Great festival news! FIVE of our favorite festivals are offering drive-thru and carryout food, ensuring a "portion" of the festivities will go on!
2020 The Summer of Drive-Thru Food Festivals
In case you just landed on earth and haven't heard or seen a news broadcast, we're in the midst of a world-wide pandemic. Ohio Governor, Mike Dewine has mandated the use of masks for most of us in public (please wear one) and limited gatherings to 10 people or less in an effort to slow the spread of this sometimes deadly virus.
We've postponed and canceled thousands of events over the past 5 months, miss each other desperately and need to experience some collective joy! Get ready to wave and honk at these upcoming modified festivals.
1. Schnitzels, brats, metts and more at Germanfest LITE August 14-16
Germanfest LITE fare includes our signature German Schnitzel dinners, brats and metts, our famous Liederkranz potato salad, sauerkraut, pretzels, a wide variety of amazing desserts, including Bienenstich and Strudel. German Beers and swag will be available on site and for carry-out.
There will even be a Donor’s Biergarten, where you can make advance paid reservations for a table for your group of up to 6 people for 2 hours! (Reservations will be strictly limited, and masks and social distancing will be required.)
Full details: 2020 Germanfest LITE
2. World famous chicken at Versailles Poultry Days August 14-16
Normally held the 2nd full week of June, the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to come up with an alternate plan for the Poultry Festival's 48th year. Proceeds from the annual event support Heritage Park in addition to other local non-profit organizations.
The "world famous" chicken is made with a secret blend of spices. Each half chicken is slow cooked over charcoal for two hours while being basted in that secret blend every few minutes leaving the chicken moist and nearly falling off the bone.
This chicken must be worthy of the hype, I left without finding out and hungry after two attempts to score the tasty bird. The 2nd time at 6p on Saturday. The festival sold over 29,000 dinners last year. This year they've only ordered 20,000 half chickens and 8,500 have already been sold.
Bulk coolers of 20 halves can be purchased for $130. Single presale tickets are $8 and can be purchased at Versailles Savings & Loan, Versailles Second National and Johns IGA. Bulk sales end Friday August 7 while single ticket presale continue to August 13.
Full details: 2020 Versailles Poultry Days 2020
3. Take Out Lebanese Festival Food August 29 & 30
Choose from: Kafta, Chicken Shawarma, or Falafel (vegetarian) Platters, Hummus and Rice & Lubyi sides, and Walnut Baklava and Nammoura desserts.
You have 2 options:
1. The drive-thru lane will take you to a food booth located behind the church.
2. Pre-order on the website and you will be routed/directed to the parking lot where you'll be asked to text your last name to someone at the booth and your food will be delivered to you.
Full details: 2020 Take Out Lebanese Festival Food
4. Italian Fall Festa drive-thru Sept 11-13
The Sons of Italy are planning an Italian drive-thru experience. The inside scoop is that food booths and live musicians will be positioned so that we can see and hear them from our cars.
The menu will be limited to keep traffic flowing as we get our pizza, pasta, sausage, and cannoli fixes. They'll be accepting cash only and plan to have ATM machines on site in case you don't get the message or forget.
Full details: 2020 Italian Fall Festa
5. The Dayton Greek Festival Becomes "Greek Fest Express" Sept 11-13
Always the weekend after Labor Day, our friends at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church are planning a "drive-thru" Greek Festival. They are currently working on the details and we'll get them to you as plans are made available.
We're certain there will be sweet treats, gyros, and other mediterranean delights. The menu will likely be somewhat limited. Fingers crossed that we'll be able to carry out Ouzo cocktails. #OpaDayton
Full details: 2020 Greek Fest Express
