Everybody has their favorite Ohio festivals. Perennial favorites like the Troy Strawberry Festival, Ohio State Fair, and the Circleville Pumpkin Show have kept generations of Ohio families coming back year after year. These are well-known and well-loved festivals in Ohio, sure — but there are so many *other* wholly unique, and yes, even a bit quirky, festivals worth experiencing in the Buckeye State. The Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival most certainly falls in this category. A celebration of the Buckeye State’s freshwater shrimp harvest (yes — that’s a thing!), we guarantee you’ve never experienced a fall festival in Ohio like this before.

Did you know that Ohio has its own fresh shrimp farms? And that you could literally feast on fresh-from-the-water seafood... in the Buckeye State?
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
Don't believe us? Well, then might we invite you to head to Freshwater Farms of Ohio in Urbana in September for the annual Fish and Shrimp Festival.
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
You'll find this fish farm and hatchery at 2624 US-68, Urbana, OH, 43078.
Freshwater Farms of Ohio is the largest indoor fish hatchery in the state of Ohio, raising up to 100,000 pounds of fish annually, including rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, fathead minnows, goldfish, and even koi.
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
Shrimp are Freshwater Farms' pride and joy, however. The shrimp are put into the ponds in June and harvested during the third week in September.
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook

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Freshwater shrimp are comparable to “fresh-off-the-boat” saltwater shrimp and have a firm, juicy texture that's irresistibly delicious and will truly spoil you for life!
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
Between the fresh-caught far from the hatchery, you'll find all sorts of other food vendors at the event, adding a robust lineup of both seafood *and* food festival favorites.
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
In addition to all.the.seafood, this festival also offers live music and lots of family-friendly fun, including...
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
...fish petting. Ah, yes. If the "pet fish" part of the headline piqued your interest, here's the deal: visitors can engage in hands-on activities such as participating in the Trout Feeding Frenzy, sand castle play zone, and (drumroll please) the famous sturgeon pool, where folks can pet Ohio’s largest native fish!
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook
From start to finish, the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival is nonstop fun, festivities... and fish!
Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival/Facebook

Are you ready to feast on fresh seafood? Mark your calendars for the 2023 Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival, which happens Sept. 9, 16, and 23 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Freshwater Farms of Ohio.

It might seem counterintuitive, but Ohio is actually a great state to be in if you like fresh seafood. We might not be near the ocean, but the North Coast offers some pretty stellar fishing and fresh catches! In addition to the epic Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival, you can find fresh-caught Lake Erie Perch at Jolly Roger’s Seafood House.

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Featured Addresses
Freshwater Farms of Ohio, 2624 US-68, Urbana, OH 43078, USA