CRESTLINE, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)— The Crestline Harvest Festival will began on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and will continue through Friday and Saturday, with the festival opening at 12:00 p.m. on both days.
The Crestline Harvest Festival first began in the ‘70s as the Antique Festival, and since then, it has grown.
Courtney Moody, from the Crestline Harvest Festival, says that the committee for the festival has been dedicated to growing the festival year after year.
“To us, the Crestline Harvest Festival is the official kickoff to the harvest and Autumn season,” says Moody.
The festival will began on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. with the opening of the Midway. Rides will also open at 5:00 p.m., and tickets for rides are being sold for $1.50 for one ticket or $20 for 24 tickets. All-day wristbands for rides can also be purchased for $20. Both the Midway and the rides will be available until 10:00 p.m.
The Opening Ceremony was at 5:00 p.m. on the Main Stage. Following the Opening Ceremony, the 2026 Harvest Festival Royalty Crowning will take place on the Main Stage at 5:15 p.m.
On Friday, the festival continues with the Midway opening at noon, which will be open until 11:00 p.m. Rides will open at 4:00 p.m. and will be available until 10:00 p.m.
At 6:00 p.m., Bulldogs Backers Night will take place at St. Joseph Convocation Center until 11:00 p.m., and Sky Circus will be performing the Midway Show from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm.
On Saturday, the celebration continues bright and early with the Crestline Fire Department Pancake Breakfast beginning at 7:00 a.m. at the Fire Station.
The Harvest Festival 5K Color Run will begin at 9:00 a.m. The run is presented by Avita Health System and will take place at Crestline High School.
At 9:00 a.m., the Back the Blue Car & Motorcycle Show will be held at the Village Hall parking lot/Seltzer Street, and starting at 11:00 a.m., the Craft Show will take place at the Methodist Church.
The Midway and rides will open at noon, with rides being available until 10:00 p.m. and the Midway until 11:00 p.m. From noon to 2:00 p.m., Taylor’s Balloon Twisting will be available at the Kids Stage, making free balloon creations for kids.
The Royal Princesses will be available from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Spots Rolling Bean Coffee Co., where kids can stop by and meet Merida and Belle. The Crestline Swim Team Jeep Invasion will also be taking place on Seltzer Street at 12:30 p.m.
The parade will start at 3:30 p.m., beginning at Kelly Park and heading down Bucyrus Street to Seltzer Street. The parade will disperse at the underpass on Scott Street.
Glovation Circus will be performing the Midway Show on Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
A number of musical performances will be happening throughout the festival as well all on the Main Stage.
On Thursday, Sorelle will be performing at 6:00 p.m., and Pioneer Performing Arts will be performing at 8:30 p.m.
On Friday, Anything Blue will perform at 6:00 p.m., and Direct Energy will perform at 8:30 p.m.
Finally, on Saturday, the last day of the festival, 10 Talents will perform at 5:00 p.m., and Kaitlyn Schmit & Friends will perform at 7:30 p.m.
There will also be a number of contests occurring throughout the festival.
Friday on the Main Stage, the Adult Hay Bale Toss Contest will be at 5:15 p.m.
On Saturday, the last day of the festival, a number of contests will be happening on the Kids Stage.
The Crestline Cutie Contest will take place at 11:30 a.m., and the Limbo Contest will be held at 12:45 p.m.
At 1:00 p.m., the Hula Hoop Contest will take place, following this, the Water Balloon Tossing Contest will occur at 1:15 p.m.
Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the Cookie Face Contest will take place, and at 1:45 p.m., the Boys and Girls Hale Bay Tossing Contest will be held.
There will also be a couple of contests taking place on the Main Stage on Saturday as well. The Beard/Mustache/Mullet Contest will be at 4:30 p.m., and the Adult Pizza Eating Contest will follow at 4:45 p.m.
Moody says that the festival has a way of bringing the community together.
“It feels like the entire town comes together for the festival,” says Moody. “Whether you live here or are from here and came back for the festival, it’s hard to walk three feet down the Midway without seeing someone you know.”
More information on the Crestline Harvest Festival, as well as event times and dates, can be found on crestlineharvestfestival.org.