If you plan on a visit to the Midwest of the US this year, Ohio is one of the best places to start. It’s a melting pot of cultural diversity, with a celebration of long-time US traditions as well as overseas traditions as a consequence of migration into the state.
One of the big benefits of visiting Ohio is that it sits much closer to the east coast than the west coast of the United States. This can cut flight times from mainland Europe by as much as three or four hours. Ohio has plenty to offer first-time visitors, as the five following events testify.
Asian Festival (Columbus)
Celebrated over May’s Memorial Day Weekend, the Asian Festival in Columbus attracted over 100,000 people and is one of the fastest-growing events in central Ohio. This year, it will be conducted virtually on public health grounds, with celebrations showcasing the cultural heritage and advocating the need for lifelong education among Ohio’s community.
The city also hosts a Dragon Boat Race, which has been staged for the last decade, attracting 24 crews prepared to tackle the Scioto Mile in downtown Columbus.
Cleveland Cavaliers Vs Chicago Bulls (Cleveland)
Even if you aren’t passionate about basketball, and experience of the ferocity of the Cavaliers-Bulls rivalry in the NBA is one that must be seen to be believed. In the Michael Jordan era, when the NBA icon played for the Bulls, Chicago very much had the upper hand over Cleveland.
However, the tables turned when LeBron James was drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. In 2010, James and Cleveland landed a series win over Chicago for the first time and followed that up with a semi-final Eastern Conference win in 2015. The two teams are set to go head-to-head again towards the end of March. It’s a contest that’s sure to attract plenty of NBA picks and predictions, which is ideal if you plan to make any pre-game bets on the money line or point spread before you catch the game at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Hot Balloon Festival (Coshocton)
Head into rural Ohio and the area of Coshocton and you will find the colorful Hot Air Balloon Festival. Staged on the county’s expansive fairgrounds, the locals head out in their droves to watch the colorful hot air balloons take flight in the morning and the evening. If you have a head for heights, you have the choice to take a visit to one of the balloons yourself.
After returning to the fairgrounds, you can also soak up the fun, family-friendly atmosphere which includes live food, plentiful street food options, as well as stage shows throughout the evening.
The Memorial Tournament (Dublin)
Ohio’s biggest sporting events don’t just center on its NBA basketball team, it’s also home to some of the most picturesque golf courses. If you’re a keen golfer yourself – in real life or even the Super Mario Golf courses – you’ll be impressed when you set foot along with Dublin’s Miurfield Village Golf Club. Designed by Jack Nicklaus himself, it sits to the north of the city of Columbus. The Memorial Tournament started in 1976 and has grown into a huge event on the PGA Tour, with a prize purse of more than $9 million.
It’s one of just five events to receive “invitational” status on the PGA Tour, which means visitors can be sure of a high-quality field of players. Tiger Woods became the first to win back-to-back Memorial Tournaments in 2000.
Moonshine Festival (New Straitsville)
In New Straitsville, every year locals celebrate the history of Moonshine, the drink brewed in spite of the US era of prohibition. The Moonshine Festival obtains temporary authority permits to enable its five-day event to show tourists just how Moonshine came to pass and the lengths locals went to create it at the time. Visitors can even take the chance to acquire some Moonshine of their own.
During the festival, there are a string of roadshows, including games and competitions, inspired by Moonshine. Locals place a huge emphasis on this event in their summertime diaries, so it’s a great way for visitors to get under the skin of Ohio life.
