By Anna DeWine
WAYNESVILLE — The Midwest-famous Ohio Sauerkraut Festival has grown since its start in 1970 where it served 528 pounds of sauerkraut.
Today, the family festival serves seven tons of sauerkraut to approximately 350,000 visitors.
The 47th annual festival will open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 until 8 p.m. on Sunday, the festival will continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sauerkraut-lovers and cabbage-fans are in luck this weekend. Food vendors, which are run solely by local, non-profit organizations, will sell sauerkraut pizza, fudge, donuts, cookies, and pies. The food fun continues with German sundaes and egg rolls, cabbage rolls, polish cabbage soup, and pork and sauerkraut. Guests are invited to shop for holiday gifts on the streets, or get away from the crowds in the local stores.
The Sauerkraut Fest boasts not just their kraut, but their crafts, too.
Four hundred and fifty vendors from more than 25 states will offer handcrafted items, from jewelry, leather and ceramics to children’s dolls, pet items and spa products. Visitors from across the nation flock to the festival for the food, crafts, and entertainment.
Entertainment for the weekend includes musical acts and local talent like Red Idle Rejects at 2 p.m. and Jay Jesse Johnson Band at 4 p.m. Saturday, as well as the Honey Creek Cloggers at 11 a.m. and Waynesville High School Marching Band at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Entertainment runs until 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.
The festival kicked off with the Cabbage Roll Run Saturday, Oct. 1.
The event will continue in downtown Waynesville, 105 N. Main Street. Admission is free.