Vermilion River Fest

Join the Lorain County Metro Parks for an all-new, family-friendly event at Vermilion River Reservation on Saturday, September 21, from 3 pm to 8 pm. The Vermilion River Fest welcomes all ages to enjoy live music, food vendors, kids’ games, nature activities, wagon rides, a rock-climbing wall, and more! This event is free, and registration is not required. Some activities and vendors may require minimal fees and may be cash only. The event takes place on the Bacon Woods side of the park, and overflow parking is available at Mill Hollow.

Grab a tasty morsel from local food vendors with various delectable treats and savory dishes. Stop by and support the Friends of the Metro Parks by purchasing a delicious apple fritter or delight in a glass of local apple cider. Then, step over to the craft tables where kids can decorate a pumpkin, create a scarecrow, and brush up on their rock painting skills. Kids will have a ball on the beloved Bacon Woods sledding hill—but instead of sleds and snow, they’ll be able to try their hand at old-fashioned fun with apple rolling.

Need time for a quiet break? Pile on our wood wagon to enjoy a scenic tractor ride through the picturesque park. Then head back to enjoy more activities with face painting, rock skipping, pond fishing, fly fishing demonstrations on the river, naturalist-led hikes, wildlife touch stations, nature and science fun, and the list goes on. Plus, live music in the outdoor amphitheater will set the backdrop and steal the stage with performances by Front Porch Jammin and Cats on Holiday.

As the sun sets, bonfires will light the evening and offer a chance to enjoy a gooey s’more. If you’d like to walk off those calories, naturalists will offer night hikes for a unique view of the Bacon Woods trails after dark.

Enjoy this evening of fun and memory-making at the park district’s founding park, Vermilion River Reservation. Spanning two adjacent areas separated by the river—Mill Hollow on one side and Bacon Woods on the other—this park is great for family picnics and nature lovers. Mill Hollow opened in 1960 as the first Lorain County Metro Park and is still a favorite among Lorain County residents today. This park offers a winding ribbon of shale cliffs carved by the Vermilion River. Millions of years old, these cliffs reveal layers of the past and drop bits of sandstone, shale, and turtlerock along the riverbed. The river valley holds diverse communities of animal and plant life at one of the most historic sites in Lorain County.