Freshwater Farms in Urbana Ohio plays host this weekend to the 13th annual Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival. Festivities kick off Friday evening with live music, mouth-watering seafood selections from theFreshwater Farms food booth as well a variety of food options from other vendors, games and activities for the whole family. There will be freshly harvested shrimp from multiple farmers for sale beginning Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. HURRY – They typically sell out early!
Now a three day event, the festival was originally one day only, held in the streets of downtown Urbana on a Saturday. The streets were blocked off and filled with displays of live fish, street-crossing fountains, games, vendors and live music. The festival crowds grew each year and so did the need for a larger venue. In 2005, the festival was moved to Freshwater Farms of Ohio, one mile north of Urbana, where it’s still held today.
Enjoy extensive displays of live fish, frogs, turtles and other native critters. Swing by the fish farm market for a taste of gourmet smoked trout products. Join in on the Trout Feeding Frenzy, sand castle play zone & treasure dig, and the famous sturgeon petting zoo, where you can pet Ohio’s largest native fish. The music lineup includes rock, folk and reggae! The music and the atmosphere are suitable for all ages. Tables & chairs are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own lawn chair or blankets.
Shrimp Peeling and Eating Contest
2:30 pm on Saturday, September 20th
Location: Main Stage
Contestants battle it out to see who can peel and eat their plate of freshwater shrimp the fastest. This contest only
takes place once during the festival. So, bring your appetite and be prepared to stuff yourself! Winner will receive a $50
cash prize. Limit 25 participants. Register at the festival information booth. Fee is $5 per contestant.
Freshwater Farms raises freshwater shrimp in local ponds. Shrimp… in Ohio? That’s right! Because these shrimp can only survive in warm water, they need to be harvested before the weather turns colder. There’s no way they would be able to survive a harsh Ohio winter. Shrimp are put into the ponds in June and harvested during the third week in September. Freshwater shrimp are comparable to “fresh-off-the-boat” saltwater shrimp and have a firm, juicy texture. They are also an excellent source of high-quality protein and are low in fat. Freshwater Farms’ shrimp are raised in clean, chemical-free waters, resulting in a healthier product that is locally grown. The week of the festival is the only week of the year that fresh shrimp is available for purchase.
Freshwater Farms of Ohio is the state’s largest indoor fish hatchery, raising up to 100,000 pounds of fish yearly. The farm raises rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, fathead minnows, goldfish and koi. The fish are raised both indoors and outdoors and are available for stocking or as processed products. A century-old barn has been converted into a retail store that sells fresh rainbow trout fillets, popular smoked trout fillets and spreads, Ohio-grown products such as maple syrup and cheese. A wide variety of pond and water garden supplies, fountains, equipment and feeds are also available. Explore the farm during the festival to view numerous displays of live fish and other aquatic animals, learn about aquaculture, pet the endangered sturgeon, feed our trout and shop the retail store.
How To GO:
Located one mile north of Urbana at 2624 North US Hwy. 68
September 19th, 20th & 21st, 2014
FRIDAY: 4pm-9 pm (Music Extended to 10 p.m.)
SATURDAY: 10 am – 8pm (Music Extended to 8:30 p.m.)
SUNDAY: 11 am – 5 pm
2014 General Admission: $4
Ages 3-12: $2
2 & Under: Free
Return for FREE all weekend!
Get your hand stamped before you leave and return again for free… whether you’re coming back in an hour or the next day.
CASH ONLY. Tickets are only available for purchase at the event. Admission to the festival includes access to all live music concerts, the sturgeon petting zoo, fish & critter displays and more!
There’s plenty of free parking in the field adjacent to the festival. If this parking lot happens to fills up, there is overflow parking available in another field just south of the property and along Highway 68. As a courtesy to our festival guests, they will have golf carts in the parking lot to help you get to and from your car.
