If There's One Fall Festival You Attend Near Cleveland, Make It The Johnny Appleseed Festival

Each autumn, one suburb at the edge of the Cuyahoga County border becomes quite busy. There’s a business on Pearl Road — yes, the stretch of Route 42 that runs from Cleveland down south — that comes to life as the leaves just start to change. Of course, we’re talking about Mapleside Farms, a plot of land that has remained agricultural since Brunswick, Ohio was first settled. It’s a worthy destination for fall fun, as the autumn festivals at Mapleside are almost legendary to Northeast Ohioans. The Cleveland Johnny Appleseed Festival is their most famous, however, and it’s an early fall event that makes a fantastic kickoff to a whole season of fun. Mark your calendar, because this epic Ohio fall festival will be here before you know it!

yolanda Robinson/Google Images

This place is filled to the brim with history. I should know — I played Millie Tillotson, the daughter of the farm's founding settlers, in several historical reenactments, including one that took place right at Mapleside. The Tillotsons arrived in the early 1800s and got to work establishing a farm. Millie was, arguably, the one to put it on the map. She rode up to Cleveland on a horse to snag some pink fabric — a stark contrast to the drab colors of the era — and had a local milliner craft a new dress for her. Locals called it "gaudy," and they couldn't stop talking about it! It was such hot gossip that the tale has become permanently cemented in local history books. Since the Tillotsons, only two families have cared for this farm in the past 200 years... the Eyssens and the Clements. 

(By the way, if you want to visit Millie and the rest of the Tillotson clan, they're buried around the corner in Valley City's Myrtle Hill Cemetery.)

Erik Drost/Flickr

You'll want to mark your calendar for this year's event, as it's one you won't want to miss. The festival seems to get bigger every year, and locals rave about it each season. Festival season at Mapleside kicks off with the opening of Pumpkin Village, which features all sorts of family-oriented attractions with an irresistible fall theme.

Advertisement

Mapleside Farms/Facebook

This festival is so boppin' that Amelia Earhart, Paul Bunyan, and Pocahontas are among the guests that stop by to celebrate. You'll love hearing their stories and learning about their place in history!

Advertisement

Mapleside Farms/Google Images

If you didn't know, Johnny Appleseed was actually a real person, and he was rather active in Ohio. There's even a cutting from one of his original apple trees on site, which isn't a huge surprise given his proximity to the area. While his apples were most likely used to make alcoholic libations in the early frontier, there's no better way to honor his memory than by indulging in apple-themed goodies during your visit. Don't forget to grab some cider to take home, too!

Oh, and if you're up for a unique show, check out the Apple Cider Donut World Championship. It's a competitive eating contest like no other, and you can only experience it during the Johnny Appleseed Festival!

Erik Drost/Flickr

This gourd-geous wall has become an iconic attraction at Mapleside. It's delightfully photogenic, and it makes a fantastic backdrop to performances and general fall fun.

Related Stories

The One Hikeable Lake Near Cleveland That's Simply Breathtaking In The Fall

Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Cleveland's Fall Foliage In 2023

Here Are The 7 Absolute Best Pumpkin Patches In Cleveland To Enjoy In 2023

Erik Drost/Flickr

The Mapleside corn maze is massive, and it is often hailed as one of the very best in the Midwest. It often features a unique design that's best viewed from the sky, but it is endlessly fun to wind your way out.

Tadd Gorfido/Google Images

Two massive jump pillows absolutely entrance younger visitors, and additional attractions like the cow and pig train add some old-fashioned fun to the experience. With music, pig races, apple pie, and more, your kids will be fondly remembering this experience for years to come.

Erik Drost/Flickr

This 311-foot hillside slide in Greater Cleveland is the longest in the country, and it's not for the faint of heart. Photos don't quite do it justice. Back in my days as a reporter (because I apparently have a long list of embarrassing and well-documented moments at Mapleside), I went down this slide and I was... well, not quite dressed for it. I was wearing a pencil skirt and heels, but hey, good storytelling requires real experiences, right? So there I was, zipping down the hillside at speeds a cheetah probably couldn't break, screaming as small children gracefully soared past with enthusiastic exclamations of "whee!" Let me just offer a word of wisdom... gravity makes you go really fast, my friend.

Advertisement

Erik Drost/Flickr

While many attractions at Mapleside may be familiar, there's just something about the combination of unique history, beautiful scenery, and undeniable nostalgia that makes experiences here so fun. You'll want to bring the camera, because cherished memories are made here all season long.

Letitia Carroll/Google Images

Don't be afraid to grab a cider, snack on a donut, and chill out on the hillside for a bit. There's so much to love at Mapleside Farms in Brunswick!

Mike Malcor/Google Images

Set your GPS navigation to 294 Pearl Rd, Brunswick, OH, 44212. You don't want to miss this event!

The annual Cleveland Johnny Appleseed Festival is an awesome way to kick off an entire season of fall fun. It’s been going on for years… if you’ve attended a past festival, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Looking for more early autumn fun in Cleveland? Check out our Cleveland Metroparks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park leaf-peeping road trip.