Forget laying by the pool on labor day, you’ve done that all summer! Switch up your fall-kickoff celebrations with one of these cute festivals around Ohio. Bring the family to spend a peaceful day or weekend in one of Ohio’s quaint small towns, go back in time, or go to camp for an all out sporting event. The choice is yours!

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Amish Labor Day Sale & Cookout

960 Wheat Ridge Rd, West Union, Ohio

August 31, September 1 & 3, 2018 (Closed on Sunday the 2nd)

Have an interest in the furniture that is so finely crafted by the Amish? The Amish Labor Day Sale & Cookout is an event with free admission. The annual sale occurs at Miller’s, a store in the Amish community of Wheat Ridge that contains a bakery, furniture and bulk foods for sale. This Labor Day sale is 10 percent off all items in the store.

On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, there is a cookout benefit for the local Amish School. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, noodles, homemade fresh pie, ice cream to go with that warm piece of pie, and coffee and soft drinks. Later on in the fall, there is a Wheat Ridge  harvest festival October 12-14, 2018. If you miss the labor day sale and still want to shop for furniture, there’s a storewide 10 percent off sale November 23 and 24, 2018.

Ohio Renaissance Festival

Renaissance Park in Harveysburg, Ohio on State Route 73

Saturdays and Sundays from September 1 - October 28, 2018, 10:30am - 6pm

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is one of Ohio’s Premier Family events, an event that all ages can enjoy. Whether you dress up or not, it’s hard not to be entranced by the dedicated characters at this event. Each weekend is a different special, Labor Day weekend is the kickoff weekend with the special deal of buy one get one adult tickets.

At the festival, there are seven food and drink buildings where you can feast on giant turkey legs and bread bowl stews. The festival is populated by the artists selling their wares at over 130 arts and crafts shops, knights, stuntmen, and kings and queens, all located in the recreated 30-acre 16th century English village. What are you waiting for? Put your princess cap on.

YMCA Labor Day Family Getaway

2732 Co. Rd. 11, Bellefontaine, OH 43311

September 1 - 3, 2018

This event is for the active and outdoorsy families among us. The YMCA Labor Family getaway is located at Camp Wilson, a summer camp for kids and teens about an hour north of Columbus. The weekend is full of exciting activities to make the most of your holiday weekend. Get away from it all and choose from boating, canoeing, swimming, horseback riding, crafts, archery, a climbing wall, riflery, tennis, basketball, and more. Call to register at 937-593-9001.

Portsmouth River Days

Court Street Landing, Portsmouth, Ohio

August 30 - September 2, 2018

Portsmouth River Days is a free event located in the historic Boneyfiddle district of Portsmouth, Ohio. Each evening there is free live music beginning at 6 pm on the mainstage located right on the banks of the magnificent Ohio River. The event includes a parade, arts and crafts, an antique car show, and ends with a fireworks show. On the Sunday of labor day weekend, there will be kids activities in York Park at 3pm. The town of Portsmouth is surrounded by incredible natural beauty, situated between the Ohio and Scioto Rivers. The town’s website’s slogan is, “Where Southern Hospitality Begins.” Come and visit this small town at the intersection of north, south, and midwest.

Milan Melon Festival

September 1 - 3, 2018

Milan, Ohio

On the opposite side of the state, the 60th annual Milan Melon Festival is another free, small town festival featuring rides, games, contests, an antique car show, entertainment, and parade. This event’s signature treat is cantaloupe ice cream and watermelon sherbert. The focus, of course, are melons of all shapes and sizes. The Melon Festival has drawn crowds of 50,000 people to Milan.

No matter who you are, you look forward to Labor Day, the symbolic beginning of fall and one of our only free days off of the work week. You better spend that long weekend right! Take time to check out one of these unique festivals around Ohio.