Basket Festival History

The Berlin Heights Basket Festival has its beginnings in 1977. The festival honors the village’s oldest industry, the Berlin Fruit Box Company started by Samuel Patterson in 1858. The Box Shop, as known by locals, is the oldest basket-making company in Ohio and the second oldest in the nation. 

The Berlin Fruit Box Company produced the last batch of baskets in 2012. Although this was the end of an era, we continue to honor an industry that played a vital role in the history of Berlin Heights for more than 155 years. Prior to 1977, Berlin Heights’ celebrations included the Apple Festival, Berlin Community Homecoming, and the Harvest Festival. During the Apple Festival, members of the local PTA made apple butter in large Copper kettles and sold the apple butter to raise funds for community projects. In 2017, we celebrated the Berlin Township Bicentennial at the Basket Festival and brought Fireworks back to our town!

1803 - Ohio became a state

1806 to 1808 - Township boundaries in the Firelands surveyed by Almon Ruggles

1808 - Eldridge Township formed

1817 - Renamed Berlin Township

1838 - Erie County formed, originally part of Huron County

1897 - The Village of Berlin Heights incorporated 

Notable famous guests at the Basket Festival include:

1963 Miss America Jackie Mayer in 2006

2007 Miss Ohio Roberta Camp in 2007

Big Chuck and Little John