Adam Skuratowicz stops to take photos of Deborah Billow and Moira Skuratowicz in pawpaw cut outs at the 28th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival at the Snow Fork Event Center. All three were first-year attendees and traveled from Columbus, Ohio, for the festival. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.
BUCHTEL, Ohio — The 28th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival took place this past weekend at the Snow Fork Event Center near Buchtel, its first year in the new location.
Rain caused an evacuation and temporary shut down on Saturday and a full closure of the event on Sunday, but while able, attendees enjoyed an array of educational and recreational opportunities including live music, presentations, and camping.
Sylvia Whitney, 6, takes a turn on the rope swing during the Pawpaw Festival held Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at the Snow fork Event Center in Nelsonville, Ohio. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.Adam Skuratowicz stops to take photos of Deborah Billow and Moira Skuratowicz in pawpaw cut outs at the 28th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival at the Snow Fork Event Center. All three were first-year attendees and traveled from Columbus, Ohio, for the festival. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn. Attendees participate in an introduction to qigong in the holistic wellness tent during Ohio Pawpaw Festival. The tent was one of several ongoing scheduled activities that provided a range of educational opportunities for festival attendees. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.The Ohio Pawpaw Festival temporarily shut down Saturday; attendees were asked to either evacuate or find shelter due to severe thunderstorms. Many attendees found shelter to ride out the storm, or simply embraced the storm. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn. Mac Auger, 2, took to the mud puddles once the storm passed and activities resumed during the Ohio Pawpaw Festival. Rain and storms temporarily shut down the festival. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.Kulumi Allen, 3, wasted no time hitting the mud puddles once the storm passed during the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, held Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn. Athens County Commissioner and Ohio Pawpaw Festival founder Chris Chmiel introduces the contestants for the pawpaw eating contest. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.Claire Channey-Zimmerman, 3, takes a mid-festival nap on the shoulder of her mother, Becka Channey-Zimmerman. Becka, who is from Albany, stated the family decided to camp the festival this year after the venue change took the festival further away from their home. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.Festival attendees were asked to evacuate the event after severe thunderstorms appeared in the area during the Ohio Pawpaw Festival. The festival temporarily shut down and resumed activities once the weather cleared. However, rain continued later into the night, forcing a closure of the festival the following day. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn. Storms rolled in, forcing a temporary shut down during the 28th annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival. While Saturday’s events were placed on hold while the storms passed, continued rain forced a complete shutdown of the festival the following day. Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Leah Nairn.
