While the Ohio State Fair canceled its 2021 event in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, plenty of county fairs are back this year, as are many of Greater Cincinnati's beloved summertime church festivals.
How many times can you ride a questionably maintained Scrambler after eating a funnel cake this summer? Let's find out.
*Note: Descriptions do not encompass the entirety of what each fest or fair offers. Visit individual websites for full lineups, events, competitions and all the fried foods you can eat.
County Fairs
Kenton County Fair & Horse Show — Activities include exhibits, a cookie-baking contest, kids pedal tractor pull, beauty pageants, horse shows, a demolition derby and tug-of-war. There will be a beer garden (cost is $4 per ticket). July 12-17. $12 (includes rides); free for ages 2 and under. Kenton County Fairgrounds, 2836 Harris Pike, Independence, kentoncountyfair.com.
Pendleton County Youth Fair — This youth fair features everything from 4-H shows, a tractor pull and cake auction to a demolition derby, chicken rodeo and chicken poop Bingo (whatever that is). Gates open 4 p.m. July 18-24. $5 per person at the gate. Pendleton County Fairgrounds, 68 Fairgrounds Road, Falmouth, pcyouthfair.com.
Warren County Fair — Expect (tons of) animal shows, drag racing, live music, barnyard olympics and a beer garden Wednesday through Saturday. July 19-24. $5; free for ages 8 and under; free for military and seniors on Tuesday. Warren County Fairgrounds, 665 N. Broadway, Lebanon, warrencountyfairohio.org.
Butler County Fair — The Butler County Fair promises plenty of animal shows, as well as fine art and needlework displays, a demolition derby, pie and cake auction, yeast bread judging, flower show and men's bake off. July 25-31. $8 (includes parking); $3 ages 6-12 with paying adult. Butler County Fairgrounds, 1715 Fairgrove Ave., Hamilton, butlercountyohfair.org.
Clermont County Fair — Events include bicycle races, an antique machinery show, rodeo, live concert from Tracy Lawrence, a lip sync contest, plenty of fair rides and games and a roaming "monkey man" — an "old school organ grinder with a live (capuchin) monkey." July 25-31. $10; $3 senior citizens July 28; free for veterans and service members. Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust St., Owensville, clermontcountyfair.org.
Boone County 4-H & Utopia Fair — This fair includes laser tag, a pig scramble, music from American Idol contestant Alex Miller, a frog-jumping contest, beauty pageants and a monster truck show. 4 p.m. Aug. 2-4; noon Aug. 5; 1 p.m. Aug. 6; 10 a.m. Aug. 7. $12 (includes all rides); free ages 3 and under. Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, boonecountyfair.org.
Hamilton County Fair — The 165th Hamilton County Fair includes Grandstand Events like a celebrity derby, BOSS motorcycle race, go-kart racing, Soccer Mom Derby and Queen City Cage Match. There will also be rides, games and fair food. 4-11 p.m. Aug 12 and 13; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Aug. 14; noon-10 p.m. Aug. 15. $10 (includes rides); $5 parking. Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 7801 Anthony Wayne Ave., Carthage, hamiltoncountyfair.com.
Alexandria Fair & Horse Show — This event includes multiple horse shows and (human) beauty pageants for babies through teens, a beer tent, food and midway. There will also be a parade on Sept. 1. Sept. 1-6. Cost TBD. Alexandria Fairgrounds, 100 Fairground Road, Alexandria, alexandriafair.org.
Church Festivals
St. Cecilia Festival — This year's fest will feature a new kids zone, a petting zoo, flea market, live music, a raffle (with a $10,000 grand prize), fest food and beer. 6 p.m.-midnight July 16; 5 p.m.-midnight July 17; 4-9 p.m. July 18. 3105 Madison Road, Oakley, stceciliacincinnati.org.
St. Ann Family Festival — The 51st-annual family fest features live music, a $4,000 grand prize raffle, kids games, poker, vendors and grilled eats. 6-11:30 p.m. July 23 and 24. 3064 Pleasant Ave., Hamilton, saintanncc.com.
St. Margaret of York SMOY Fest — This fest promises rides, entertainment, a wing and ice cream eating contest, games and more. Beer, wine and spirits will be available. 4-9 p.m. July 24; 1-7 p.m. July 25. 9483 Columbia Road, Loveland, smoyfest.org.
St. Aloysius Summer Festival — This summer fest features a chicken dinner, classic car cruise-in and booths featuring baked goods and crafts. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 1. 3350 Chapel Road, Shandon, stalshandon.org.
Holy Cross-Immaculata Festival — This favorite Mount Adams fest features live music from Boo Radley on Friday and Haymarket Riot on Saturday, plus a casino, silent auction, games, classic fest food, craft beer, wine and cocktails. 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 6 and Aug. 7. 30 Guido St., Mount Adams, hciparish.org/festival.
St. Antoninus Music Festival — There will be live music all weekend from local bands, plus a chicken dinner on Sunday. A biergarten will be serving craft and domestic brews, and there will be plenty of games, rides, food and family-friendly fun, including a kids movie night. 6:30 p.m.-midnight Aug. 6; 5:30 p.m.-midnight Aug. 7; 4-10 p.m. Aug. 8. 1500 Linneman Road, West Price Hill, saintantoninus.org/music-festival.
St. John the Baptist Festival — This fest will include a grill booth from Stehlin's Meats offering everything from goetta to ribeye sandwiches, plus split the pot, funnel cakes, raffles, rides, beer and wine and a chicken dinner starting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (available via drive-thru only). 4:30 p.m.-midnight Aug. 7; 12:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 8. 5361 Dry Ridge Road, Colerain Township, stjohnsdr.org.
Our Lady of Visitation Visifest — While Fridays at this fest are usually reserved for adults, this year, the whole family is welcome all weekend. There will be live music, beer, a raffle and a chicken dinner on Sunday. 6:30 p.m.-midnight Aug. 13; 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 14; 4-10 p.m. Aug. 15. 3172 South Road, Mack, olvisitation.org.
Sacred Heart Fairfield — There will be a fish fry on Friday, Chick-fil-A on Saturday and pork sandwiches from Rib City on Sunday, plus fest favorites like LaRosa's pizza all weekend. Favorite local band Naked Karate Girls play Saturday. And there will be beer from Fretboard, frozen daiquiris and margaritas available. 6 p.m.-midnight Aug. 13; 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 14; 3-9 p.m. Aug. 15. 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield, sacredheart-fairfield.org.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Festival — This fest features gambling, children's games, rides, a beer garden, fest food and live music, including from Father Adam's band Easter Rising. 6-11 p.m. Aug. 20; 6-11:30 p.m. Aug. 21; 4-8 p.m. Aug. 22. 5900 Buckwheat Road, Milford, setonmilford.org/about/festival.shtml.
St. Mary FunFest — FunFest weekend events include live music, rides, games, gambling, food trucks, beer, wine, cocktails and a $10,000 grand prize raffle. 6 p.m.-midnight Aug. 20; 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 21; 3-8:30 p.m. Aug. 22. 2853 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, smchp.com.
St. Ignatius of Loyola IGGY Fest — Local cover bands DV8, The Rock Show and Soul Pocket play throughout the weekend. There will be food from Skyline Chili and LaRosa's, plus baked potatoes, pulled pork, metts and brats, fried Oreos and pickle chips, plus a beer booth. Games range from gambling to a football toss, with rides, face painting and sand art. 6 p.m.-midnight Aug. 20; 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 21; 4-10 p.m. Aug. 22. 5222 North Bend Road, Monfort Heights, sainti.org.
Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get the latest on the news, things to do and places to eat delivered right to your inbox.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.