Mantua – Plan to attend the largest, three-day fair in Northern Portage County where you’ll enjoy delicious food and find family fun for all ages. St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair in Mantua begins on Friday, July 15th, at 6:00 to 11:30 p.m., Saturday, July 16th, from 1:00 to 11:30 p.m., and Sunday, July 17th, from Noon to 10:00 p.m. The 58th Ox Roast Fair has plenty of fun to keep the whole family entertained including: a wide variety of Fair food favorites; live entertainment on the Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel Main Stage, the Talent Stage, and the Thirsty Ox Beer Garden; Friday night fireworks; Saturday’s “Run of the Ox” 5K Run/Walk and 1M Fun Walk; Sunday’s Blessing of Bikes, an assortment of rides, games, contests and giveaways; main raffle prize drawings and hourly progressive drawings each day plus 50/50 and several specialty raffles, souvenir T-shirts, hoodies, rain ponchos & mugs; tractor, truck and semi pulls; trade booths; indoor casino with instant bingo; security; handicap accessibility; clean grounds and much, much more!
St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair was organized in 1964 by the Reverend John Wirtz (Associate Pastor with Francis J. Hughes) to help pay for the parish’s school back then. Currently, the fair is an annual fund raiser which directly supports the educational and sacramental ministries of St. Joseph Parish. Except for the midway’s carnival rides and games, part of the tractor pull events, trade booths, and security, all booths and events are operated by St. Joseph volunteer families and friends.
Of course, that famous Ox Roast beef has always been a part of the fair. Up to thirty-five hundred pounds of high-quality sirloin roasts are prepared in brick-lined pits which are heated up several days before the fair with a constantly burning fire. The beef is prepared, wrapped in unbleached muslin and netting, and placed in the fiery coals, covered over, and cooked for hours until done to perfection. You may still see the pits smoldering as you enter the fairgrounds. The result is a delicious, slow-cooked beef sandwich or dinner that melts in your mouth! Generous Ox Roast Sandwiches and Ox Roast Sundaes (with mashed potatoes, sour cream & tomatoes) are available its central location on the fairgrounds throughout the hours of the Fair.
Many other delicious choices abound at the Ox Roast. You may want to sample pizza, soft pretzels, funnel cakes, corn dogs, French fries, pierogis in a variety of flavors, hamburgers, hot dogs, a Happy Ox kids’ meal, pickles, sausage sandwiches, chips, walking tacos, gyros, floats, soft serve in vanilla, chocolate, or twist. Are you hungry yet? If you’re thirsty, stop by for a refreshing treat at the Lemon Shake-Up Booth or one of the pop booths for your favorite beverage, coffee, or bottled water. The Beer Booth offers adult refreshment for those 21 and older (wrist band required to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages on the grounds). The Great Lakes Brewery Craft Beer Tent is back again this year offering Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Dortmunder Gold Lager, Lemon Hefeweizen, Burning River Pale Ale, Great Lakes IPA, and Crushworthy Lo-cal Citrus Wheat. Purchase a souvenir mug at the main Beer Booths with your favorite brew or a cooler. Thank you to the following area businesses who sponsored this year’s mugs: Perfect Choice Auto Collision, Inc., University Dental of Garrettsville, Inc. (Dr. Thomas Pesarchick, DDS), Jake’s Eats, Quality Car Care Auto – Fishnet Motorsports, Lakeside Sand & Gravel, Inc., Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel, Inc., Derthick Corn Maze & Farm Experience, Ken Ganley Nissan Mayfield, Bourbon Barrel Saloon, JBL Roofing & Construction, Charles Auto Family, Crooked River Flowers Gifts & More, Mike Ink Tattoo Studio, TL Service Center, Carlton Harley-Davidson.
The Ox Roast Fair’s main raffle features a Winner’s Choice $8,000 Vacation Package for first prize, $1,500.00 cash for second prize, and a Gift Card Basket ($500 value) for third prize. Raffle tickets are $10.00 each, 3/$20.00, 10/$50.00 or 30/$100.00. The grand prize drawings take place on Sunday evening of the Fair at 9:30 p.m. and winners need not be present. At 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. each evening of the Fair, a $100.00 progressive hourly prize drawing will take place for which winners must be present (tickets go back in the hopper for the grand prize drawings). Don’t miss your chance to participate in our 50/50 Raffle Drawing held each day of the Fair (winner must be present). If no winner is present, the amount rolls and grows to the next drawing! Tickets are only $1.00 each. Daily drawings are Friday & Saturday 9 p.m. (1 hour to claim), and Crazy Sunday Drawing is at 8 p.m. (if no winner claims, another drawing will be held at 8:15, 8:30, 8:45 p.m. until prize is claimed). If no winner, all 50/50 monies will be donated to the 4C’s, Mantua’s food cupboard. GOOD LUCK!!!
