Carroll County comes alive in the fall with three exciting festivals. I have had the good fortune to visit these festivals many times over the years, and they each put their spin on autumn, history, and the area’s beauty. Explore the breathtaking scenery and hospitality while enjoying fabulous food, history, crafts, and activities for all ages.
Atwood Fall Festival takes place on October 6,7,8th at Atwood Lake Park in Mineral City. Set among the rolling hills on the border of Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties, the festival is adjacent to the recently renovated Atwood Lake Park campgrounds. Upon arrival, the inviting smell of open campfires mingled with funnel cakes and hot cider aromas greets you. Fall foliage envelops the lake creating a mosaic of reds, oranges, and yellows.
But save some money for crafts. There are fun and funky fall and Christmas decorations for every decor. Pumpkin cutouts for the front porch, detailed haunted houses, and old-fashioned ceramic Christmas trees will delight young and old. Past festivals have included Native American crafts and interactive dance, a petting zoo, and radio-controlled airplane demonstrations.
The Algonquin Mill Festival is the following weekend, October 13,14,15th, four miles south of Carrollton. Step back in time and explore history throughout the festival with antique car shows, steam-powered engines, horse-drawn wagon rides, and much more among the historic buildings of the pioneer village.
Exclusive crafters bring the past to life with demonstrations such as candle dipping, chair caning, broom making, and blacksmith. Other specialty craft vendors are also on hand for all your shopping interests.
The cool fall air entices the appetite for homemade sauerkraut and pork, always a crowd favorite. Other tempting offerings include such delights as bean soup, apple butter, and barbeque chicken. And we can’t forget the freshly churned ice cream, good no matter the temperature!
The Great Trail Festival takes place on two weekends, August 26-2th and Sept 2-4th This celebration of history, folk art, and country crafting occurs in rural Malvern, where you can still see buffalo roaming. The name comes from an old trail named the Great Trail, which connected Ohio with Lake Erie and the inland plains.
Enjoy a full itinerary of live music, clog dancing, fiddlers, and Scottish pipers. But leave time for the Tomahawk Throwing Championship and battle reenactments. The festival is a testament to the past, with living history breathing life into today.
As the fall winds blow through the trees, you will follow the delicious scent of kettle-cooked food. Popcorn, homemade delights, and many contemporary offerings are enough to drive your senses wild. My fondest memory is a cinnamon-teased apple dumping. The taste still warms me to this day.
As autumn takes hold across Ohio, we long to connect, explore and revel in our collective history. Life slows down on the two-lane roads, and the welcoming people have discovered a way to share their land’s beauty, tranquility, and history with others through these delightful festivals. Carroll County is always at the top of my list of places to see and explore. Years may pass, but the nostalgia remains. My children are grown, but the festivals remain a favorite family tradition. Take time from your busy schedules to discover the beauty of Carroll County.
