State University’s International Festival, an annual event that celebrates the beauty of the university’s international community, is canceled due to coronavirus concerns. The celebration, originally set to take place on Saturday, April 25, typically features cultural performances, cultural cuisines, international beers, live music, a flag parade and much more.

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2020 Hamvention

Fans of amateur radio equipment, technology, computer software and hardware and hard-to-find radio and computer equipment were all set to enjoy the more than 3,000 indoor and outdoor exhibits at the 2020 Hamvention until organizers decided against moving forward with the large event, due to coronavirus concerns. The convention, held in Xenia, was set to take place over the weekend of May 15-17. For the latest information about the Hamvention, pay a visit to the Dayton Hamvention website. 

St. Brigid Parish Festival

Similar to many other festivals and events on this list, the St. Brigid Parish Festival is a major fundraiser for its organizers, the St. Brigid Catholic Church in Xenia. For years, attendees have been able to indulge in festival food, rides, bingo and live music at this community festival. Though the event, originally scheduled to take place over the weekend of May 15-17 is canceled, people can still make donations to the church by visiting their website.

Spring Fest in the Burg

Every year, Daytonians flock to this celebration of local arts and crafts in Miamisburg, Due to the pandemic, organizers of the event have decided to cancel the festival and accompanying Spring Fling parade and carnival, originally scheduled to take place Saturday, May 16.

Bunbury Music Festival

The ninth annual Bunbury Music Festival has been canceled with no plans of postponing festivities to a later date in 2020. The festival was originally set to take place over the weekend of June 5-7. Each year, the popular music festival takes place in downtown Cincinnati and features an assortment of alternative and mainstream acts. This year, the festival's headliners included Twenty One Pilots, Marshmello, The Avett Brothers and Angels & Airwaves. For more information about the Bunbury Music Festival, visit bunburyfestival.com.

Aullwood Farm Babies Festival

Organizers of the Aullwood Audobon's 2020 Farm Babies Fest, originally scheduled to take place on May 16 and 17 at Aullwood's Farm, have decided to cancel the popular event. For 16 years, the festival has been a favorite of local families and friends as they meet new (and adorable) farm babies and enjoy other activities like music, wagon rides, local crafts and delicious food trucks. To stay up to date on all things Aullwood, follow them on Facebook. 

ARTFest on Main 2020

On April 9, the organizers of Springboro's ARTFest on Main, a fine arts festival featuring artisans, musicians, children's activities and food trucks, announced that the popular Dayton arts institution was being canceled due to coronavirus concerns. The event was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 20. The next ARTFest is set to take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021. To keep up to date on ARTFest happenings, be sure to follow the festival on Facebook.

Taco Fiesta 2020

Originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 14, in Lincoln Park, the Taco Fiesta was set to feature tacos from a number of local restaurants like Amber Rose, El Meson and Basil’s on Market.

Along with a number of delicious taco offerings, the festival was going to feature the musical rhythms of jazz, meringue, calypso, bembe, cha cha, samba and bossa nova. To stay up to date on the latest news concerning the Taco Fiesta, head to the Fraze Pavilion's Facebook page.

Dayton Celtic Festival

That's right, folks - one of Dayton's most beloved festivals has been cancelled. The Dayton Celtic Festival, originally taking place Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26 at RiverScape MetroPark, has been cancelled with no plans to reschedule for later in the year. Fans of the cultural celebration can look forward to next year's festival, taking place between July 30 and August 1. For more information, visit the festival's Facebook page.

Fleurs de Fete

Dayton’s oldest and largest wine-themed outdoor festival will not happen in 2020, according to a draft announcement from its host, Dayton History.

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The Fleurs de Fete had been scheduled for May 17 at Carillon Park. It would have been the 29th year of the event, which draws hundreds of people to outdoor tents to sample from among 400-plus wines, dozens of beers, and specialty dishes served up by 20 Dayton-area restaurants and caterers.

St. Helen Spring Festival

Originally scheduled for the weekend of June 5-7, the popular St. Helen Spring Festival has been canceled, though the accompanying raffle is still being held virtually. Despite this cancellation, festival organizers are still asking those who can to purchase a ticket for the annual festival raffle that supports the parish. The $10,000 grand raffle drawing and two $1,000 prize offerings will be held at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 on the festival's website. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25. If you have any additional questions about the raffle drawing, email sthelenfestival@gmail.com. 

Patriot Freedom Festival

The Patriot Freedom Festival, which gives festivalgoers an annual interaction with local veterans at the Dayton VA Medical Center Campus, has been canceled. This decision was made after determining that the festival, originally scheduled to be held on May 23 and 24, would pose a critical risk to the veterans. For more information about this cancellation, pay a visit to the festival's Facebook page. 

St. Christopher Summer Festival

This church festival, held at St. Christopher Parish in Vandalia, has been canceled due to threats posed by the coronavirus. Organizers have announced the dates for the 2021 St. Christopher Summer Festival: June 11-13, 2021. For more information, pay a visit to the festival's Facebook page.

Rock ‘N’ Green Tomato Festival

This ode to food, rock 'n' roll and community, originally set to take place on June 12 and 13 in downtown Miamisburg's Riverfront Park, has been canceled with a promise to have even more entertainment at the next annual festival in 2021. For more information about the Rock 'n' Green Tomato Festival, pay a visit to its Facebook page.

Waynesville Street Faire

The first installment of the Waynesville Street Faire, to be held on Saturday, June 6, has been canceled. Festival organizers are still going ahead with planning for the remaining installments of the popular street fair, taking place on July 18, Aug. 15 and Sep. 12. For more information about this Waynesville institution, check out the street fair's Facebook page.

Banana Split Festival

An old-fashioned affair with an emphasis on the classic banana split, Wilmington’s Banana Split Festival, originally set to take place on June 12 and 13, has been canceled.

"As a 25-year tradition, it was a difficult decision to cancel," said Marian Miller, chairman of the 2020 Banana Split Festival, on the event's Facebook page. "Our decision was made from an abundance of caution for the safety of our volunteers, guests, and vendors, as well as practicality."

Despite the cancellation of the festival, famous for its games, rides and “make your own” banana split booth, organizers hope to have an ice cream social at some point in July or August.

If you have a closing to report, please email us at contact @dayton.com to share your event updates.