23rd Annual Festival to Celebrate Fish and Shrimp – and Music September 6, 13 and 20

​Music, by popular local and regional bands, has been a key part of the annual Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival at Freshwater Farms of Ohio, north of Urbana. This year, the 23rd edition, music has been added to the event title – the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Music Festival

​The festival will be held three consecutive Saturdays, Sept. 6, 13 and 20, at Freshwater Farms of Ohio, 2624 N. U.S. 68, just north of Urbana.

Admission covers the live music, the farm’s sturgeon petting zoo, fish and critter displays, bounce houses, art and craft vendors and the kids’ play zone. Parking is free, with golf cart shuttles available. The admission gate will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission will be $10 for ages 13 and up, and $5 for ages 3 to 12. Admission is free for 2 and under.

Over the three weekends, 12 bands will represent an array of genres, such as rock, country rock, bluegrass/folk, rhythm and blues, reggae and Celtic.

They’ll perform on the outdoor stage, in front of tables and chairs, where guests can enjoy a wide selection of seafood, other foods and beverages. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Seating also will be available at the farm’s fountain display area and the Rainbow Project, which features a wisteria dome and wildflower meadow maze.

The bands include:

• September 6: Eleyet McConnell, the Matt Clarkson Band, the Ark Band and Parrots of the Caribbean
• September 13: Anna Paolucci, the LA band, Steve Free and Rumpke Mountain Boys
• September 20: Dulahan, John Batdorf, Ladies of Langford and the Bastard Bearded Irishmen

For the complete music schedule and more festival information, visit fwfarms.com/festival.

Food selections include Freshwater Farms’ rainbow trout, coconut crusted shrimp and fries, grilled shrimp and fries, flight of smoked fish spreads, breaded shrimp and fries, fish and fries, jambalaya, shrimp cocktail, edamame salad and cole slaw. A variety of food trucks will offer a wide range of other selections.

Charlie’s Bar by Freshwater Farms will serve beer on tap, craft beers, wine, margaritas and mead.

Other festival features include:

• Games for children and adults: Angry Fish Throwing Game, Battling Water Balloon Catapults, Live Goldfish Bowl Toss and John Darts Target Game
• Four inflatable bounce houses, Duck Flush Water Vortex, face painting, balloon sculptures and Pirate Treasure Sand Dig
• Critter displays, including the sturgeon petting zoo, touch tanks, trout feeding by hand (bring quarters)
• The Freshwater Farms of Ohio Farm Market, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day

For more information about the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Music Festival, visit fwfarms.com/festival or the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Music Festival Facebook page. Freshwater Farms of Ohio is the largest indoor fish hatchery in the state.