Every August, thousands of twins from across the globe gather in the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio to celebrate their twinship. This quirky festival has become a beloved annual tradition for multiples and their families. Keep reading to learn about the origins of Twins Days, highlights from recent festivals, why researchers love attending, and everything you need to know to plan your own twins weekend getaway in Twinsburg.
The Festival’s Humble Beginnings
The town of Twinsburg owes its name to a famous set of twins: Aaron and Moses Wilcox. The identical twins migrated from Connecticut to Ohio in the 1810s and bought over 4,000 acres of land to establish a new settlement. They cleverly offered to donate a portion of the land to new arrivals under one condition: the town must be named Twinsburg in honor of the brothers.
Fast-forward over 150 years later, and Twinsburg wanted to celebrate America’s bicentennial in 1976. Since the town was named for twins, they decided to dedicate a day just for twins. The first Twins Days in 1976 was a modest affair, with just 36 sets of twins attending a flag-raising ceremony and community picnic. Little did the town know that they had planted the seeds of a grand tradition.
Growing Into the World’s Largest Twins Festival
In 1977, Twins Days expanded into a weekend festival with a parade, concerts, contests, parties and more twins in attendance. As word spread, twins from further away began flocking to Twinsburg each August. By the late 1980s, over 1,500 sets of twins were arriving annually. In 1989, Twins Days received the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Annual Gathering of Twins.”
The pairs keep multiplying too, with about 2,000-3,500 individual twins attending each year. Festival organizers estimate over 84,000 sets of twins from all 50 states and over 35 nations have attended since Twins Days began. With numbers like these, it’s clear Twinsburg wholeheartedly embraces its reputation as the twins capital of the world.
Spotlight on Twins Days 2022 and 2023
After a pandemic cancellation in 2020, Twins Days returned in full force in 2022 for its 48th annual festival. Many attended the event to experience the twin magic for themselves. People saw twins already gathered around town dressed alike and mingling with fellow lookalikes.
Saturday kicked off with the main attraction – the Double Take Parade. Marching bands, floats, dancers, businesses, beauty queens, and politicians all participated, but the twinstars were the creatively costumed twins including deviled eggs, bananas, ketchup bottles, loaves of bread, and more. Each evening ended with live music and the epic Twins Days fireworks choreographed to twin related songs.
Who Attends the Festival?
If you’re a twin yourself, you’ll find your people at Twins Days. It’s a chance to celebrate your twinship and bond with multiples of all ages. Even non-twin relatives get into the spirit by pairing up with siblings. Singleton visitors also come just for curiosity or to accompany their twin friends and family.
Beyond twins, any type of multiples attend like triplets, quads, quintuplets, and more. Families with young twins make it an annual vacation tradition. Octogenarian twins also reunite in Twinsburg each year after decades of attending the festival together.
Scientific Twin Studies on Site
A unique aspect of Twins Days is the participation of university twin studies. Researchers from leading institutions set up booths annually to recruit twins for DNA samples, surveys, and information.
Mass twin gatherings provide a wealth of data. According to organizers, studies at Twins Days have advanced research on topics like vision, mental health, cardiovascular health, diabetes, aging, and effects of space travel. Universities represented include Harvard, MIT, University of Minnesota, and NASA.
Planning Your Twinsburg Weekend
Admission to Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg is approximately $4/person.
When: August 2 – 4, 2024 (usually the first full weekend in August)
Location: (Map It) Twinsburg, Ohio
Phone: 330-425-3652
Web: http://www.twinsdays.org/
Hotels fill up fast so book early or pick a nearby city. Registration covers all activities. Follow @TwinsDaysFestival on social media for twin updates year-round.
Festivities kick off Friday with registration, family activities, and an evening welcome party. Saturday is the big day starting with the parade, contests, talent show, food, and the annual group photo try to snap the record for most twins in one picture. Kids will love the carnival rides and games in Twinsville just for little ones.
Other highlights are dance parties, trivia, fireworks shows set to twin tunes, and farewell brunches on Sunday. Check the festival website for the schedule as the dates near.
Celebrate Your Twinship in Twinsburg
Between the quirky traditions, small town charm, and community spirit, Twinsburg is a must-visit event for twins and twin lovers. My first Twins Days weekend exceeded all expectations with unforgettable memories. If you love human interest stories or wacky conventions, go add Twins Days in Twinsburg, Ohio to your bucket list!
Ohio – The Dream Land
With its diverse landscape of bustling cities, serene farmland, and natural beauty, Ohio has something for everyone. Many know Ohio as the birthplace of aviation pioneers the Wright Brothers, or the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Beyond its reputation for family-friendly attractions and Midwest charm, Ohio also has a rich history when it comes to gambling. Ohio gambling laws allow for wagering on horse racing, including a handful of satellite facilities, as well as gambling at Indian casinos.
Ohio’s major cities like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati offer plenty of entertainment, culture, and nightlife. Sports fans can cheer on Ohio’s many professional teams including the NFL’s Browns and Bengals, MLB’s Reds and Guardians, and NHL’s Blue Jackets. Yet sports betting and most casino-style gaming remains illegal in the state. This is due to Ohio’s complex gambling laws.
While seasonal horse racing and racings with video slots are allowed, Ohio has strict prohibitions on most other forms of gambling. Horse racing has now proven to be the most entertaining and engaging form of gambling, and sites like Monster Casino are prime examples of the acceptance of online gambling not only in Ohio but also all over the world. However, tribal casinos operated by Native American tribes are permitted to offer certain casino games like slots and table games. These tribal casinos include the Jack Cleveland Casino, Jack Cincinnati Casino, and Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.
The state also has seven horse racing tracks that offer live racing and year-round simulcast betting. These include renowned courses like Thistledown Racino and Belterra Park. Additionally, Ohio is home to over a dozen racinos which combine video slot machines with restaurants, bars, and live horse racing. With so many gambling-style options, Ohio attracts visitors from neighboring states with stricter laws.
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