In fact, some of the best food events and festivals are still to come.
Here are 25 food events to help you fall in love with fall.
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Sept. 1: National Gyro Day
In celebration of National Gyro Day, Greek Isle Deli will be offering 20 percent off all gyro purchases. It's a nice way to start off the month.
Greek Isle Deli, 5524 Airway Road, Dayton
Sept. 2: Honey Apple Fest
Pick your own apples, watch bee hive demonstrations and see a honey pull up close. Smokinbeebeeq will be on hand if the apple picking leaves you feeling peckish.
8201 Frederick Pike, Dayton
Sept. 2- Oct. 29: Ohio Renaissance Festival
Prepare thyself for giant turkey legs and a massive menu of food options when the Ohio Renaissance Festival opens for business now through Oct. 29. Boasting a menu that includes stuffed grape leaves, blackberry cobbler, Scotch eggs, haggis, bananas foster bites, meatball subs, pot roast, bourbon chicken and more, there’s something to tempt every taste bud.
10542 East Ohio 73, Waynesville
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Sept. 7: Lily’s Bistro Garden Party
Learn the art of preserving fruits and vegetables past their growing season, making pickles and shrubs — a vinegar-based concoction that makes a great cocktail mixer. Participants will get a custom jar of each to take home. Snacks and shrub cocktails will be available for purchase. The event will benefit the Greater Dayton Union Co-op Initiative and construction of the Gem City Market, a co-op grocery store to be built near downtown on Salem Avenue.
329 E Fifth St., Dayton
Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28: Bike Night at 1572 Roadhouse
1572 Roadhouse will be hosting bike nights every Thursday night in September. Open seasonally inside of the Renaissance Festival grounds through October, head there and sample the BBQ from pitmasters Chris Cavender and Mike Tenore. Grab an ice-cold microbrew, wine or a cocktail and enjoy the music and beginning of fall. Their sauces and rubs have won awards in the last year from the industry, so it’s worth checking out if you haven’t already.
1572 Road House Bar-B-Q, 10542 East Ohio 73, Waynesville
Sept. 8-10: Dayton Greek Festival
Hot off the heels of National Gyro Day. One of Dayton’s largest festivals returns with the authentic Greek food, pastries, music and dance we know and love. Opa!
500 Belmonte Park North, Dayton
Credit: Tom Gilliam Photography for Dayton.com
Credit: Tom Gilliam Photography for Dayton.com
Sept. 8-10: Italian Fall Festa
If Italian food is your thing, this is your festival. It’s also your opportunity to finally learn Bocce among other things. Salute!
Bella Villa Hall, 2625 County Line Road, Dayton
Sept. 8-10: Clinton County Corn Festival
The 40th annual Clinton County Corn Festival will celebrate one of Ohio’s favorite crops with a three-day extravaganza and all things made from corn.
958 W. Main St., Wilmington
Sept. 9: Cheesefest Cincinnati
Meet more than 225 producers and taste unlimited samples of more than 900 cheeses and specialty foods from across the United States and world.
Smale Riverfront Park, West Mehring Way, Cincinnati
Sept. 9: Grainworks Brewing Grand Opening
Grain works in West Chester will open its doors to the public with 6-8 of their flagship beers and food by Lyons BBQ Catering, LLC.
Grainworks Brewing Co., 7790 Service Center Dr. Unit B, West Chester Twp.
Sept. 9-10: Beavercreek Popcorn Festival
More than 300 booths with festival foods, treats, crafts and popcorn specialties. It’s a hot weekend for festivals and this one is ready to party.
958 W. Main St., Wilmington
Sept. 13: Picking the Garden Harvest event
If you can boil water, you can pickle vegetables. In this hands-on class, participants will make three types of pickles using common backyard garden vegetables. Participants will make refrigerator pickles as well as shelf-stable pickled peppers for your sandwiches and hot and spicy zucchini sticks for your bratwurst. Both quick pickling and boiling-water bath canning techniques will be demonstrated. Participants will take home all the pickles they produce, and snacks will be provided.
