2024 Guide To Fall Activities In Cincinnati

As the leaves start to fall and the weather cools down, it’s time to get out and enjoy all that autumn has to offer in Cincinnati. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are plenty of fun-filled activities to indulge in this season. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of must-do fall activities in Cincinnati for 2024.

From exploring the best fall festivals in town, picking apples at orchards and pumpkins from patches, to experiencing the excitement of Oktoberfest celebrations and Halloween attractions, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also take a closer look at family-fun farm activities and artistic autumn events that will leave you mesmerized. So grab your warm sweater, pumpkin spice latte, and get ready to experience the best of Cincinnati’s fall season!

Exploring Fall Festivals In Cincinnati

Cincinnati comes alive with vibrant fall festivals that celebrate the season in style. Don’t miss Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States, complete with delicious food and lively music. Local neighborhoods often host their Oktoberfest celebrations throughout September and October, so be on the lookout for these fun community events.

Operation Pumpkin in Hamilton showcases stunning giant pumpkin sculptures and hosts a pet parade. Another must-visit festival is Country Applefest in Lebanon, where you can enjoy live music and indulge in tasty apple treats.

Head to Fall Food Fest at Findlay Market for a harvest tasting. Tickets are selling quickly so grab them before they are gone. Cincinnati’s fall festivals are not-to-be-missed events that capture the essence of the season in all its glory.

The Harvest Home Fair in Cheviot has been a long-standing fall tradition for many families on the west side of Cincinnati. Catch the annual parade, then head to the festival for rides, games, entertainment, and more.

Oktoberfest season is a big deal in Cincinnati. Famous for hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the nation, many local communities will host their own smaller celebrations. Get the complete guide and even more fall activity ideas over at Tour De Cincinnati.

Throughout the season, there are endless fall activities in Cincinnati for everyone.

Halloween Events

Cincinnati takes Halloween celebrations to the next level, offering a variety of events suitable for all ages. If you’re looking for some spooky fun, here are a few not-to-be-missed Halloween events:

Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt

One of the most popular attractions during the fall season, Kings Island transforms into a haunted playground. With haunted mazes, scare zones, and terrifying live shows, this event is guaranteed to send chills down your spine. Halloween Haunt is intended for mature audiences and is not recommended for children under 13.

Tricks and Treats Fall Fest is a family-friendly event at the park on Saturdays & Sundays that offers ten trick-or-treating stations, fall-themed games, crafts, and more.

IMPORTANT TIP: Planet Snoopy is closed on Fridays and closes at 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for the Halloween Haunt. If you have young children, you will want to leave the park before the Haunt begins.

Dent Schoolhouse

Step into one of the scariest haunted houses in Ohio. The Dent Schoolhouse is known for its elaborate sets and bone-chilling scares. Get ready to face your fears and experience an adrenaline rush like never before.

See the Dent Schoolhouse with the Lights On for a more family-friendly event. On October 20th, the friendly monsters come out to great young guests as they trick-or-treat through the Schoolhouse with the Lights On! It is a perfect time to see all the horrific details that go into making this attraction so eerie!

Other haunted attractions to venture to are the Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park, Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall, and the Wilmington Haunted Hallow Bus Ride. Check out our complete list of Haunted Houses Near Cincinnati.

Underwater Pumpkin Glow At Newport Aquarium

Brand new for 2024 the Newport Aquarium offers a fun underwater pumpkin glow. See your favorite aquarium animals transformed into festive pumpkin displays! Our personal favorite was the lifesize pumpkin sculpture of Denver, the sea turtle.

A unique feature of this pumpkin glow is that it happens during aquarium operating hours, meaning that kids can come during the day to see it! The glow is included in the price of admission and for members.

Local Tip: If you are paying full price for admission, consider upgrading to a season pass. After two visits, the pass pays for itself, and then you can return for Scuba Santa!

HallZOOween

If you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween event, look no further than the Cincinnati Zoo. HallZOOween offers trick-or-treating, festive decorations, and fun entertainment for children of all ages.

