Activities
Pawpaw Tent
The Pawpaw Tent will be the place to be if you're interested in learning about the pawpaw. Smell, touch, and most importantly taste this wonderful tropical flavored fruit that's been growing in America for thousands of years. Pawpaw growers from across the country, like Integration Acres and Peterson Pawpaws, will have their best fruit. Taste samples of select varieties, purchase fruit to take home, buy trees to plant and talk with pawpaw researchers and experts. Members of the Ohio Pawpaw Growers Association (OPGA) and the PawPaw Foundation will all help answer your pawpaw questions. A full lineup of presentations and activities are planned to discuss pawpaw growing, cooking, genetics, medicinal uses and other topics related to sustainability. Also in the Pawpaw Tent:
Best Pawpaw Competition
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013
12:15 p.m.
The Best Pawpaw Competition is the annual event that recognizes the many nuances of pawpaw flavors and characteristics abounding in select and "wild" pawpaw varieties. How does one talk about and describe this delicate flavor? What makes this a good pawpaw? What makes this a bad pawpaw?This year's event will include plaques and cash prizes - $100 for first prize, $75 for 2nd prize and $50 for 3rd prize, plus bragging rights. Fifty dollars also will be awarded to the largest pawpaw. Click here for full details.
Pawpaw Cook-off
Sunday, Sept. 15, 2012
1:30 p.m.
Registration is from 10:30 am until 1:00 pm on Sunday in the pop-up tent just outside of the Pawpaw Tent; to compete in the cook-off, please have three samples available for judging by 12:45 pm. Click here for full details.
Pawpaw Eating Contest
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
5 p.m.
Don't miss this festival spectacle! Every year, ten pawpaw fanatics compete by slurping pawpaw pulp with hands behind the back, making sure to eat the pulp off of every seed! Sign up for the eating contest before 4 p.m. on Saturday inside the Pawpaw Tent.
Pawpaw Double Nickel Bicycle Ride
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
Start any time from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
This 55-mile road ride starts and ends at the fest, taking you from Albany on a circle tour around Zaleski State Forest. Enjoy challenging climbs, ridgetop views and sweet downhills, all along the Raccoon Creek Watershed. A rest stop awaits you at the halfway point. There is also a shorter 20-mile loop option.
On-site rider registration will be at the festival from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – get started on the ride any time during those hours. The rest stop will be set up until 2 p.m.
The self-guided, self-paced ride is included in the price of the festival admission fee, and includes a map of the ride, marked turns on the roads and the aid station.
www.athensbicycle.com
Ohio Country Fair Tent
Each year the festival's Ohio Country Fair Tent hosts educational
workshops on homesteading/sustainable living. This year's topics include sustainable energy, storytelling, fermentation, beekeeping, landscaping, tai chi, home brewing and LOTS more. Click here for the complete schedule.
Balloon Fun
Patty Mitchell & Robert Lockheed create amazing things out of balloons! They will be roving the festival grounds on Friday from 5 – 7 pm, Saturday from 5 – 7 pm and Sunday from 12 – 2 pm.
Horsedrawn Wagon Rides
John Hutchison of Albany will take his horse drawn wagon on rides around scenic Lake Snowden on Friday from 5 – 9 pm, Saturday from 4 – 8 pm and Sunday from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm.
Hocking Woods Nature Center Snake Tent
Dave Sagan will have his collection of snakes and other species on display (and some for touching!) throughout the weekend. Weather dependent - temperatures unfavorable to snakes cancels.
Atlatl Throwing & Competition
There will be family fun all day with the International Atlatl Association’s teaching and throwing area. Learn about this ancient device and how to throw it.
Antique Pedal Cars for Kids
Your kids won't want to miss this!
East of the River Shawnee Tribe
Regional Native Americans will complement the festival with traditional storytelling, drumming and singing, talks on native medicine and American Indian wisdom, plus demonstrations on flintknapping, fire starting, and many other native survival skills.
The East of the River Shawnee Tribe, out of Greenville, Ohio, are Shawnee by blood, traditionalists by choice. They gather multiple times a year to hold sacred ceremonies and councils. Their culture and traditions are of great importance, and they work hard to teach not only their youth but the public and any with a good heart and good mind who wish to learn. They are proud to carry the ways of their ancestors into this modern age with dignity, balance and respect for all.
Ohio Frontier Camp
Join this 1790s encampment all weekend to experience life as it once was; stories and demonstrations will be offered Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.