By Ruth Kramer ’18, News Editor

If you’re anything like me, you want something to do when you get that slice of freedom from your homework on the weekends. Some may entertain themselves by shopping with friends, going to see a movie, or snoozing the weekend away, trying desperately to catch up on sleep. But if you’re interested in trying sauerkraut pizza, doing the chicken dance in the middle of downtown, or eating an apple in every single way possible, then trying one of the many festivals in the Cincinnati area could be the thing for you. Cincinnati festivals are about celebrating the flavor and flare of the city, all the while trying new foods and finding new ideas of creativity on street corners. Whatever you want to try, there is a festival for everyone, so don’t be scared to try something new.

Oktoberfest (September 18^th-20^th)—Oktoberfest is held annually on 5^th street in downtown Cincinnati and commonly is referred to as “Zinzinnati’s Oktoberfest” due to the fact that the festival is the biggest celebration of German culture and lifestyle in the United States. The festival is all about German food, clothing, and music. Cincinnati has always been known for their abundance of German culture, due to the fact that so many German immigrants came to this city in the 19^th and 20^th Century. Because Cincinnati has such German roots, it is called the “Sister City” of Munich, Germany; a city that hosts one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations in all of the world. Being a Sister City means that even though the two places are on opposite ends of the world, the culture they share unites them together. At Oktoberfest, as well as many other festivals, free things are often given out as samples to all guests; one year I went to Oktoberfest, free stereotypical German style hats were given out to anyone who stopped by a certain booth. All I can say is that if you want good food and good fun, visit downtown Zinzinnati for great day of German culture at Oktoberfest.

Sauerkraut Festival (October 10^th to 11^th)—Sauerkraut Festival sounds like a place of torture for every person who doesn’t like sauerkraut, but fear not, for Sauerkraut Festival is not only known for its superb selection of kraut foods, but for their over 400 arts and crafts booths. If you do like sauerkraut (or even if you don’t) my highest recommendation would be to order a slice of kraut pizza and snack size of sauerkraut balls. My own family loves sauerkraut pizza so much, we’ve concocted our own recipe and make this pizza whenever we want to treat ourselves to a delicious dinner. But don’t think sauerkraut balls aren’t good either—they are mouth-watering, especially when paired with spicy mustard. All the same, if you simply can’t bring yourself to try a bowl of kraut with cheese and bacon, then try the donuts. There is one specific booth that sells kraut donuts (I’ve had them and believe me, you can’t even taste the sauerkraut) and they are the greatest part of the whole festival. There is always a long line, so get your delectable donuts early! And if you can’t even try the donuts, then at least go to this annual Waynesville festival for the amazing, yet practical arts and crafts.

Applefest (September 26^th)—Applefest takes place every year, and will be located on the Warren County Fairgrounds this year. Apples come in every shape, size, and form here. There’s cider, pies, fritters, donuts, sundaes, dumplings, cakes, and the thing that started it all—the apple. Yes, Applefest is mainly about apples, there is also a wide variety of homemade arts and crafts such as jewelry, wooden pieces, toys, quilts (a personal favorite), as well as decorations for everyday use and holidays. Not to mention, the crisp smell of ripe apples and fresh baked treats flood your nose the whole time you’re there.

The Renaissance Festival (Every weekend September 5^th to October 25^th)—This festival is one for you if you’re into exploring the past and embracing one of the most vibrant festivals in the whole city. One of the greatest things about the Renaissance Festival is its commitment to the authenticity of the time period—through food, clothing, and entertainment. There is jousting and sword fights for the boys of the family and for the women of the household, there are various booths that have the titles of “candle makers”, “glassblowers”, and even “stone carvers”. Instruments and renaissance clothing are among the many items that can be bought at the Renaissance Festival and there is tradition Renaissance music that overflows the streets to truly give the festival the feeling of the past. The Renaissance Festival is one of the most unique festivals because they do things other festivals don’t—they bring more than one idea to the table. There are themed weekends specifically for couples or for the character of a movie or book that inspires you the most, and even a Halloween weekend to end the festivities.

The WEBN Fireworks (September 6^th)—The WEBN Fireworks is one of the most well-known firework displays in all of the United States and for good reason. The WEBN Fireworks are shot off every Labor Day Weekend and usually draws about 500,000 people every year. The fireworks in the 1980’s to celebrate the WEBN radio station’s 10^th anniversary and has since escalated into a full fledge event that begins with Riverfest and ends with a 30 minute firework show. Riverfest, which kicks off the festivities is just like any other festival; food, music, and fun. After having a day playing in the sun, people look for any empty space to sit down and watch the sky light up with the dance of fireworks.

So, if you find that you actually have some time in these upcoming weekends, go to a festival, enjoy the fall air, and get into the culture of this beautiful city we live in! If you find that you are interested in going to a festival around the Cincinnati Area, but don’t like the top five, here is a website with upcoming festivals all across Ohio: http://ohiofestivals.net/schedule/ . We have so many opportunities to go out and do things in our city that not a lot of people have the option of doing, so go out there and smell the roses while you’re here in “Zinzinnati, USA”.