It’s that time of year again: The Obetz Zucchini Festival is back!
From Thursday, August 24 through Sunday, August 27, Fortress Obetz will be taken over by all things Zucchini. In celebration of the summer squash, Obetz puts on the Zucchini Festival for free.
The event is full of fun activities, including a parade, rides, games, pageants, a cruise-in, delicious food, and zucchini every way.
Thursday, August 24
On Thursday, the festival opens at 5 p.m. Hit the Midway and then head for the Courtyard at Fortress Obetz, because the pageants get started at 6:30. The festival will close at 10 p.m. Categories for the pageant include:
Friday, August 25
Once again, the Midway opens at 5 p.m. Stroll through the festival, ride some rides, or play some games. The concert gates open at 6 p.m. Performances on Friday night include Late Night Alibi at 7:30 p.m. and country star Jamey Johnson at 9 p.m. The festival closes at 11 p.m.
Saturday, August 26
Saturday at the Zucchini Festival is a full day of fun. The Midway Opens at 11 a.m., followed by the Grand Parade at 11:30. Vendors will be serving up all of the best summer squash inspired dishes, including:
The concert gates will open at 5:30 p.m., with Ted Nugent performing at 8:30. The festival will close at 11 p.m.
Sunday, August 27
The final day of the festival is all about the kiddos. The Midway will open at 12 p.m. At 1 p.m., take the little ones and head over to the Columbus Zoo tent. The kids will have an opportunity to learn about some of the animals of the zoo, and maybe even see one up close! From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., COSI will be bringing the fun and imagination of science to the festival. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Arts & Crafts will be open at the Obetz Marketplace. Finish out the afternoon with a magic show at 4:30 p.m.
Coming to the festival without the kids?
There’s still plenty to do! From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., you can check out the Car and Motorcycle Show. The Zucchini Judging will take place at 2 p.m. Entertainment for the day includes Slick City Grass at 12:30 and the Common Ground Band at 2:30. The festival ends at 6 p.m.
Parking & Transportation
Fortress Obetz has plenty of parking available on site. Be sure to check with an attendee if you have any questions while parking, and don’t leave valuables in your car, as the festival is not responsible.
