It's summer's last big weekend: Don't blow it. Here are three picks for holiday happenings:
The Great Geauga County Fair
Yes, “great” is an official part of the name of the 190-year-old Great Geauga County Fair — the oldest and one of the biggest county fairs in Ohio. The five-day event in Burton features an overwhelming array of things to see, do, and eat. The most popular attractions involve vehicles doing things they’re better off not doing in real life: tractor and truck pulls (Sunday), FMX Freestyle Motocross (Monday), and of course the essential and wildly popular demolition derbies ( Saturday). For those who prefer their fair entertainment without ear-shattering noise and exhaust fumes, there are twice-daily performances by the Geauga County Fair Band, a group of amateur players founded in 1938 that performs traditional band tunes at festivals and parades throughout the summer. The obligatory country artist, performing in the grandstand at 8 p.m. Friday, is Chris Higbee. (It probably won’t help his cause to tell you that the Pennsylvania-born fiddler was a member of the Povertyneck Hillbillies, who were the official band of the Pittsburgh Steelers.) The fair runs from 9 a.m. to midnight today through Monday. Admission is $7; kids under 12 are free. Grandstand motor-sports events require an additional admission; buying tickets in advance is highly recommended (you can do so online).
14373 North Cheshire St., Burton, 440-834-1846, geaugafair.com
The Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest
The place to go this weekend for some serious outdoor eating is the Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. And you know Germans: They take their