Do the kids say they’re bored? St. Joseph’s wonderful community event has plenty to please the kids and all of you kids at heart. Families will find “Ox Land Family Area” with Children’s Games including the duck pond, turtles and a host of new games. Parents will appreciate an area to take care of babies’ needs all enclosed in one spot all run by St. Joseph volunteers. Fair-goers will certainly enjoy all of the fun, prizes, and lots of smiles from the faces of young and old alike. McGinnis Amusements provides the rides and games on the big midway and offers ride specials throughout the hours of the Ox Roast Fair. Individual tickets may be purchased or you may purchase a bracelet and ride to your heart’s content for the time slot during several ride specials each day including an all day wrist band (specials posted on St. Joe’s website & at ride ticket booth). The midway is open throughout the regular hours of the Fair.
Don’t miss a great crowd-pleaser at the Kiddie Tractor Pulls on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Mantua Knights of Columbus have donated their equipment for the little pullers which takes place on the drive near the Lemon Shake-Up booth. Trophies and cash prizes are awarded to several age categories for boys and girls ages 4-9 years and sign-ups begin at 5:00 p.m. Registration fee is just $2.00 per child who will each receive a participation ribbon. Trophies will be awarded to the top winners in each age category. On Sunday, jump into the fun at the Frog Jumping Contest beginning at 3:00 p.m. near the Talent Stage. Entry fee is just $1.00 per child. You may bring your own hopper or “rent-a-frog” for $1.00. Cash prizes and Ox Roast Fair T-shirt coupons will be awarded.
The Ox Roast Fair will offer a variety of live entertainment, music and fun again this year. Fireworks are back and will delight fair-goers on Friday night. Performing live on our Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel Stage on Friday is “Disco Inferno” 7:00-10:00 p.m. with Disco at its Best! On Saturday “Time Machine Band” takes the stage 2:00-5:00 p.m. offering Classic Rock, and “The Spazmatics” entertains 8:00-11:00 p.m. On Sunday’s schedule “Remembrance” will be on stage 2:00-5:00 p.m. performing Christian Rock music & “That 80’s Band” will entertain 7:00-10:00 p.m. The Beer Garden will feature some smaller groups for your listening pleasure including contemporary folk artist “Alex Bevan” on Saturday 5:30-7:30 p.m., and classic rock, blues, and Motown favorites from “TBS” 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Our Talent Stage will also feature something for the kids on Saturday, 3:00-4:00 p.m. from “Jungle Bob Educational Traveling Zoo”. Jim Bob & George will offer Karaoke each evening of the Fair for those who’d like to sing your favorite songs.
Those that enjoy a little gambling may want to try their luck at our indoor casino in the comfort of our air-conditioned Hughes Hall. Plus, games of skill and chance in the way of instant bingo and other games are on the grounds. Casino games including Black Jack, Chuck-a-Luck, Texas Hold ‘Em, Let It Ride, Beat The Dealer, and a variety of instant bingo games. For a tamer game of chance, stop by the Cake Booth where you’ll find many delicious homemade baked goods. Place quarters down on lucky numbers and with just a spin of the wheel, win yourself something scrumptious!
Back by popular demand is the “Run of the Ox” 5K Run/Walk that will take place on Saturday morning, July 16th beginning at 8:00 a.m. from the St. Joseph Parish parking lot on an out & back course down Bowen Road. A 1M Fun Walk will take place on St. Joseph property. Registration is $25.00 per participant with pre-registration by July 14th or $30.00 the day of the race beginning at 7:00 a.m. Awards will be given to the top 3 overall and the top 3 in the following age groups: 11 & under, 12-15, 16-19, 20-29,30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over. Features include water stops, timers, t-shirts, and refreshments. Please visit race coordinator, Run the Land’s website, runsignup.com/Race/OH/Mantua/RunoftheOx, to register online. We appreciate our generous “Run of the Ox” sponsors: The Middlefield Banking Co., Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty (Deborah Kruis, Agent), University Dental of Garrettsville, Inc., Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel, Inc., Jake’s Eats, Compass Packaging, Inc., Lakeside Sand & Gravel, Inc., Stamm Contracting Co., Inc., Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty (Deborah Kruis, Agent), The Ryser Agency.
A Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. in front of the church with Deacon Gerry Scopilliti providing an opportunity for all motorcycle riders to have their bikes blessed for a safe riding season. Just look for all the beautiful motorcycles parked there. This event provides an opportunity for camaraderie and friendship in order to promote a positive image of motorcycling to the community at large.
