WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 2, 12-5 p.m.
WHERE: Chambersburg Road and Brandt Pike, Huber Heights
COST: Free
INFO: This fun-filled festival food, music, fall crafts, 2-day cruise-in, bands, everything that makes fall that special time of the year. Activities for the whole family including hay rides, pony rides, great food, crafts, bouncy house, cruise in, face painting, s’mores, pumpkin pie and more.
Ohio Renaissance Festival
WHEN: Oct. 1-Oct. 23, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays
WHERE: 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville
COST: Single-day admission is $21.95 ages 13 and up. $9.95 for children 5-12. Free for ages 5 and under
INFO: Historic fun for all. The Ohio Renaissance Festival brings a 16th-century English village to merry olde life across 30 acres of Waynesville countryside. From queens and knights to minstrels and maidens, all manner of costumed characters will entertain thee and thy family with full-armored jousting, sword-fighting, juggling, storytelling, dancing and jesting with almost 100 shows daily on 11 stages. The always impressive arts-and-crafts marketplace features upwards of 140 artisans, including glassblowers, jewelry makers, blacksmiths, weavers and more, who’ll be displaying their wares for sale. Of course, no Ren Fest journey to the past would be complete without a feast, from offerings like various meats and vegetables on a stick to more modern delicacies like wraps and pizza, as well as beer and wine.
Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival at Young’s
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 1 & 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs
COST: Free
INFO: Enjoy a full day of family fun. Take your picture with Humongus Gus, the 800+ pound pumpkin, taste freshly made Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes, take a tour of our cheese- making facility and watch cow milking. And don’t forget to try their latest addition – Pumpkin Bowling. Make plans with your family to visit and enjoy the country for a few hours. Park your car across the road in a field, so there’s plenty of parking. The Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival is held rain or shine.
Ohio Cider Fest
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 1 & 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. State Rt. 48, Lebanon
COST: Free
INFO: Fun with the whole family with train rides, hayrides, homemade treats and apple cider. For more info, call 513-932-1869.
Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton
COST: Free
INFO: Try your hand at more than 25 outdoor activities, open to all ages and skill levels in various experience areas throughout Eastwood MetroPark. Add to your knowledge at the Bike Village and get rolling on the pumptrack. Build outdoor living skills at the Outdoor School and discover backcountry camping at the Osprey Backcountry Zone. Children can try a variety of outdoor activities at the Youth Adventure Zone, including animal encounters, climbing and nature play.
Big Beers Barley Wines Beerfest
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1, 4-8 p.m.
WHERE: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
COST: $45 includes tasting glass and 20 beer samples. $10 non-drinker tickets. Proceeds benefit Resident Home Association.
INFO: A premium beer festival that focuses on premium and rare beers at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, inside the Roundhouse. www.bigbeersdayton.com
Roktoberfest Beer Festival
WHEN: Oct. 1, 4 p.m.
WHERE: JD Legends Entertainment Complex, 65 Millard Drive, Franklin
COST: $10 and up
INFO: Enjoy 5 bands, 3 acoustic acts, and 12 local crafts in the sand. Ticket proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Bradford Pumpkin Show
WHEN: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, Oct. 4-6, 4-10 p.m., Friday & Saturday, Oct. 7 & 8, 12-10 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Bradford, OH
COST: Free
INFO: The five-day festival has a multitude of exciting events. The midway features games, rides, crafts, concessions and merchandise. During this five-day event, enjoy one of the many parades that take place while indulging your taste buds with pumpkin ice cream corn on the cob, and many other tasty treats.
Dayton LGBT Film Festival
WHEN: Oct. 7-9, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Neon, 130 East 5th St., Dayton
COST: Single tickets are $8. No refunds or exchanges.
INFO: The 2016 Dayton LGBT Film Festival will take place Oct. 7-9, 2016. Come check out the amazing line up. Tickets can be purchased online or at The Neon. Tickets for each screening will be removed from the website 24 hours before its start time. For more info, call 937-222-8452. Free parking is available directly across the street. Additionally, The Neon will validate parking vouchers for the Convention Center garage. For more info, go to http://DaytonLGBT.com/
Yellow Springs Street Fair and Music and Beer Fest
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown, Yellow Springs
COST: Free
INFO: Over 200 booths selling fine arts & crafts, clothing, jewelry, fair trade items, unique gifts, massages and much more, join the international selection of cuisine from Vietnamese shish-kabob to Mexican empanadas to Thai wraps to hot dogs. street performers, vendors and performances by Baoku, Spanish Tony Sanchez, The LA Band, Stark Folk Band and other acts. For the safety and comfort of all, animals are prohibited from Street Fair, except for Service animals. Offsite parking with free shuttle service at Yellow Springs High School and Young’s Jersey Dairy. 937-767-2686 or www.yellowspringsohio.org.
