The first-ever Ohio Bat Festival takes flight next weekend

Just in time for Hallowen (and National Bat Week), the first-ever Ohio Bat Festival is getting ready to spread its wings.

The event, which is free, will take place from 12-5 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

Created by OSU bat researcher Gerald Carter, the new festival was actually supposed to kick off several years ago.

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“I got to OSU in 2018, and I had proposed to do the festival shortly afterwards, but then the pandemic hit and we haven’t had a chance until now,” Carter said. “ It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’ve seen similar events in other places and always thought it would be a good way to teach people about bats.”

The first-ever Ohio Bat Festival will feature multimedia presentations by Ohio bat experts, a costume contest, a kids activities room, museum specimens and even a live Ohio brown bat from 3-5 p.m.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new October issue here!