Oakwood Community Center, 105 Patterson Road, Oakwood
www.evensi.us/pickling-the-garden-harvest-oakwood-community-center/215909899
Sept. 14: Wegerzyn’s Annual Garden Party
Drinks, hor d’oeuvres, dinner, desert, silent auction, live music and dancing all to benefit Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Sounds both beautiful and delicious.
1301 East Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton
Sept. 15-17: Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival
Grilled trout, whitefish, shrimp scampi, coconut crusted shrimp, jambalaya, fish and chips, craft beer, wine and margaritas will be flowing all weekend at this 16th annual event.
Freshwater Farms of Ohio, 2624 N. U.S. 68, Urbana
Sept. 16: HoneyFest
The second annual HoneyFest allows folks to visit with local beekeepers, honey vendors, educators and more. Food trucks and items made with honey will be on hand and admission is free.
1700 Delco Park Drive, Kettering
Sept. 16: Hispanic Heritage Festival
Hot Latin music and hot Latin food are on the menu at the 17th Hispanic Heritage Festival. The sounds of Salsa, Merengue, Latin jazz, Cumbia and Bachata music will help the food from Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Peru come alive.
Riverscape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
Credit: Martin Wheeler III
Credit: Martin Wheeler III
Sept. 16-17: Preble County Pork Festival
Bacon, sausage, pork chops, ribs, ham and more will be on the table ready for purchase at this popular Eaton festival.
722 South Franklin St., Eaton
Credit: Lisa Powell
Credit: Lisa Powell
Sept. 18: National Cheeseburger Day
We don’t need to tell you how to celebrate. You know where your favorite burger is. Plan on going there on Sept. 18 and celebrating with your favorite condiments and toppings.
Sept. 22: Cabbage Roll dinner
This homemade cabbage roll dinner and dance is just $14 a person. Reservations are recommended. “Czech us out” is their slogan, and if cabbage rolls are your thing, it’s good advice.
American Czechoslovakian Club, 922 Valley St., Dayton
Sept. 22: Oktoberfest Lederhosen Lunch
Kick off the Oktoberfest celebration with the only free admission of the weekend. This community lunch, hosted by the Dayton Art Institute’s Associate Board Alumni, features brats, metts, schnitzel sandwiches, German salads, homemade noodles and live entertainment.
The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
Sept. 22: Oktoberfest Preview Party
Enjoy complimentary draft beer and wine as well as live music and get an early look at the 26 food vendors and more than 50 artisans as well as a first look at the more than 60 specialty beers that are on the menu. Advance tickets are $55 for members, $75 for non-members. Tickets purchased at the gate are $95.
The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
Sept. 22-23: New Bremen Pumpkinfest
Giant pumpkins and food made from them will be on the menu. Craft drafts from local breweries including Moeller Brew Barn, Tailspin Brewing Co., Lake Rat Brewing, and Yellow Springs Brewery will be on hand to compliment the pumpkin brats, pumpkin pie and other pumpkin inspired creations.
Crown Pavilion at E. Plum and S. Washington St., New Bremen
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Sept. 22-24: Tipp City Mum Festival
This Miami County classic offers plenty to tempt the eye — a cruise-in, parade, live entertainment, arts, crafts, entertainment and, of course, food.
35 Parkwood Drive, Tipp City
Sept. 23-24: Oktoberfest at The Dayton Art Institute
Presented by Miller Lite, Dayton’s largest festival boasts more than 50 artisans from throughout the region, unique foods, ample domestic, international and craft beers, international wines, kid-friendly art activities at the ACCO Brands FamilyFest, live music on two stages throughout the weekend, and much more. Oktoberfest includes a fully covered main stage viewing area, food court, and “TV Cave” with four big-screen TVs for all the weekend football action.
The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
Sept. 23-24: Germantown Pretzel Festival
Germantown has been celebrating the simple, twisty, tasty, salty pretzel since 1980. The Stagger Lee Band will headline Saturday night and Spittin’ Image will highlight Sunday, but the true star will be those doughy, brittle glazed knots that have been baked since the Middle Ages.
Veterans Memorial Park, 190 W. Warren St, Germantown
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