Fest-goers gathered in Albany over the weekend for the 16th annual Pawpaw Festival.
The song, “The Paw-Paw Patch,” may have popularized the pawpaw fruit for some, but if you live anywhere near Athens, there’s a good chance you know a lot more about the crop.
There was a lot to learn about the fruit at this weekend’s 16th annual Pawpaw Festival, which took place in Albany, about 10 miles from campus.
There were educational exhibits, live music, and pawpaw-themed food, including pancakes and beer. The festival started on Friday and went through Sunday night.
“It’s a part of the heritage (of Southeast Ohio) — that’s the beautiful thing about what we’re doing here,” said Chris Chmiel, county commissioner and owner of Integration Acres. “I’m proud of that community-type feeling we have here.”
Shuttle buses were offered from the bottom of Baker University Center. Tickets to enter were $10 per day or $20 for all three days.
Many of the vendors inside the festival incorporated the unique fruit into their offerings.
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The Not Guilty Food Cart, run by Jay and Donna Wamsley, was sporting its pawpaw pleasure smoothie and offered to put the fruit on any sandwich that was ordered. This is the second year that the vendor has worked at the festival, but the couple have attended the fest previously as visitors.
“People really enjoy the festival, and it has gained a lot of notoriety,” Donna said.
The fruit has a “complex” flavor, said Ron Powell, president of the North American Pawpaw Growers Association.
“You got a mixture of flavors of banana and mango with an aftertaste of melon,” he added.
A preliminary estimate of the number of attendees was not immediately available.
“It’s very eclectic; the Pawpaw festival is not any one sort of person,” said Molly Mcgraw, a graduate student at Ohio University. “All of the vendors sell something different. There’s not just one sort of thing, which is nice.”
