Wooster
Around Wooster
Photo: Rlboyer · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Ohio · 116k people
Wooster
Locals say Wayne County
Where rolling farmland meets a spirited college town.
Old Gold
Welcome to Wayne County! Whether you're here for the fair, the arboretum, or just passing through, you'll find friendly folks and a relaxed pace. Grab a buckeye and enjoy the small-town charm.
Clubs for Wooster
No clubs for Wooster yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Wooster. 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 Wooster. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Secrest Arboretum Public gardens and research plots at OARDC.
- College of Wooster Historic liberal arts campus with notable architecture.
- Wooster Memorial Park Large community park with trails, playgrounds, and a pond.
- Downtown Wooster Historic District Main street with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.
- Wayne County Fairgrounds Hosts the county fair and other community events.
- Wayne County Historical Society Museum Local history exhibits in a former school building.
- Outdoors Hike Secrest Arboretum
- Outdoors Bike the Sippo Valley Trail
- With kids Visit Secrest Arboretum
- With kids Go to the Wayne County Fair
- Evenings Downtown Wooster bars
- Evenings College performances
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love County fair
Through the year
- Wayne County Fair September One of Ohio's largest county fairs, with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Ohio Light Opera Season Summer Summer performances of operettas and musical theater at the College of Wooster.
- Wooster Farmers Market June-October Weekly market with local produce, baked goods, and crafts.
- Creston Apple Festival September Small-town festival celebrating apples with food, crafts, and a parade.
- Wooster Arts and Music Festival Summer Annual downtown event featuring local artists, musicians, and food vendors.
Humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Best to be out in spring and fall; winters are cold with snow, summers are warm and humid. Best: Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temps and colorful foliage.
Talk like a local
- “OARDC”
- Short for the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, a local landmark.
- “The Square”
- Refers to downtown Wooster, often called 'the square'.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- College of Wooster Fighting Scots NCAA Division III
- Wooster Oilers USPHL
Eat and drink
- Buckeye candies Peanut butter and chocolate confection, an Ohio staple
- Local dairy products Ice cream and cheese from area farms
Where people go
- Historic small-town main streets Brick storefronts, local diners, and community landmarks
- Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center A hub for farming innovation and a symbol of the region's agricultural roots
Heritage and traditions
Wayne County is proud of its deep agricultural roots, its world-renowned Amish heritage, and the blend of small-town charm with the intellectual life of the College of Wooster.
This time of year in Wooster
- Apple picking Fall Orchards open for u-pick, with cider and donuts through October.
Say it like a local: “out in the country” — rural areas outside town
Festivals
- Kidron Chicken BBQ August An annual chicken barbecue hosted by the Kidron Volunteer Fire Department in August.
- Wayne County Dairy Festival June Celebrates the local dairy industry with parades, food, and farm exhibits in Orrville.
- Shreve Farmers and Merchants Festival September A small-town festival with crafts, food, and a parade in September.
Landmarks with a story
- Wayne County Courthouse Built in 1878, this Romanesque Revival building anchors the downtown Wooster square.
- Kidron-Mount Hope Amish settlement One of the largest Amish communities in the world, with farms, cheese houses, and a weekly auction.
- Orrville Railroad Depot A restored depot from the 1870s that reflects the town's railroad heritage.
- Doylestown Canal Lock A restored lock on the Ohio & Erie Canal, part of the region's transportation history.
- Smithville Historic District A small town with 19th-century homes and a classic Main Street.
Food traditions
- Amish-style chicken and noodles A hearty dish served at community dinners and church gatherings, reflecting the Amish and Mennonite heritage.
- Homemade pies at church dinners Local churches host dinners where pies are a staple, often featuring apple, shoo-fly, and cream pies.
- Cheese tasting at local cheese houses The Kidron-Mount Hope area is known for Swiss cheese and other varieties, often sold at farm stores.
- Apple cider and donuts Fall tradition at local orchards, with fresh-pressed cider and warm donuts.
- Church chicken barbecues Summer fundraisers where volunteers grill chicken, a beloved community tradition.
Music and arts
- Ohio Light Opera A professional summer company at the College of Wooster, one of the last in the US.
- Wayne Center for the Arts A community arts hub offering classes, exhibits, and performances.
- Amish quilting A traditional craft with intricate patterns, often sold at local shops and auctions.
- Community bands Local concert bands perform at parks and festivals, especially in summer.
A little history
- 1812 Wayne County was established and named after General Anthony Wayne.
- 1830s The Ohio & Erie Canal reached the area, boosting trade and settlement.
- 1866 The College of Wooster was founded as a Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college.
- 1882 The Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (now OARDC) was established to support farming research.
- 1897 Jerome Smucker started making apple butter in Orrville, founding the Smucker's company.
Rivalries
- Wooster vs. Orrville high school football A friendly local rivalry on Friday nights.
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day College of Wooster Fighting Scots football
- Outdoors Driving through Amish country
- Outdoors Visiting a maple syrup farm in spring
- With kids Visiting Amish farm markets
- With kids Going to the dairy farm
Locals speak a neutral Midland accent with some Appalachian influences. In Amish areas, you may hear Pennsylvania Dutch phrases, and rural speech includes terms like 'pop' for soda and 'you guys' for everyone.
Only here
- Home to one of the largest Amish communities in the world.
- The Ohio Light Opera is one of the last professional light opera companies in the US.
- The Wayne County Fair is one of Ohio's largest county fairs.
- The Secrest Arboretum is a research arboretum with over 2,000 plant species.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce Wooster as 'Wuh-ster' (like the city in England).
- Be patient on rural roads – you may encounter horse-drawn buggies, especially near Kidron and Mount Hope.
- Try the local cheese and apple cider at a farm store or orchard.
- Don't miss the Wayne County Fair in September – it's a huge community event.
- Winters are cold and snowy; summers are humid. Dress in layers.
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Wooster, 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.