September is packed with food events
Fall officially begins in September, ushering in great weather, spectacular foliage, pumpkin lattes and, most important, some of the best events of the year.
Fall festivals in the region are some of the best there are. With the change in weather, you no longer feel like you will melt into a puddle, and the air feels light and fresh.
Here are the events that are on my radar for this month.
Now-Oct. 31: Ohio Renaissance Festival
10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville
Prepare thyself for a time warp to 16th Century England when the village of Willy-Nilly roars back to life at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. The festival features nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, more than 135 arts and crafts shops, delicious food and much more. Bring on the roasted turkey legs! Visit www.renfestival.com for more information.
Sept. 9: HVO Old Forester Collection tasting and dinner
Hidden Valley Orchards, 5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon
Hidden Valley Orchards will be featuring an Old Forester Collection bourbon tasting, including the 1870, 1897, 1910 and 1920 vintages, as well as a welcome cocktail. Dinner will feature salad, braised short ribs with garlic whipped potatoes and herb roasted root vegetables. A Bourbon chocolate pecan pie will be dessert. Visit www. hiddenvalleyorchards.com for more information.
Sept. 10-12: Greek Fest Express
Dayton Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
Get your orders in for tiropita, gyros, souvlaki, pastistio, pastries and more. Pre-order and pre-pay and grab your food at the drive-through. Orders can be placed on the festival website from now through festival weekend. Visit www. daytongreekfestival.com for more information.
Sept. 10-12: Italian Fall Festa
Bella Villa Hall, 2625 County Line Road, Kettering
The 44th annual festival celebrating Italian cooking and heritage features a baked pasta dinner on Friday, a stuffed shells dinner on Saturday and a spaghetti and meatball dinner all day long Sunday. Visit www.italianfallfesta.com for more information.
Sept. 11: Brunch at Jollity
127 E. 3rd St., Dayton Jollity, a great new restaurant in the Fire Blocks District downtown, now serves brunch on Saturdays. It’s an option from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. for those looking for some fresh brunch options. Visit www.jollitydayton.com for more information.
Sept. 11: Great American Beer Tasting
Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton
Watch the Ohio State game on the big screen while enjoying more than 100 different beers, ciders and seltzers. This year’s event showcases the biggest number and widest variety of beers in Great American Beer Tasting history. Visit www.milb.com/dayton for more information.
Sept. 11: Feast & Fest Food Truck Rally & Craft Show
Darke County Fairgrounds, 800 Sweitzer St., Greenville
Treat your family to a day filled with shopping at the craft market, tasty food from a variety of food trucks and the sound of music from live bands. Top off the evening with the Xtreme Roughstock Rodeo show. Visit darkecountynow.com for more information.
Sept. 11-12: Beavercreek Popcorn Festival
Shoup Park, 1341 Meadowbridge Drive, Beavercreek
With more than 200 booths featuring festival foods, crafts and popcorn specialties, this popular festival is back after taking 2020 off. It’s good to know the celebration of one of the world’s favorite snacks is back. Visit www.beavercreekpopcornfestival.org for more information.
Sept. 12: Yellow Cab Food Truck Rally
700 E. 4th St., Dayton Food trucks, street food, vendors, craft beer and cocktails will be back from 5-9 p.m. on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. Participating food trucks will include: East Coast Eatz, All Smoked Up, Vegan Thick Eatery, Griddles and Cheese, The Pizza Bandit, Fifty5 Rivers Cold Brew, Purely Sweet Bakery and I Heart Ice Cream. This month will be a bubble fest with bubble machines going, big bubble ropes, bubble guns and more. Organizers are encouraging guests to bring their own bubble-making devices and fill the lot with bubble joy. Visit www.yellowcabfoodtrucks.com for more information.
Sept. 16-19: HVO Cider Donut Week
Hidden Valley Orchards, 5474 North State Route 48, Lebanon
Cider donuts, cider donut sundaes, live music, face painting, a scavenger hunt and even more cider donuts. Visit www.hiddenvalleyorchards.com for more information.
Sept. 18: Hispanic Heritage Festival
RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
Hot Latin music and spicy, delicious Latin food pair up to add some fiery, bold fun to the month of September. Things kick off early with a parade at noon for the 20th anniversary of this popular festival. Visit pacodayton.org for more information.
Sept. 18-19: Preble County Pork Festival
Preble County Fairgrounds, 722 S. Franklin St., Eaton
Hit up the Porkhaus or the Swine N’ Dine for some hot, ready-to-go pork dishes and then head to the Country Store Meat Market for fresh meat to take home, including bacon, ham, pork loin, pork roast, sausage, pork chops, ribs, cracklings, jerky and pork sticks. Be sure to grab one of the apple cider slushies while you can. Visit www.porkfestival.org for more information.
Sept. 19: Dayton Vegan Food & Drink Festival
Courthouse Square, 23 N. Main St., Dayton
Whole food plant-based dishes and vegan food and drink will be celebrated at this festival. Vendors will include Baked Better, Be the Light LLC, Billie Gold Bubble Tea, Burrito Babe Bakery, Cabin Fever Confections, Cruelty-Free Stitchery, Done Right Dressing Pop Up, Eyvonne Essentials, Foreverland Farm, Ghostlight Coffee, Krisxmoon Bakery, Lava B. Jewelry LLC, Like Mom’s Only Vegan, Liv Naturally Co, Loving Healthy, Mztickle Creations, Northwest Ohio Vegan Advocates, Om Nom Mobile Cafe, Patchwork Garden, Power Plant Kitchen, Purely, Sweet Bakery, Sprouting Dreams LLC, The Lumpia Queen, The Wild Banana and Yummy Side Hustle. Visit www.facebook.com/DYTveganfestival to learn more.
Sept. 19: Fashion Meets Food Truck Rally
1435 Cincinnati St., Dayton
The Fashion Meets Food Truck Rally will feature more than 100 vendors including popular food trucks and mobile fashion boutiques. Business advice from The Montgomery County Business Solutions Center also will be offered. Visit www.daytonpowerhouse.com/events to learn more.
Sept. 23: Pacific Northwest Food & Wine
DLM Culinary Center, 6177 Far Hills Ave., Washington Twp.
Chef Carrie Walters will create a quintessential Pacific Northwest menu featuring mushroom stew with goat cheese toast, crispy skin salmon with sesame and herbs, braised lamb with turnips and white beans and a tasting plate of PNW treasures — cherries, chocolate and hazelnuts. Visit www.dorothylane. com/classes to learn more.
Sept. 24-26: Tipp City Mum Festival
35 Parkwood Drive, Tipp City
As if quaint Tipp City couldn’t get quainter ... When mums take over alongside family activities, delicious food and live entertainment, it’s a sweet small town start to fall. Don’t miss the Mum Festival Antique and Show Car Cruise-In when it packs the historic downtown area with hundreds of quality and unique vehicles or the Saturday morning parade. Visit tippmumfestival.org to learn more.
Sept. 24-26: 50th anniversary of Oktoberfest
Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
Oktoberfest will return for its 50th anniversary in 2021 at the Dayton Art Institute. Plans for Oktoberfest 2021 include the return of the Lederhosen Lunch and Preview Party on Friday, followed by the Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday and Sunday. The Lederhosen Lunch on Friday, hosted by the DAI’s Former Associate Board, offers the only free admission of the weekend, with bratwurst, mettwurst, schnitzel sandwiches, German sides and more available for purchase. Visit www.daytonartinstitute. org/upcoming-events/special-events to learn more.