COSHOCTON − One might think of summer as the prime time for tourism, but Coshocton County visitors stay strong through the fall thanks to many established events.
The Coshocton Visitors Bureau reported that tourism had an economic impact of more than $62.6 million in 2021 related to attractions, food and beverage, gasoline, and lodging, with $8.3 million in tax revenue. That also connects to 752 jobs and $16.4 million in wages.
Kara McIntire, social media coordinator for the CVB, said this is the first year that someone from Ohio’s 88 counties has come to her office in Roscoe Village since she followed up. They have also had visitors from 43 states and 16 countries so far in 2022.
While summer is the best time for tourism, fall is almost as active, McIntire said.
“Everyone loves Coshocton County in the fall, because it’s so beautiful,” he said. “Fall is a very busy time for tourism in Coshocton.”
There are plenty of fall activities that draw people to the region, McIntire said, and people don’t always think of the sports tournaments at Kids America, Coshocton County often leading Ohio in hunting white-tailed deer, the the Coshocton Geocaching Ring Trail that launched over the summer; and the Three Rivers Wine Trail that highlights area wineries and breweries.
However, there are many annual events that attract people year after year. Roscoe Village hosts two of the most notable annual fall to early winter events with the Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival in October and Christmas Candle Lightings in December. Of course, the Coshocton County Fair is the biggest fall activity that draws many from outside the county, not just locals. This year’s fair is from September 30 to October 6, with livestock shows, grandstand entertainment, rides, games and more.
Other upcoming events include the Fall Festival with Corn Maze at Coshocton KOA Campgrounds, Self-Drive Fall Farm and Foliage Tour, Oktoberfest at Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, Lake Park Big Band Fall Harvest Dance and the live nativity at Coshocton Christian Tabernacle.
A list of upcoming events:
Fall Festival at Coshocton KOA, 24688 County Road 10, with related events in September and October. The Beer Maze with beer tasting, live music, and food is on September 10. The Wine Your Way Out event with wine tastings is September 16-18, October 23-25 and October 30-2. The Fall Festival is on Saturday in October. 8-29 and features live music, food trucks, craft vendors, corn maze, pumpkin sale, corn box and more.
The Lake Park Big Band will host a Fall Harvest Dance from 8-11 pm on September 17 at Lake Park Pavilion, 23253 Ohio 83. Doors open at 7:15 pm Tickets are available at the door for $15. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Call the Lake Park office at 740-622-7528 for more information or visit coshoctonlakepark.com.
The Coshocton County Fair will be September 30-October 2 at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds, 707 Kenilworth Ave. General admission is $15 per day and children under 2 are free. Seniors and veterans are $7. Grandstand entertainment includes truck and tractor pulls at 7 p.m. Friday and Monday, demolition derby at 7 p.m. Saturday, Bullmania at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, autocross at 7 p.m. Tuesday, rough truck at 7:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. For more information, visit coshoctoncountyfair.org.
Oktoberfest will be from September 30 to October 2 at the Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, 23631 Township Road 167, Fresno. The event will feature a Festbier de Holzfass keg pull at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, a Backwoods BBQ food truck, crafts with brezel necklaces and other activities, people dressed in traditional German garb and more. Visit woolypigfarmbrewery.com for more information.
A fall festival will be from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays in October at Schumaker Farms, 52441 County Road 16, West Lafayette. The event will feature hayrides to a pumpkin patch, corn and straw mazes, games, corn bins, a kids’ zip line, disc golf, food, animals and more. The cost is $10 with children under 2 years free. Visit schumakerfarms.com or call 740-622-8915 for more information.
The Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival will be from 10 am to 6 pm on October 21 and 22 and from 10 am to 5 pm on October 23 at Roscoe Village. Tickets are $5 online and $8 at the door with admission to the living history buildings and parking is free. Visit roscoevillage.com for more information. The festival features homemade apple butter, live music, kids’ crafts, craft and food vendors, town tours and more.
The self-driving Fall Farm and Foliage Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 22 and noon to 5 p.m. on October 23 with maps available at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The tour is a mystery this year with venues announced on the opening day of the tour. Visit coshocton.osu.edu for more information.
Coshocton Halloweekend is still being planned by Our Town Coshocton and the Roscoe Village Business Association for October 28-30 with details to be announced. It will feature a pub crawl, shopping and more.
The annual holiday candle lighting ceremony will be at 6 pm on December 3 and December 10 at Roscoe Village. Activities start at 10 am both days with Christmas shopping and tours of the town. The lighting of the 35-foot tree will include music, a special story and candle lighting by attendees. Visit roscoevillage.com for more information.
A free live drive-through nativity featuring the life of Jesus Christ will be from 6:30 to 8 pm on December 9 and 10 at Coshocton Christian Tabernacle, 23891 Airport Road.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with nearly 15 years of experience in local journalism and multiple Ohio Associated Press awards. You can reach him at 740-295-3417 or [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.