SYLVANIA — One of Northwest Ohio’s longest-running fall traditions returns this weekend, as the 40th annual Sylvania Fall Festival takes over Centennial Terrace on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, with live music, vendors, family activities and the festival parade.
The weekend opens Saturday at Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Road, with live music through the afternoon and evening. North of Nashville performs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by Andi Jo Taylor from 5 to 8 p.m., while food trucks, local vendors and festival booths fill the grounds. Saturday’s schedule runs into the evening, making the first day a good option for visitors who want the music and market without Sunday’s larger parade-day crowds.
Saturday also brings the festival’s sixth annual cornhole tournament, starting at 4 p.m. Teams will compete for custom championship boards, a cash prize and bragging rights, with registration handled through the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce.
Sunday is the festival’s biggest day. The annual parade steps off at 1 p.m. from Pacesetter Park and features the Northview and Southview marching bands, local dance and twirling groups, and a tribute to the festival’s 2026 grand marshal.
Families will find a full kids zone on Sunday, with a bounce house, pony rides, a petting zoo and a complimentary pumpkin patch, presented this year with Turner Martial Arts. Trick-or-treating follows the parade at about 2 p.m., and Distant Cousinz provide Sunday’s live music from 2 to 4 p.m.
Craft and farmers market vendors and community organization booths round out the Sunday lineup, giving local makers, growers, schools and nonprofits a place in what organizers describe as the community’s largest annual gathering — a tradition that has brought Sylvania together each fall for four decades.
Getting there is designed to be simple. A free shuttle will run on a continuous loop from the parking lot at Brint Road and Centennial Road to Centennial Terrace, operating from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
The festival is presented by the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce working with a volunteer committee drawn from the city, the township, Sylvania Schools and other community partners. For schedules, registration and updates, contact the chamber at 419-882-2135 or visit sylvaniachamber.org before heading out.
