Crisp air, colorful leaves, and a calendar packed with local traditions make fall the perfect season for exploring beyond the Queen City. Within a 90-minute drive of downtown Cincinnati, you’ll find an eclectic mix of events that go well beyond the usual pumpkin patches and haunted houses. From a chuck wagon dinner under the stars in Clarksville to an art fair tucked among towering sculptures in Hamilton, and from true-crime lantern tours in Dayton to a small-town festival where sauerkraut shows up in brownies and fudge, these gatherings highlight the region’s creativity, history, and charm. This guide pulls together some of the most memorable and slightly offbeat experiences to make the most of your autumn weekends.

Bonnybrook Farms – Chuck Wagon Dinner Ride

When: Select Saturday evenings in September and October (dinners typically begin late afternoon into evening, around 5:00–8:00 pm).
Where: Bonnybrook Farms, 3779 State Route 132, Clarksville, OH (about 50 minutes northeast of downtown Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• Guests climb aboard an open-air wagon for a ride along the farm’s scenic, rolling trails. The ride ends at a lantern-lit camp where a hearty chuck wagon–style dinner is served.
• Meals usually include hickory-grilled chicken or pulled pork, sides like baked beans, cornbread, and a seasonal dessert—most often fruit cobbler baked in cast-iron over the fire.
• After dinner, guests can gather around the campfire for live entertainment, storytelling, and stargazing. It’s a family-friendly, unplugged evening that feels more like stepping into the Old West than a typical fall festival.

Bonnybrook Farms – Fall Farm Days

When: Every Saturday and Sunday in October, 12:00–6:00 pm.
Where: Bonnybrook Farms, Clarksville, OH (same location as above).
What to Expect:
• The highlight is the Adventure Wagon Ride, a theatrical experience where actors bring characters to life along the trail with fun, lighthearted skits.
• Classic fall activities include a giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, and farm games. Bonnybrook also offers unusual extras—like giant slingshots where kids (and adults) can launch gourds across the fields, and archery lessons on site.
• Food stands serve fresh grilled items, kettle corn, and seasonal treats. Bonnybrook’s general store has local jams, sauces, and fall décor to take home.
• Compared to large-scale festivals, Fall Farm Days is less crowded and more interactive, with plenty of space to roam.

Haunted Village at Heritage Village Museum

When: Fridays and Saturdays, October 10–11, 17–18, and 24–25, 6:00–10:00 pm.
Where: Heritage Village Museum, inside Sharon Woods Park, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH (just 25 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• The recreated 1800s village is transformed into a family-friendly Halloween haunt. Each historic building is decorated and staffed with costumed interpreters and actors.
• Attractions include storytelling by lantern light, trick-or-treat stations, a slightly spooky haunted woods walk, and themed activities like fortune telling.
• Roaming characters—from headless horsemen to witches—wander the grounds but keep scares appropriate for children.
• Guests can warm up with concessions such as cider and snacks. Parking is on-site at Sharon Woods. It’s more playful than terrifying, perfect for families who want Halloween atmosphere without extreme scares.

Big Bone Lick Salt Festival

When: Friday, October 17 through Sunday, October 19, 2025. Typically runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Where: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, 3380 Beaver Road, Union, KY (about 35 minutes southwest of downtown Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• A celebration of Kentucky’s frontier and Native American heritage, centered around the salt springs and fossil-rich grounds of Big Bone Lick.
• Visitors can see live demonstrations of pioneer and Native American skills like flintknapping, blacksmithing, fire-starting, spinning, weaving, and salt-making.
• Reenactors in period clothing camp on-site, sharing stories of early settlement and frontier life.
• The park’s bison herd is a big draw, connecting modern visitors with the prehistoric animals that once roamed the area.
• Live folk music, local food vendors, and craft booths round out the festival. It’s equal parts history lesson and fall fair, with a rustic, educational spin.

