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Mustard Fest Highlights Springfield, Ohio’s Personality
September 1, 2026
Many towns are known for their annual festivals. Circleville celebrates pumpkins, Lithopolis is famous for honey, and Newark hosts a strawberry festival. In Springfield, a mustard factory with over a hundred years of history has inspired a festival that is quickly becoming just as unique.
Springfield's MustardFest kicks off its 8th year on Saturday, September 12, from 1 to 5 p.m. The festival features competitive eating, dachshund races, steinholding, craft beer, local food, and a special visit from eating champion Joey Chestnut. Admission is free, but there are minimal fees for those who want to join the competitions.
For Springfield, Mustard Fest is more than just a one-day event. It gives locals something to be proud of, brings visitors to town, and it's a fun break from the ordinary, and it gives us a great excuse to celebrate the businesses and people who make Springfield special.
Springfield Turned Mustard Into an Event
Mustard Fest started in 2018 thanks to Chris Woeber, whose family owns Woeber Mustard Company. The idea was simple: create a unique event for Springfield and give the Woeber family a way to connect with the community.
The festival began on a smaller scale and has grown each year. After a break in 2020, Mustard Fest now brings in about 2,500 to 3,000 people during the day.
Kristina Jarrell, Downtown Events Programmer for the Greater Springfield Partnership, says the festival suits Springfield because the town has always welcomed unique ideas.
“It doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither do we — it's a fun way to build some character into downtown events.”
This approach has helped Mustard Fest stand out. Instead of following the usual festival formula, it brings together products, businesses, and activities that you might not expect to see at the same event.
This year’s lineup includes:
- The Woeber’s Hot Mustard and Horseradish Eating Contest, featuring jalapeño, wasabi, sriracha, and 10X hot horseradish
- The Ohio U.S. Steinholding Championship Qualifier
- Champion City Wiener Dog Races
- A human wiener dog race
- From Grain to Glass, pairing Woeber’s mustard flavors with Ohio craft beer and small bites
- A special appearance by Joey Chestnut
- Live polka music and other activities throughout the afternoon
For those competing, the stakes are higher than you might think. The steinholding contest follows official U.S. Steinholding Association rules, and the hot mustard contest has participants eat hot dogs from mildest to spiciest. Winners get championship belts, including a full-size mustard belt like those in big eating competitions.
Woeber’s Gives Springfield a Story to Tell
The connection between Mustard Fest and Springfield goes back more than 120 years.
Carl Woeber emigrated from Germany to Springfield in 1905 and founded Woeber Mustard Company with family recipes and a background in mustard making. By 1915, he was producing mustard in his kitchen and selling it door-to-door by horse and buggy.
Demand eventually led to a manufacturing facility. By the 1920s, Woeber’s had expanded its product line to include new mustard flavors and horseradish products, establishing its roots on Madison Avenue.
The company continued to grow through multiple generations of the Woeber family. In 1987, Woeber’s moved into a larger manufacturing facility on Commerce Circle. A 65,000-square-foot distribution center followed in 2009, helping the company serve customers throughout the United States and internationally.
Today, the fourth generation of the Woeber family remains involved in the company. Woeber’s continues to produce mustard, vinegar, and horseradish products while operating as a family-owned business.
This long history gives Mustard Fest something special. The festival is directly tied to a Springfield company that has been part of the community for over a hundred years and sells its products far and wide. As a result, the festival introduces visitors to a local business story and gives longtime residents another reason to celebrate a company they already know.
The Competition Keeps Getting Bigger
Mustard Fest has also turned its unusual theme into real competitions.
The hot mustard eating contest has evolved from a pretzel-based challenge into a hot dog competition featuring increasingly spicy Woeber’s mustard. The final challenge uses a 10X horseradish mustard made specifically for Mustard Fest.
Joey Chestnut is coming back this year to cheer on the contestants and hand out the championship belt. His involvement has made the event more than a local oddity and has drawn attention from competitive eating fans everywhere.
The Steinholding competition offers another example. Mustard Fest now serves as an official qualifier for the U.S. Steinholding Championships. Competitors can earn a place at the championship competition by winning in Springfield.
The festival also puts a Springfield spin on the classic wiener dog race. Last year, about 45 dachshunds took part, and the human wiener dog race lets people dress up in inflatable dog costumes and run the same course.
These activities give people multiple reasons to attend, whether they want to compete, watch the contests, bring their dog, or spend an afternoon downtown.
Unique Events Help Define Communities
Every community has events that become part of its identity.
Circleville is known for pumpkins, Lithopolis celebrates honey, and Newark has made strawberries a yearly tradition. These festivals give locals something to share and help outsiders recognize each town.
Springfield keeps building its identity with events that highlight its businesses, history, and unique character.
Jarrell says the Greater Springfield Partnership has embraced this chance by helping create events that give people more reasons to visit and spend time in town. That willingness to build an event around a local company says something about how Springfield approaches community development. A community identity does not have to come from one large attraction. It can grow from the businesses, traditions, and ideas residents already have.
Mustard Fest gives Springfield another way for people to connect. Some might come for Joey Chestnut, the dachshund races, or the hot mustard contest, but they may leave knowing more about Woeber’s, downtown Springfield, and the folks who make it all possible.
Visit Mustard Fest in Springfield
Mustard Fest happens on Saturday, September 12, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mother Stewart’s Brewing and the nearby event area. Admission is free, but you’ll need to register for some competitions.
The fun starts on Friday with From Grain to Glass, featuring Ohio craft beer, Woeber’s mustard pairings, and tasty small bites. Young’s Dairy will also serve a special Woeber’s honey mustard pretzel crunch ice cream made just for the festival.
Whether you want to watch the contests, cheer on Joey Chestnut, bring your dachshund, or try something new, Mustard Fest is a great way to experience Springfield in your own way.