The Akron Oatmeal Festival embraces everything that makes our city weird, wonderful, and uniquely Akron, and we welcome you to be part of this exciting day in Cascade Valley! Now entering its second year, the festival continues to grow in scale and imagination, featuring two stages of entertainment, a public food drive, and, of course, oatmeal!
ARTS & FOOD VENDORS | GOATS & OATS | PARADE OF SCHUMACHERS | THE ORIGINAL QUAKER OATMEAL COOKIE | LOCAL AUTHOR DISCUSSIONS | MAGICIAN | SCHUMACHER INTERVIEW | STILT WALKERS | QUAKER PHOTO BOOTH | SCHUMACHER LOOK-ALIKES | FOOD DRIVE | 1800’S OATS ARTIFACTS | PLAY AREAS | CRAFTS | KING OF QUAKER OATS T-SHIRTS & MORE!
All elements will wind through the beautiful wildlands of Cascade Locks Park at locks 14 and 15 of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
This impactful community event would not be possible without these supporters celebrating our city and doing their part to make Akron the best place to live!
Interested in being part of Akron’s cool? Email mmoreland@cascadelocks.org.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
These amazing organizations will be onsite to provide interactive offerings. Be sure to visit them!
SHUMACHER LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST
Think you have a beard to best Ferdinand Schumacher himself?! Join in for the first of what we hope will be many Schumacher look-alike contests! First through third place wins a prize!
All look-alikes are invited to be part of the “Parade of Schumachers” culminating in the contest portion of the day. The audience will decide the winner! Contestants must be available from 12:45 to 1:45P to participate. Email csullivan@cascadelocks.org to enter.
PARADE OF SCHUMACHERS
Be sure to arrive in time for the first-ever, arts-forward, 1800’s inspired parade featuring a brass band, Schumacher look-alikes, artistic elements, goats, and more with an assist from Curated Storefront and Conservancy for CVNP. The route starts at the Mustill Store, then heads south through the grasses, and ends at the Lock 14 Main Stage. Be sure to follow the fun as our festival audience will decide our best Schumacher!
Pro and amateur artists are invited to participate on a volunteer-basis. Concepts may be submitted to mmoreland@cascadelocks.org.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
FOODBANK FOOD DRIVE
Food scarcity is real, and we invite you to help those in need by brining non-perishable food donations in support of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Guests who bring at least three (3) of the below listed items will receive a free Akron Oatmeal Festival button!
The super-six most needed items are: boxed cereal, canned soup/stew, canned tuna, canned vegetables, macaroni & cheese, and peanut butter. Learn more about these and other staples to support our families in need.
Look for the Akron-Canton Foodbank truck. One button per donor while supplies last.
RUN OF SHOW
Stay tuned for more details on the day’s run of show at the Lock 14 and Mustill Store stages!
PARKING
The event takes place at the Schumacher mill site at lock 14 and the Mustill Store Museum at lock15. Learn more about parking here.
VOLUNTEERS
Interested in a behind-the-scenes look at Akron’s hottest new festival? Volunteers are needed to assist with set-up / tear-down, help with site cleanliness, work information tables, and staff the Mustill Store. Shifts are available between the hours of 8A and 6P. Please email csullivan@cascadelocks.org with your availability.
FOOD & ARTS VENDORS
Vendor slots are full. Already a vendor? Email oatmeal@cascadelocks.org with questions.
ABOUT THE AKRON OATMEAL FESTIVAL
Founded in 2025 through ArtsNow grant funding, the Akron Oatmeal Festival was created to celebrate the city’s distinctive culture through fun, arts‑forward programming that brings canal‑era history to life. The festival uplifts local artists, activates the historic Cascade Valley, and offers attendees a creative, family‑friendly way to experience the natural, artistic, and historic assets of the region. At its heart is the legacy of Ferdinand Schumacher, Akron’s famed Oatmeal King, whose pioneering 1850's oat mill helped spark oatmeal’s rise across the nation and now known internationally as Quaker Oats.
The inaugural festival welcomed more than 1,200 attendees to downtown Akron’s capstone neighborhood, transforming Cascade Valley into a lively hub of music, makers, and community connection. Guests enjoyed performances by local musicians and food and craft vendors.
Email info@cascadelocks.org with inquiries.