Ohio Rural Heritage Festival held in Ripley

Many people of Brown County and the surrounding area traveled to Front Street in Ripley Aug. 22-24 to join in the celebration of Ohio’s rural heritage during the annual Ohio Rural Heritage Festival. Once known as the Ohio Tobacco Festival, an event that attracted thousands to the Village of Ripley around this time each year, the Ohio Rural Heritage Festival continues to attract large crowds to Ripley and bring back memories of the days of the tobacco festival.

The Ohio Rural Heritage Festival still sticks to tradition when it comes to some of the events that take place, including the popular queen pageant.

This year’s Ohio Rural Heritage Fest saw eight outstanding contestants taking part in the 2024 queen pageant held Aug. 22, including: Gracie Blackburn, 17, of Ripley; Jenna Carrington, 18, of Georgetown; Rose Steigerwald, 17, of Winchester; Grace Taylor, 17, of Ripley; Lillienne Shafer, 17, of Georgetown; Rylie Cahall, 16, of Georgetown; Lakynn Brooks, 19, of Ripley; and Kinzington Muse, 16, of Ripley.

Crowned the 2024 Ohio Rural Heritage Festival Queen was Gracie Blackburn.

Finishing as first runner-up in the queen pageant was Rylie Cahall, and second runner-up was Grace Taylor.

Prior to the queen pageant on Aug. 22 was the annual Ohio Rural Heritage Festival Princess Pageant, and crowned this year’s Ohio Rural Heritage Festival Princess was Olivia Kirk, of Georgetown. First runner-up in the princess pageant was Elli Hedges, of Ripley; and second runner-up was Ashlynn Schmitt, of Georgetown.

This marked the 10th year of the Ohio Rural Heritage Festival, and the grand marshals for this year’s festival were all United States Military veterans.

Live entertainment on Aug. 22 included Elvis impersonator, Bryce Thompson.

At 10 a.m. on Aug. 23 was the Shining Star Special Needs Pageant in memory of Opie Eichhorn. Named Mr. Shining Star was Robert Cox.

The pie/cake contest was held on the evening of Aug. 23.

Live entertainment on Aug. 23 included local band Shuffle.

The annual Bob Groh Memorial Car/Truck/Motorcycle Show drew quite the crowd to Main Street on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Other Aug. 24 events included the baby/toddler/child pageant, and the junior miss pageant.

Once again, the Ohio Rural Heritage Festival was a success, drawing crowds of people to the banks of the Ohio River in Ripley each day to help carry on a longtime tradition in Brown County.