Ever wonder what would happen if a food court and a craft mall had a baby and then had that baby out in the woods? If you have, then I have a surprise for you.
Before I go any further, I want to preface this by saying I have enjoyed the Backwoods Fest for several years. I have enjoyed walking around the woods, looking at their wares, and eating food. But over the years, news of this event has gotten around. Each year I have gone, the crowd gets bigger and bigger, which is reasonable for the venue but could be a better experience for the consumer. So, let me explain what happened the last couple of years I went.
Hidden in the woods of a local farmer in Thornville, located 17 miles outside of Lancaster, OH, the Backwoods Fest was born in 1996. This festival is held in the 3rd week of September.
Given its remote location, it's easy to think only a few people would know of its existence. You would be wrong to think this because I know I blushed when I showed up with my family. We had to sit in traffic for nearly 45 minutes or more, waiting for the traffic to move. And there's no good way to get around it, either. You must sit there and stay while the Ohio State Patrol navigates you to the parking area.
Once you have crossed the terrain to get to the parking area, which is free, thankfully, you get to park on someone's field. It is a substantial field, so if you have a lot of small kids with you, be ready for a long walk, or you can take a tractor ride to get to the front gate. Still, you must wait for it, as many people take advantage of the free ride.
The entry fee to the gate is $12 per person, and then once you are in, you will have access to acres and acres of crafts, but first, you have to survive the gauntlet that is the food court.
The food court is packed, and I mean loaded with people. So much so it is nearly impossible to find somewhere to sit to eat your meal. And the lines to each food vendor are long. Too long. People are packed so close it's hard to tell where one line ends and the other begins. I stood in line for a bratwurst next to another vendor and had to ask who was in what line. The wait for the brat was awful, too. When I finally got to the front of the line, ordered, and carried my food back to consume it, I had to stand against a weathered wooden fence with my husband and daughter. At the same time, we ate with a bunch of other strangers. I was so upset I couldn't enjoy it.
Now, is that to say this festival is all bad? Of course not. Once you get out of the food court, it's actually adorable. Walking around the woods looking at knickknacks helped me forget the last hour or so of stopping and starting, and I could look at items without too much hassle. It's still crowded, but you can move around to get out of other people's way.
On your little pleasant walk through the woods, you can encounter a variety of vendors selling anything from hot drinks to handmade crafts. Still, the best part is the live music sprinkled in various locations throughout the venue. It's truly a sight and sound to behold. Some even come dressed in costume for the occasion. While you listen, leave a tip for your troubadour's efforts and purchase some merchandise from them.
Pets are no longer allowed at the Backwoods Fest since some dog owners had difficulty cleaning up after their furry friend, not to mention the liability that would come if someone was bitten, so make sure to keep pets at home.
Backwoods used to have a corn maze and a frontier village you could visit. Still, for some
reason, they did away with it, which was disappointing because it was some of the things my daughter loved. So there needs to be more to do for small kids.
Since the fest is out in the woods, you may wonder about the bathroom situation. Well, it's port-a-potties, obviously. The line for the restroom is staggering, but thankfully, it moves quickly. So, if it's an emergency, be ready for a wait.
Despite the god-awful wait time, the Backwoods Fest is enchanting. If you don't mind waiting in line to get to the festival and get something to eat, you'll have a good time.
If you are not a big fan of crowds, get up early and get there as soon as it opens so you won't suffer whiplash from stopping and starting for an hour or more.
Let me end this by saying this experience is not felt by everyone. As I said, I have enjoyed going to Backwoods Fest for many years without issue, but as the venue grows, so does the crowd. By all means, go, but be aware of what you are getting into.
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