Admission-free festivals*
- Midwest Outdoor Experience: 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6; Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton; 937-275-7275; www.outdoorx.org
- Ohio Cider Fest: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7; Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. State Route 48, Lebanon; 513-932-1869; www.hiddenvalleyfruitfarm.com
- Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7; Young's Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs; 937-325-0629; youngsdairy.com
- Community Harvest Festival: 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6; Hope United Methodist Church, 5980 Wilmington Pike, Dayton; 937-434-7095; www.hopeindayton.org/joomla/
- Ohio Sauerkraut Festival: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14; Downtown Waynesville, North Street and South Main Street, Waynesville; 513-897-8855; www.sauerkrautfestival.com
- Yellow Springs Street Fair: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13; Downtown Yellow Springs, 100 Dayton St., Yellow Springs; 937-767-2686; destinationyellowsprings.com
- 14th Annual Iams Homestead Pioneer Harvest Fest: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13; Trotwood-Madison Historical Society Iams Homestead Museum, 349 S. Broadway St., Trotwood; 937-837-5387; www.t-mhs.blogspot.com
- Fall Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27; Hisey Park, 5443 Middletown Road, Waynesville; 513-695-1109; www.co.warren.oh.us/parks
- Pumpkin Days: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 4; Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. State Route 48, Lebanon; 513-932-1869; www.hiddenvalleyfruitfarm.com
*This is a sampling of admission-free festivals.
October is full of festivals and other opportunities in our area to celebrate the fall and Halloween seasons — and having fun doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Here is a sampling of six local events and venues where you can find ways to save, or have fun for free.
What: Ohio Renaissance Festival
When: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; now through Sunday, Oct. 21
Reference address: 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, Ohio 45068
Ways to save:
- Purchase a 4-Person Discount Combo Ticket Package online for $120. Save more than 10 percent off the retail price of $133.96 with this combo package. For $120, you'll receive: four admissions (adult or child); four food entrees; four soft drinks; four frozen ice cream desserts; and four coupons for 10 percent off the purchase of a festival souvenir from Willy Nilly's Wares & Gifts, Lil Willy's, or Treasures of the Realm. You must purchase a minimum of four tickets. Additional combo tickets may be purchased for $30 per person. All tickets are valid on any regular festival day.
- Purchase an Adult General Admission ticket (ages 13 plus) online for $16.99, a $3 savings off the gate price.
- Purchase a Child General Admission ticket (ages 5 through 12) online for $8.99, a $1 savings off the gate price.
- Purchase discount tickets at any local Kroger store. Prices are $16.99 each for adults and $8.99 each for children.
- Pick up event coupons at any local United Dairy Farmers, Papa John's or Wendy's, to receive $16.99 each for adult's tickets and $8.99 each for children's tickets at the gate.
More information: renfestival.com
What: Kings Island
Hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; 11 to 1 a.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; Friday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 28
Where: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island, Ohio 45034
Ways to save:
- Halloween Haunt Tickets start online at $25.99 each for Friday nights now through Friday, Oct. 26, saving you $13 off the regular price at the park of $38.99. Tickets start online at $31.99 for Saturday nights, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, saving you $23 off the regular price at the park of $54.99.
- College students can save off the regular front gate price when they present a valid student I.D. at the admissions window on Friday nights during Halloween Haunt, getting in for $25.99.
- Purchase Single Day Adult Tickets online for $31.99 each. These tickets cost $54.99 each at the gate.
- Purchase Single Day Junior/Senior Tickets online for $29.99 each. These tickets cost $33.99 each at the gate.
- Buy a full price ticket for ages 3 and up online for $54.99, and get a second day free.
More information: www.visitkingsisland.com
What: Pumpkin Fest (offers hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkins and more)
When: Noon to 6 p.m., every Saturday in October; open by reservation during the week
Where: 7441 Franklin Madison Road, Middletown, Ohio 45042
Ways to save: Normal pricing for an all inclusive hayride, which includes a hayride, corn maze and any size pumpkin, costs $ 7.95 per person. A basic hayride, which includes a hayride and corn maze, costs $4.95 per person. Save in these ways:
- A group discount is offered Monday through Friday for $5.95 per person for a minimum of 20 people. This includes a hayride, corn maze, a pie pumpkin (a small pumpkin), and a snack of popcorn per person.
- A group discount is offered Saturday, and 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, for $6.95 per person for a minimum of $20 people. This includes a hayride, corn maze and any size pumpkin per person
- Print off the Pumpkin Fest details page at ActiveDayton.com to receive $1 off one hayride for one person per family on Saturday only. You can find this page at http://events.activedayton.com/middletown_oh/events/show/280129645-pumpkin-fest.
More information: www.fallpumpkinfest.com
What: Adventure Acres (corn maze)
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; now through Saturday, Nov. 3
Where: 784 S. Alpha Bellbrook Road, Bellbrook, Ohio 45305
Ways to save: Admission prices are $9.75 for adults 13 and up; $7.75 for seniors 65 and up; $6.75 for children 5 to 12; and free for children 4 and younger.
- Go to adventureacres.com/deals.php to download this year's coupon, which offers $1 off the adult admission price. The limit is one per person.
More information: adventureacres.com
What: Wayne Ave. Haunted Butcher House
When: 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; Friday, Oct. 5, through Saturday, Oct. 27
Where: 508 Wayne Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45402
Ways to save: General admission tickets cost $12 per person. Save on tickets in these ways:
- Get $2 off coupons at several downtown businesses, including bars in the Oregon District; and Sunoco, located at 912 Wayne Ave., in Dayton.
- If you "check in" on Facebook while you are at Wayne Ave. Haunted Butcher House, you will get a $2 off coupon for your next visit.
- A printable $2 off coupon will be available soon at www.wayneavebutcherhouse.com.
More information: www.wayneavebutcherhouse.com
What: Young's Jersey Dairy (offers ice cream, food, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, a corn maze, miniature golf, batting cages and more)
When: Hours vary. Go to youngsdairy.com/hours-directions for a complete list of hours.
Where: 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
Ways to save:
- Purchase a three-tab wristband at Young's Jersey Dairy for $11.50, or a five-tab wristband for $16.50. Each tab corresponds with one activity, such as a double-dip ice cream cone, a game of miniature golf, a bucket of golf balls, tokens for batting cages and a corn maze ride. This does not include picking your own pumpkin. These wristbands provide about a 15 to 20 percent discount.
- Go to youngsdairy.com/weekly-deals to find weekly deals.
More information: youngsdairy.com
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