A very popular favorite of many fair-goers is the Truck, Tractor & Semi Pulls held each day of the Fair. On Friday, July 15th, come out and enjoy the Antique Tractors Pulls (1959 & Older) run by the Geauga County Antique Tractor Pullers Association. This sanctioned pull is open to non-members and features a variety of stock and open classes. Weigh-in starts at 5:00 p.m. and pulls start at 6:00 p.m. Entry fee is $15.00. On Saturday, July 16th, the Ox Roast hosts Garden Tractor Pulls beginning at 9:30 a.m. (weigh-in at 9:00 a.m.) in seven classes. Garden Tractor Pull entry fees are $10.00 per hook. Also on Saturday, be sure to check out the Tractor Pulls and Semi Truck Pulls. Weigh-in is at 4:30 p.m. and pulls start at 5:30 p.m. Tractor Pull entry fee is $20.00 and the Semi Pull entry fee is $25.00. On Sunday, July 17th, are the 4WD Pick-Up Pulls for stock and diesel. Pick-Up Pull registration is at 3:30 p.m. and pulls start at 4:30 p.m. Pick-Up Pull entry fee is $25.00. Classes, rules for all the pulls, and contact information can be found on St. Joseph’s website. Visit www.stjosephmantua.com and click on Ox Roast Fair then the Pulls link. A big thank you to our pull sponsors: Pull Flyer Printing – Kuhnle Bros. & Wm. Benjamin Trucking, Saturday Farm Stock Classes – Automotive Service Center, Field Farm Tractor Classes – Edinburg Tractor Sales, Garden Tractors – Marshall Power Equipment, All Sunday Truck Classes – The Diesel Speed Shop, Sunday 1/2 Ton Pick Ups Class – Line-X, Semi Truck Pull Co-Sponsor – F & S Automotive, Semi Truck Pull Co-Sponsor – TL Service Center, plus our loyal banner sponsors whose banners line the fence around the pull track.
Several groups from St. Joe’s and the Crestwood community are also a part of the Fair. Members of Scouts BSA Troop #575, who help with set up and cleaning the fairgrounds each evening, also “man” the Sausage Sandwich Booth. Help support these fine young men of our parish. The girls of Scouts BSA Troop #7575 will be handling the Soft Serve Booth this year. Members of Cub Scout Pack #3575 and their families will be serving in the Pop and Lemon Shake-Up Booths. Area Girl Scouts will be collecting for Mantua’s community cupboard, the 4C’s. On Sunday ONLY, parking is reduced — just $4.00 per vehicle — when you donate a non-perishable item at the Fair’s entrance. Parking will be handled by the Mantua Wrestling Group who did an excellent job the past several years.
Be sure to take home one of the 2022 Ox Roast Fair souvenir T-shirts. This year we have another original by Ken Zander with an Ox enjoying a tropical vacation on a lime green shirt in adult crew and women’s v-neck styles. Adult shirts are $15.00, $17.00 for extra large sizes, and the kids’ shirts are $10.00. Limited sizes of T-shirts from past years are available for $10.00 each for the adults and $5.00 for kids. Back this year is a bib for the little ones with “My First St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair” logo on it in a variety of color choices – get ‘em while they last! New this year are Ox Roast hoodies and rain ponchos. Look for the T-shirt Booth by the school building near the Cake Booth.
Trade booths from various groups, businesses and politicians will be at this year’s fair. Some offer free give-a-ways or drawings. Look for them scattered throughout the fairgrounds. Don’t miss the St. Joseph Church booth near the entrance to the Hall & Casino. Stop by and see what they have to say and offer.
For those Catholics who would like to attend services, St. Joseph’s offers a 5:00 p.m. & Midnight Masses on Saturday and 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday. There will not be parking fees for those attending Mass.
So mark your calendars for the weekend of July 15th – 17th for St. Joseph’s 58th Ox Roast Fair and be a part of a quality festival where all of our community can gather together to celebrate our common bond. Admission to the Ox Roast Fair is FREE and parking is only $5.00 per vehicle. On Sunday ONLY parking is just $4.00 with non-perishable donation for Mantua’s 4C’S Food Cupboard (collected at the Fair’s entrance). EMS (sponsored by Lakeside Sand & Gravel), an ATM on the grounds, and security are provided. For the safety of your beloved pet and all fair-goers, we ask that you do not bring your pets to the Ox Roast Fair (you will be asked to take your pet home before entering the fairgrounds). No outside vendors are allowed on the grounds without permission from the parish. NOTICE: It is illegal to carry a firearm, deadly weapon, or dangerous ordnance anywhere on St. Joseph Church premises. Unless otherwise authorized by law, no person shall knowlingly possess, have under the person’s control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance onto these premises. Posted Pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code.
The Parish Community of St. Joseph’s at 11045 St. Joseph Blvd. is located in Mantua Twp. off Pioneer Trail. Mantua is located in northern Portage County on St. Rt. 44, 10 miles north of Ravenna, 20 miles northeast of Akron, and 27 miles southeast of Cleveland in northern Portage County. Look for the parish sign at St. Joseph Blvd. approximately 1/4 mi. west of St. Rt. 44, south of St. Rt. 82, just north of Mantua Village (accessible from U.S. Rt. 422 just 7 miles north or Ohio Turnpike Exit 193 just 2 miles south). You won’t want to miss St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair ~ Not Your Typical Church Festival! For more information, please check out St. Joseph’s website https://stjosephmantua.com/ox-roast-fair, “Like Us” on Facebook (St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair), or phone the parish office at 330-274-2253.
