You don't have to be a twin to enjoy Twinsburg's Twins Days Festival every August.NORTHEAST
It's twice as much fun as any ordinary festival -- and not only for the twins in attendance.
The Twins Days Festival, held every August, is the largest annual gathering of twins worldwide, a multiday celebration of multiple births that draws up to 40,000 visitors a year to the town of Twinsburg, halfway between Cleveland and Akron.
Among the visitors are as many as 3,000 sets of twins -- though you don't have to be a twin (or a triplet or a quadruplet) to partake in the fun. All of the events, save a few activities on Friday, Aug. 5, are open to the public, including the longtime favorites: a look-alike contest, a least-alike contest, a twin talent show and more.
The three-day event also offers traditional festival activities, including a parade (with twin queens and kings), kids rides and games, arts and crafts, fireworks and musical entertainment.
Though the event appeals to all, there's something special for the twins in attendance, says Sandy Miller, a longtime festival board member and a mother of twins.
"It's one place where they don't stand out," said Miller, whose now-adult kids have attended every festival since 1976, when the event was conceived as a small part of the city's celebration of the U.S. bicentennial. "They share something that singletons -- that's what they call us -- don't. It's quite an experience."
The details: Friday, Aug. 5-Sunday, Aug. 7; Glenn Chamberlin Park and throughout Twinsburg. Registered twins get in free; others pay $3 per day; twinsdays.org or 330-425-3652.
A parade with no high-flying floats, no fire trucks, no motorized vehicles of any kind?
Sounds like no ordinary parade.
Indeed, Cleveland's Parade the Circle is probably unlike most processions you've seen. It's a mile-long celebration of the arts that takes place annually in the city's premier cultural district.
This year's event will showcase the work of more than 1,000 Greater Clevelanders, including 70-plus professional artists from the region and around the world.
Guest artists this year -- from South Africa, France and Burkina Faso -- will be working on giant puppets that will tell a tale from Hindu mythology. Also this year: a stronger commitment to bringing musicians into the fold, including jazz bands, high school marching bands and African drumming groups, said Robin VanLear, artistic director of community arts at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which sponsors the event.
In addition to the parade, which steps off at noon, the festival features food and entertainment from other University Circle institutions, including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
The details: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June11; Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. Free; 216-707-2483.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
The labor dispute between NFL owners and players threatens to nix the annual Hall of Fame game, a preseason contest held every August in Canton (scheduled this year for Sunday, Aug. 7, between the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears).
But the rest of the 12-day party will go on -- including a parade, rib burn-off, hot-air balloon invitational, fashion show, drum corps competition and more -- all culminating in the enshrinement of seven football greats in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (this year's enshrinees include Deion Sanders; Shannon Sharpe; and Ed Sabol, the founder of NFL Films; among others).
The 18 events, held in Canton and throughout Stark County, draw an estimated 700,000 visitors each year, according to festival director Joanne Murray.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed that we're going to have a game," said Murray, who added, "We are planning full steam ahead."
The details: Thursday, July 28-Tuesday, Aug. 9; events throughout Stark County. Admission varies; profootballhoffestival.com or 1-800-533-4303.
Other noteworthy festivals:
Dean Martin Festival: Thursday, June 16-Sunday, June 19; celebrate Steubenville's favorite son with a Dino singing contest, parade, concerts and more; downtown Steubenville; 740-283-9164.
Duct Tape Festival: Friday, June 17-Sunday, June 19; celebrate the miracle of duct tape through sculptures, fashions and a parade; Veterans Memorial Park, Avon; 1-866-818-1116.
Cy Young Days Festival: Thursday, June 23-Sunday, June 26; baseball great's hometown festival includes parades, rides, car show and more; Newcomerstown; 740-498-4545.
Great Lakes Medieval Faire: Saturday, July 9-Sunday, Aug. 14; 13th-century England is re-created in Ashtabula County; Geneva. Admission: $22 for one day, $8 ages 5-12; 440-474-4280.
Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival: Friday, July 22-Sunday, July 24; enjoy all things Irish, including food, dance, music and more; Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea. Admission: $10, under 10 free.
Vintage Ohio Wine Festival: Friday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 6; enjoy wines from dozens of Ohio wineries, plus entertainment and exhibits; Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland. Admission: one-day $25, two-day $40; 1-800-227-6972.
Carnation Festival: Thursday, Aug. 11-Sunday, Aug. 21; dozens of events include a parade, fireworks, ribfest and more; Alliance.
Feast of the Assumption: Friday, Aug. 12-Monday, Aug. 15; great food, entertainment, a candlelight procession and more; Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood.
National Hamburger Festival: Saturday, Aug. 20-Sunday, Aug. 21; bobbing for burgers and more; downtown Akron; hamburgerfestival.com.
Cleveland National Air Show: Saturday, Sept. 3-Monday, Sept. 5; the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be in town; 216-781-0747.
-- Susan Glaser, Plain Dealer Travel Editor