Many visitors come to Holmes County for the Amish atmosphere, but the area also shares Swiss roots. Though Sugarcreek displays its heritage with murals of Swiss scenes painted on the sides of its downtown buildings, the community celebrates its past with the Ohio Swiss Festival.

From Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Sugarcreek will open the streets with carnival rides, contests, polka music and naturally, lots of cheese.

"Of course it's the Swiss and the cheese that brings people out here initially...but really, it's the memories people make here that make them want to share it with their children," Festival President Nancy Harrison said.

Harrison said growing up with the festival gave her an interest and appreciation for the culture's clothes, food, and music.

As a Sugarcreek native, Harrison said she can remember attending Swiss Fest her entire life. She said she wouldn't have ever imagined that she would one day be getting her own daughter ready to compete in the annual Swiss Miss competitions that she entered as a child.

In addition to the queen and princess contests, the festival holds competitions for people dressed in traditional costumes in categories like the oldest person or the largest family in Swiss costume.

"We have an attic full of Swiss costumes," longtime Sugarcreek resident Fred Welsch said. "We're going to have a house full of kids this year and it's fun to dress them up."

Welsch, who will play the alphorn at the festival this year, said he's lived in Sugarcreek for 42 years and has been going to the festival ever since. He will sport his traditional milking jacket that weekend. Welsch said that costumes play a vital role in the festival. Many seamstresses of the area make the costumes because of the high costs of imports and shops will rent men and women's costumes for those who don't own one.

Men and women may compete at cheese-eating contests as well. Harrison laughed at recollecting previous contests and said she thought this year should be funny with the addition of the women's category.

"Now the husbands and wives can suffer together," she said.

Community members plan and contribute for the festival year-round, discussing what can be improved and how to ensure they can maintain the tradition.

"Really, it's everyone coming together to make it happen," Harrison said. "Churches, schools...everyone takes part in it somehow."

Harrison said it's hard to estimate how many people attend the festival, but she said she runs into people from all over the country every year. Groups from the Wally Byam Caravan Club International have been visiting the festival for about 47 years -- just 10 years shy of having seen the festival's beginning.

Swiss Festival Schedule