HallZOOween is FREE with Zoo Admission! Guests will be treated to a day of fun at the Cincinnati Zoo! Help the Zoo go green; please bring your own treat bag!

• Trick or Treat Stations
•  Special Animal Enrichment
•  Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion Shows at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
•  Hogwarts Express Train Ride (Additional charge applies)
•  Scare-ousel (additional charge applies)

New for the 2024 season is Jack O Lantern Glow. Jack O’ Lantern Glow is an immersive walkthrough experience with more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins and fall displays along a half-mile trail in the Zoo. Tickets are sold separately for this event, with zoo members getting a slight discount.

Jack O’ Lantern Junction

With the impending close of EnterTrainment Junction in January of 2025, this will be your final year to visit for their fall event. EnterTrainmnet Junction transforms into Jack O’ Lantern Junction for Halloween fun for the whole family! Kids can Trick-or-Treat through the indoor, kid-friendly maze and see friendly ghosts, skeletons, and more. Plus, see their new Halloween mini-scenes and a Halloween-themed train display!!

Weekends at the BOO!seum

Head to the Cincinnati Museum Center for Halloween fun during their weekends at the Boo!seum. Starting weekends in October, bring the kids to meet the bats at the Cave, join a Monster Mash Dance Party, and participate in a Children’s Costume Parade. Other spooky fun activities will be happening throughout the museum, so check the event list.

Haunted Village

One of my favorite Halloween activities in Cincinnati is visiting the Haunted Village at Sharon Woods. Explore the 19th-century village, meeting ghosts, witches, and a fortune teller along the way. Walk through the haunted woods. Enjoy balloon art, games, a creepy critter zoo, face painting, storytelling, and more!

Halloween Walk In The Woods

Gather your favorite ghosts and goblins and embark on a nature-filled adventure during the yearly Halloween Walk in the Woods on Saturday, October 26, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Blue Ash Nature Park.

Pumpkin Farms In Cincinnati

No fall season is complete without a trip to a pumpkin farm, and Cincinnati has some fantastic pumpkin patches. Here are a few pumpkin farms that offer a fun-filled day for the whole family:

Niederman Family Farm

Located in Liberty Township, Niederman Family Farm boasts an array of activities, including a jumping pillow, hay rides, and a pumpkin patch. You can even get lost in the farm’s impressive Corn Maze.

Niederman Family Farm even offers the opportunity to book fall bonfires!

Blooms & Berries Farm Market

One of our favorite fall traditions is making a pilgrimage to our favorite local pumpkin patches. Blooms and Berries Farm Market is one of our local farms that hosts a fabulous Fall on The Farm event that attracts families far and wide.

The smell of grilled hot dogs and brats fills the air while guests sip on caramel apple cider floats. Farm animals are on display, with select weekends having a petting zoo. My daughter’s favorites are the giant inflatable pumpkin bounce pad and the bee train.

Take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch, grab a cold beer at the Beer Garden, or try to escape the corn maze! They even have a mini corn maze for kids! 

Irons Fruit Farm

For families looking for a more low-key farm experience without all the bells and whistles, Irons is the place to go. Take a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch or the apple orchard to pick your produce. Sip a glass of fresh squeezed cider while enjoying an apple donut before heading home.

Shaw Farms

Shaw Farms has been one pumpkin farm every year since I was a little girl. Their iconic cutouts, play areas, teepees, and hayride keep families returning year after year. Popular storybook characters come to life in pumpkin form while kids can explore the themed play area around them.

One of my all-time favorites is the Flintstone house and car. While my daughter has no idea who the Flintstones are, she loves sitting next to Fred, seeing Dino, and going into the cave house. Remember to get your photo with the giant jack-o-lantern. You only visited Shaw’s if you had a picture of you and your family peeking through the jack-o-lantern’s eyes and nose.

Pro Tip: Shaw Farms offers free admission to their two interactive play areas along with the animals, weather permitting.

