This woodsy, three-day music festival features 300 different food and artisan vendors

Jack McLaughlin

For nearly 30 years, Backwoods Fest has stood as a hidden gem among many of the more popular Ohio music festivals.

We’re deciding to let the secret out.

Located just outside the village of Thornville, Ohio (located roughly 30 miles from downtown Columbus), this bluegrass music festival is held in a massive, heavily wooded, outdoor venue. With an on-site barn and plenty of freshly-harvested pumpkins adorning the wooden outposts and vendor stands, the fest—which has been held since the mid 1990’s—stays true to its name.

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And speaking of vendors, this year’s festival plans to host no less than 300 of them, with more than enough dining options (the event boasts 30 different types of cuisine available this year), local makers and artisans than you could possibly get to in one afternoon.

So it’s good that Backwoods Fest is three days long. Held at 8572 High Point Rd. in Thornville, the festival will take place Sept. 17-19. Tickets, which will run you only $10, can be purchased on the Backwoods Fest website.

And while the myriad of local vendors and open fire, kettle-cooked eats is more than enough to warrant a trip out to Thornville, each day will also be packed with live bluegrass music. Held on multiple stages throughout the spacious, outdoor venue, bands will perform daily from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

You can check out the full music lineup here.

If you like this, read: Columbus brewery to host massive beer and music festival

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