Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival: An Island Oasis in Farm Country

The third weekend each September, surf meets turf at landlocked Freshwater Farms of Ohio, a mile north of Urbana, Ohio, on U.S. 68.

Surrounded by cropland, the fish farm becomes an island oasis where fresh shrimp and fish are plentiful. And lilting strains of reggae music wash over the countryside, along with a jambalaya of folk/Americana, indie rock, funk, blues and other musical flavorings, performed over three days on an outdoor stage. (By the way, real, not figurative, jambalaya is on the menu.)

Last year, the Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival drew about 5,000 visitors. Dr. Dave Smith and his Freshwater Farms crew are ready for more this year. The 14th annual edition of the festival starts this Friday (Sept. 18) at 4 p.m. and ends Sunday at 5 p.m. (The last I looked, 14,000 people had clicked “going” on the festival’s Facebook event page.)

There’s something for everyone at this festival:

• Delicious locally grown fish and shrimp dinners and other seafood served by Freshwater Farms and other vendors (check out the complete food selection here)
• Plenty of non-seafood menu choices, if you favor turf over surf
• An opportunity to check out the facilities of Ohio’s largest indoor fish hatchery
• Exhibits of native fish, turtles, frogs and other creatures
• A chance to pet sturgeon, Ohio’s largest native fish
• A free treasure hunt area and bounce houses for the kids
• The shrimp peeling and eating contest
• Fresh shrimp to buy and take home, from Freshwater Farms and other Ohio farms
• The farm’s market, which features local seafood and other products
• And for the second year in a row, Charlie’s Bar will feature craft beers, Ohio wines, margaritas, and new this year, a frozen drink station

Food vendors this year include local businesses like Oakview Farm Meats and Raging Bull Wood Fired Pizza of Urbana, Nanette’s Country Kitchen of St. Paris, and My Little Cupcakes & More of West Liberty. Local farmers’ market food vendors at the festival include Sunshine Gardens of Mechanicsburg (Saturday only—baked goods and flowers), Cosmic Charlie Baking and Bread of Urbana and JC Growers of Mechanicsburg (Saturday and Sunday—chemical-free spices).

And did I mention music?

Feast your ears as you savor the food. The festival’s music lineup keeps getting better and better. And three popular performers from last year are returning. Consider these videos your festival appetizer (check out the complete music schedule here):

Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons (in 2015, voted best Columbus band in Columbus Alive’s readers’ poll and#6 on PopDose’s top rock and pop album list of 2014), performing 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday:

The Flex Crew, performing 5-7 p.m. Saturday:

Fever Fever (with two songs on Billboard’s Christian rock charts this year), performing 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday:

And Champaign County’s own, Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band, which has played on the festival stage in previous years,performing 5-6:30 p.m. Friday:

For a complete schedule and information about the event, check out the Fish and Shrimp Festival website.

Festival hours: Friday, Sept. 18, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Location: Freshwater Farms of Ohio, 2624 North US Hwy. 68, one mile north of Urbana.

General admission: $5, good for the whole weekend; $2, ages 3-12; and free, 2 and under. Includes includes access to all music and many other activities. Pay once and return free with hand stamp. Parking is free in the field on the south side of the farm.

See you there!

Disclaimer: Even if Freshwater Farms of Ohio and the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival weren’t my client through my copywriting business, Schenkel Communications, I’d give this festival my wholehearted endorsement. This blog post is just a little extra.