Pyramid Hill Art Fair – Hamilton, OH

When: Saturday, September 27, 2025 (11:00 am–6:00 pm) & Sunday, September 28, 2025 (11:00 am–4:00 pm).
Where: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton–Cleves Road, Hamilton, OH (about 40 minutes north of Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• Over 50 artists from across the Midwest and beyond displaying and selling jewelry, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, woodcraft, textiles, and mixed media.
• The fair is set within the rolling hills and massive outdoor sculptures of Pyramid Hill, blending art and nature in a unique setting.
• Live music performances both days, plus food trucks and wine/beer vendors.
• Sunday features a special performance by the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra in the open-air amphitheater.
• Families can enjoy a “Family Fun Zone” with art projects, bounce houses, and kid-friendly activities.

Sights Before Sunrise – Cincinnati Observatory, Mt. Lookout

When: Friday, October 17, 2025 at 6:00 am.
Where: Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH (Mt. Lookout neighborhood).
What to Expect:
• A pre-dawn astronomy program where guests use historic telescopes (one dating back to 1845) to view stars, planets, and celestial objects before sunrise.
• Admission includes coffee and donuts to warm up in the chilly early hours.
• Guides and astronomers provide context about what you’re seeing and share stories of the observatory’s history as “the birthplace of American astronomy.”
• A rare, nerdy treat for night owls and early risers alike.

Operation Pumpkin – Hamilton, OH

When: Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Where: Downtown Hamilton, High Street & surrounding blocks.
What to Expect:
• One of the Midwest’s premier giant-pumpkin weigh-offs, attracting growers from across the region competing to break records (pumpkins often top 1,500 lbs).
• Live pumpkin carving exhibitions with master sculptors turning gourds into elaborate art pieces.
• A street festival atmosphere with craft booths, food vendors, live music, and kids’ activities.
• Quirky competitions like pumpkin tosses and themed contests add to the festive mood.
• Free admission; great for photos and family fun.

Lantern Cemetery Tours – Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, OH

When: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, evening (typically starts at 7:00 pm).
Where: Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Avenue, Dayton, OH (about an hour north of Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• A guided lantern-light walking tour through one of Ohio’s oldest and most historic cemeteries.
• Interpreters share true-crime stories, tales of Dayton’s most notable residents, and eerie local legends.
• The setting is beautiful and unsettling at the same time, with Victorian monuments and fall foliage lit by flickering lanterns.
• This event is recommended for teens and adults—less “jump scare” haunted house, more chilling historical storytelling.

Hanover Haunted Harvest – Hanover Township, OH

When: Sunday, October 26, 2025 (afternoon into early evening).
Where: Hanover Township Community Center, 2595 Pleasant Avenue, Hamilton, OH.
What to Expect:
• A community-driven fall festival with costume contests, hayrides, and carnival-style games.
• Kids can trick-or-treat in a safe, neighborhood-friendly environment.
• Food trucks and local vendors set up on the grounds.
• This is one of Butler County’s smaller-scale events, perfect for those looking for a laid-back, local celebration instead of large crowds.

Ohio Sauerkraut Festival – Waynesville, OH

When: Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Where: Downtown Waynesville, OH (about 50 minutes northeast of Cincinnati).
What to Expect:
• A beloved small-town festival dating back to 1970, featuring more than 350 craft vendors and 30+ food booths.
• Themed foods range from the traditional—Reubens, sauerkraut pizza, cabbage rolls—to the adventurous—sauerkraut brownies, fudge, donuts, and cookies.
• Streets are lined with artisans selling pottery, quilts, jewelry, and holiday décor, making it both a shopping trip and a foodie adventure.
• Expect large crowds but a quirky, cheerful vibe.

Whether your idea of fall fun is sipping cider by a campfire, browsing artisan booths, watching master carvers turn pumpkins into works of art, or wandering historic grounds by lantern light, there’s no shortage of unique outings close to home. These events capture the season’s spirit without the crush of big-city crowds, offering a chance to slow down and connect with local culture. So grab a sweater, gather a few friends or family members, and carve out time for a road trip or two—because some of the best fall memories are waiting just outside Cincinnati.

Gourd Times Ahead