Published July 29, 2024

5 Reasons Small Farm & Food Fest is a not-to-miss event for families and foodies

Join your Five Rivers MetroParks for Small Farm & Food Fest on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free, all-ages festival offers hands-on activities, demonstrations, local speakers and a pop-up farmers market that focuses on healthy eating and sustainable living.

Small Farm & Food Fest will offer a mix of modern-day and historical farming, gardening, homesteading and food preparation information, as well as shopping and dining options.

Here are five reasons not to miss this, free, family-friendly event:

Shop at the pop-up farmers market. There will be a unique selection of vendors offering everything from meat and produce, native plants, handcrafted soaps, and beyond.
Learn something new. Several local experts will discuss subjects including the benefits of farm fresh eggs, making your own kombucha, profiting from a small farm, fall planting, cooking with heirloom tomatoes, coffee 101 and growing mushrooms at home. Community organizations and small businesses will also be on site, sharing their expertise on food systems, composting, gardening, outdoor education and more.
Support local. There will be a variety of local small businesses – including food trucks – at the festival. Grab a bite from McNastys, Pa’s Pork, I Heart Ice Cream, Kona Shaved Ice, Travelin’ Toms Coffee, The Lumpia Queen and El Buen Taco.
Connect with history. Festivalgoers will experience modern-day and historical farming techniques, along with gardening, food preparation, cooking, homesteading and home sustainability information. You will also learn about country fairs in the 1880s and how they have influenced the fairs we know today.
See something new. You can’t miss seeing staff and volunteers steam sweet corn using an antique steam engine. The steam engine was an integral part of life in the late 1800s, aiding farmers in a variety of ways.

Learn more about Five Rivers MetroParks’ Small Farm & Food Fest, supported by Apple Farm Service and media sponsor Edible Ohio Valley, at metroparks.org/farmfest.

Know Before You Go

All food vendors will be participating in MetroParks’ waste-free initiative. Visitors can help keep MetroParks keep Small Farm & Food Fest a waste-free event by bringing a reusable water bottle and visiting the designated waste stations where volunteers will help festivalgoers sort their trash.

Save the Date: Sunset at the Market

The 2nd Street Market is celebrating National Farmers Market Week with a special Sunset at the Market. On Thursday, Aug. 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., visitors can shop a variety of vendors, including all your favorite permanent vendors, as well as enjoy food tastings and demos, workshops, pop-up vendors, and live music.

Learn more about the schedule of entertainment and activities here.