47th Ohio Sauerkraut Festival
WHEN: Oct. 8, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. & Oct. 9, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Waynesville, Main High and Miami streets, Waynesville
COST: Free
INFO: You will be amazed at the handmade crafts that line the festival grounds that hail from 25 states. More than 450 vendors. They include, but not limited to, candles, clothing, purses, country crafts, florals, glass and pottery, holiday crafts, jewelry, metal, pet and more. Don’t forget the humble cabbage, sauerkraut, served in traditional and non-traditional ways. For example, sauerkraut sundae, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut pizza, Polish Cabbage Soup, sauerkraut brownies, bread and cookies, Not a fan of sauerkraut? No worries, there will be plenty of food offerings to keep you satisfied. 513-897-8855 or www.sauerkrautfestival.com
18th Annual Iams Homestead Pioneer Harvest Fest
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Iams Homestead Museum, 349 South Broadway, Trotwood
COST: Free
INFO: Imagine a perfect warm autumn day with the smell of chili cooking over an open fire; hot dogs grilled over the same fire just the way you like it; apple butter cooking over its own open fire and the smell of just harvested corn. Take a tour of the Iams Homestead Museum and see all the items on display. Don’t miss touring the 1854 barn where you will find antique tools of all kinds and other display yet to be determined. Also visit the 1929 Trotwood Travel Trailer Display on the grounds of the Iams Homestead.
Enon Apple Butter Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: South Xenia Street and the grounds of Enon Elementary School, Enon; rain or shine
COST: Free
INFO: Food: Pork Chops, Hot Dogs, Chicken Noodles, Apple Dumplings, Walking Tacos, Funnel cakes, Sausages, Hamburgers, Peanuts in the shell and by the bag, Shaved Ice and of course Apple Butter. Crafts and Gifts: All Craft booths are judged by the committee and are of homemade quality. Manufactured crafts are not allowed in the festival. Demonstrations: The Enon Community Historical Society volunteers demonstrate the Apple Butter production by cooking all apple butter sold over a fire in copper kettles. Music and Entertainment: Music from the past adds to the festival atmosphere throughout the entire festival. For more info, call 937-864-7080.
Fairborn Fall Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Fairborn Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn
COST: Free
INFO: Bring the whole family out to enjoy live bands, vendors and crafters, food and more.
Miamisburg Fall Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Riverfront Park, 3 N. Miami Avenue, Miamisburg
COST: Free
INFO: Miamisburg Parks and Recreation Department invites families to the annual Fall Festival. This event will offer a variety of games, crafts, rides and entertainment for families to enjoy before winter. Come on out and join us for this fall tradition in Miamisburg. For more info, contact Miamisburg Parks and Recreation at 937-866-8999.
Dayton Liederkranz Turner Oktoberfest
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 5-11 p.m.
WHERE: Dayton Liederkranz Turner, 1400 E. Fifth St., Dayton
COST: $3 Admission. College students & military admitted free (with valid ID); Club members free with membership card
INFO: Be German for a night! Join in for a celebration of authentic German food, music and beverages.
Fall Festival of Fun at the Vandalia Recreation Center
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, 5-9 p.m.
WHERE: Vandalia Recreation Center, 1111 Stonequarry Road, Vandalia
COST: $10 per family (up to 5 people)
INFO: Enjoy the Climbing Wall, Luther’s Jungle, Gymnasium, pumpkin decorating and door prizes. The fun doesn’t stop there; a hayride around the Sports Complex will take you to a campfire to make s’mores. Hayrides start at 6 p.m.
Fall Farm Fest
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 8, noon to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 9, noon to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Lost Creek Reserve, 2645 E. St. Rt. 41, Troy, Ohio
COST: Free admission, but some activities have a cost. Bring cash.
INFO: Wagon rides, kiddit tractor pull, children’s games, scavenger hunts, face painting, interactive art, a scarecrow contest and more. www.miamicountyparks.com
Oakwood Family Fall Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 9, 2-5 p.m.
WHERE: Shafor Park, Collingwood Avenue and Shafor Boulevard, Oakwood
COST: Free
INFO: Come to Shafor Park for the 11th annual Family Fall Festival and enjoy an afternoon of fun games, food, hayrides along Shafor Boulevard to see Scarecrow Row, pumpkin painting and other entertainment for the whole family. Kids can dress up and join the “Costume Parade” around the park.
Chocolate Festival
WHEN: Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
COST: Free admission and free parking
INFO: The theme for this year’s 14th annual Chocolate Festival is Rhapsody in Chocolate, a 1920’s theme. Enjoy the chocolate and crafts offered by festival vendors and the sights and sounds of the roaring 20’s. A Kids’ Corner will feature games and a bounce house. The coliseum stage will showcase the award-winning Kaleidoscope variety show with Hall of Fame guest artist Larnelle Harris. Watch local talent exhibitions on stage throughout the day. 937-233-2484
Pioneer Village Harvest Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, 3999 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville
COST: $5 per person. Bring a bag of individually wrapped Treat candy and get free admission for one.
INFO: Share in this annual event as the village members all prepare for the coming winter. Learn about how the Pioneers would prepare their cabins and their food storages for the coming winter months. This would be a period of everyone coming together and sharing their resources and also a great opportunity for traders to come through selling their wares. There will be demonstrations showing pioneer life, and you can learn from our village members all of the different things they would have to do in order to be prepared for the winter months in Ohio. Staining of clothes using the walnuts from around the village.
Hidden Valley Pumpkin Days
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 29 & Sunday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. State Rt. 48, Lebanon
COST: Free
INFO: Pumpkins and more family fun on the farm. For more info, call 513-932-1869
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