Gorman Heritage Farm

Fall festivals are always a favorite as they are great places to bring the whole family. The sunflower fields are in full bloom in Cincinnati during the Gorman Heritage Farm Sunflower Festival. Visit this historic farm for an afternoon full of live music, hayrides, pumpkins, craft vendors, food trucks, farm animals, and more.

Guests can cut their sunflowers at a cost per stem, take a mule-drawn carriage ride, or enjoy a cold beer in the Beer Garden.

Burger Farms and Garden Center

For generations, Burger Farm has hosted a Fall Festival, with 2023 being their 50th year! With endless family fun, they will add in a few special events, such as the Cincinnati Circus, a pumpkin pie eating contest, live music, and so much more this year.

Hidden Valley Orchards

A great place to embrace all things fall is Hidden Valley Orchards. Grab a craft beer from their tap, enjoy culinary creations, and have family fun on the farm. Carmel Apple Days are coming up on September 30.

Other nearby farms worth checking out are Country Pumpkins in Dry Ridge, KY, and Youngs Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Check out these Top Spots to Go Apple Picking Near Cincinnati for even more fall fun.

Fall Hiking

As the leaves change colors, the Cincinnati area becomes a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re a novice hiker or an experienced trekker, here are some fantastic fall hiking trails near Cincinnati:

Sharon Woods

Located just north of downtown Cincinnati, Sharon Woods offers picturesque trails that wind through forests, meadows and around a beautiful lake. It is the perfect place to indulge in a fall hike, surrounded by stunning foliage.

Sharon Woods has a variety of playgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails. It is easy to spend a whole afternoon exploring.

Pro Tip: The Sharon Woods Gorge Trail is where you can see Buckeye Falls, which is more strenuous, while the walking trail around the lake is ideal to take in that autumn scenery.

Devou Park

Situated across the river in Covington, Kentucky, Devou Park provides panoramic views of the Cincinnati skyline. With a variety of well-maintained trails, you can explore the park and revel in the autumnal beauty from different vantage points.

Airy Forest

Known for being one of the largest municipal parks in the country, Mt. Airy Forest presents a network of trails that showcase the vibrant colors of fall. Enjoy a leisurely hike through this urban oasis and soak in the natural beauty.

You can’t go wrong at any of the Cincinnati parks, especially Ault Park and Eden Park, for scenic fall hikes.

Rowe Arboretum

One of my favorite fall activities in Cincinnati is visiting the Rowe Arboretum in Indian Hill. Stroll through 8.9 acres of magnificent, well-maintained gardens, taking time to admire the diverse collection of trees and shrubs. In the autumn, the arboretum becomes ablaze in fall colors.

Spring Grove Cemetery

One unique way to get your steps this fall is by doing the Self Guided Walking Tour of Spring Grove Cemetery. Download the walking trail with details on significant monuments and points of interest throughout the cemetery.

Don’t want to hike but still go leaf-peeping? Discover our Fall Foliage Drive on the Eastside of Cincinnati.

Fall Getaways

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Cincinnati’s proximity to beautiful fall getaways makes it an ideal base for exploring. Here are a couple of recommendations:

Hocking Hills

Just a few hours’ drive southeast of Cincinnati, Hocking Hills offers stunning fall foliage and breathtaking natural beauty. With its hiking trails, waterfalls, and cozy cabins, it’s the perfect place for a serene fall getaway.

Check out our top 10 Hikes In Hocking Hills.

Smoky Mountains

Considered a longer trip, the Smoky Mountains offer many fall experiences. Witness the transformation of the forest as the leaves turn vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold. Enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and the charming towns nestled within this mountain range.

Need more fall getaway inspiration? These related articles will help you plan your escape.

10 Beautiful Places To Discover In Ohio This Fall 

23 Fun Things To Do In Dublin, Ohio, This Fall 

11 Enchanting Things To Do This Fall In Ohio 

The fall season in Cincinnati is truly magical, with an abundance of fall activities to suit every taste. Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-pumping scares, scenic hiking trails, pumpkin-filled adventures, or a peaceful getaway, Cincinnati has something for everyone. Embrace the beauty of autumn and create unforgettable memories in the Queen City!

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