Wapakoneta
Around Wapakoneta
Photo: Tim Kiser · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Ohio · 45k people
Wapakoneta
Locals say Auglaize County · “Wapak”, “Astronaut City”
Where the prairie meets the stars
Deep greenGoldenrod
Welcome to Auglaize County, where the pace is easy and the people are friendly. Whether you're here for the lake, the fair, or just passing through, you'll find a community that looks out for each other. Make yourself at home.
Clubs for Wapakoneta
No clubs for Wapakoneta yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Wapakoneta. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Wapakoneta. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum Dedicated to the first man on the moon, a local native.
- Grand Lake St. Marys Large inland lake with boating, fishing, and beaches.
- Auglaize County Fairgrounds Home of the annual county fair and other events.
- Miami and Erie Canal Historic canal with a towpath trail for walking and biking.
- Auglaize County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Wapakoneta.
- Outdoors Boating and fishing on Grand Lake
- Outdoors Hiking the Miami and Erie Canal towpath
- With kids Visit the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum
- With kids Swim at Grand Lake
- Evenings Local taverns
- Evenings Live music at summer festivals
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Local diners
Through the year
- Auglaize County Fair August Annual county fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Summer Moon Festival June Music and arts festival in Wapakoneta.
- St. Marys Summerfest July Community festival with food, games, and live music.
- New Bremen Farmers Market June–September Weekly market with local produce and crafts.
Humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall
Talk like a local
- “Wapak”
- Short for Wapakoneta
- “The lake”
- Grand Lake St. Marys
- “The fair”
- Auglaize County Fair
- “The canal”
- Miami and Erie Canal
Getaways
- Lima Largest nearby city with shopping and dining.
- Sidney Historic downtown and parks.
- Celina Lakefront town with restaurants and marinas.
- Bellefontaine Known for the world's shortest street and scenic hills.
Local flavour
Rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds
Eat and drink
- Bratwurst
- Sauerkraut A staple side dish, often paired with pork.
- Buckeyes Peanut butter and chocolate treats, an Ohio classic.
- German potato salad Warm, vinegar-based salad served at picnics and gatherings.
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A breaded and fried pork cutlet on a bun, a Midwest favorite.
Where people go
- Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum A tribute to the first man on the moon, located in Wapakoneta.
- Grand Lake St. Marys A large inland lake offering fishing, boating, and lakeside views.
- Farmland and open skies Endless fields of corn and soybeans, with dramatic sunsets and starry nights.
- Small-town main streets Quaint downtowns with historic buildings, local shops, and diners.
- Auglaize County Fairgrounds Site of the annual county fair, a gathering place for the community.
Heritage and traditions
Auglaize County is proud of its deep German heritage, which is still alive in its festivals, churches, and food, and of being the hometown of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
This time of year in Wapakoneta
- Oktoberfest celebrations October Held in Minster and New Bremen each October with German food, music, and dancing.
- Minster Oktoberfest October Celebrates German heritage with food, music, and beer.
- New Bremen Oktoberfest October Similar German-themed celebration in the historic village.
Say it like a local: “Pop” — A term for soft drinks, common throughout Ohio.
Festivals
- Minster Oktoberfest October Celebrates German heritage with food, music, and beer.
- New Bremen Oktoberfest October Similar German-themed celebration in the historic village.
- Wapakoneta Pork Festival September A community festival centered on pork dishes and local agriculture.
- St. Marys Canal Days July A summer festival celebrating the town's canal history with parades and activities.
- Christmas in the Village December New Bremen's holiday celebration with lights, carols, and shopping.
Landmarks with a story
- St. Augustine Catholic Church A historic and architecturally significant church in Minster, reflecting the town's German Catholic heritage.
- St. Marys Catholic Church A prominent landmark in St. Marys, known for its beautiful stained glass and active congregation.
- Historic downtown New Bremen A well-preserved 19th-century commercial district with German-style buildings.
- Bicycle Museum of America Houses a large collection of antique and rare bicycles, a unique attraction.
- Auglaize County Historical Society Museum Local history museum in Wapakoneta with exhibits on the canal and early settlers.
- Miami and Erie Canal Locks Remnants of the canal system, including restored locks near St. Marys and New Bremen.
Food traditions
- Pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day A German tradition believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.
- Lenten fish fries Catholic churches in Minster, St. Marys, and other towns host weekly fish fries during Lent.
- Church festival dinners Summer church festivals serve bratwurst, chicken, and homemade pies.
- Homemade noodles Some families still make egg noodles from scratch, a German practice.
- Apple butter making Fall tradition of simmering apples for hours, often at community gatherings.
Music and arts
- German polka music Local bands often play polka and waltzes at festivals and Oktoberfests.
- Community theater Groups in Wapakoneta and St. Marys stage plays and musicals.
- Quilting A traditional craft, with quilts often displayed at county fairs.
A little history
- 1830s–1850s German immigrants began settling the area
- 1845 Miami and Erie Canal opened, connecting the area to the Ohio River and Lake Erie
- 1930 Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta
- 1833 New Bremen was founded by German settlers and named after Bremen, Germany
- Mid-1800s The canal brought trade and growth, shaping the towns along its route
Rivalries
- Wapakoneta vs St. Marys High school football rivalry that splits the county.
- Minster vs New Bremen Friendly sports rivalry between neighboring towns.
- Ohio State vs Michigan College football rivalry that locals follow passionately.
- Browns vs Bengals NFL rivalry between Ohio's two teams.
- Game day Friday night football
- Game day High school basketball
- Outdoors Biking the canal towpath
- Outdoors Ice fishing on Grand Lake St. Marys
- With kids Visiting the Bicycle Museum of America
- With kids Getting ice cream at a local stand
People speak with a typical Midwestern accent, often using 'pop' for soda and friendly greetings like 'How are ya?' German words occasionally surface, especially among older residents or during festivals, reflecting the area's strong German heritage.
Only here
- The only place where you can visit the Bicycle Museum of America, housing over 200 rare bicycles.
- The hometown of Neil Armstrong, with the museum displaying a moon rock and the Gemini 8 spacecraft.
- The Summer Moon Festival, a unique celebration of Armstrong's lunar legacy with a moon-themed parade.
- The Miami and Erie Canal towpath, where you can walk or bike along a historic 19th-century waterway.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the German heritage: try a bratwurst at a festival, visit a historic church, and learn a few German words like 'danke'.
- Get ready for all four seasons: hot summers, cold snowy winters, and pleasant springs and falls. Invest in a good winter coat.
- Small-town pace: things may move slower here, but that's part of the charm. Take time to chat with neighbors.
- Don't miss the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum—it's a point of pride and a must-see.
- If you're into outdoor activities, the canal towpath is perfect for walking or biking, and Grand Lake St. Marys offers boating and fishing.
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Part of Lima area
Nearby
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Wapakoneta, OH. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.