Top Things To Do This October

Posted on Sep 29

Fall in love with Ohio at these festivals and events in October!

With the leaves changing color, the evenings getting cooler, the pumpkins ripening, and the apple cider flowing, there are so many reasons why Ohio is known for its fall season. Expect crisp, comfortable temperatures, brilliant bursts of red, yellow and orange — and of course, plenty of pumpkins!

The Great Pumpkin Fest

Keehner Park | October 3, 2026

Enjoy a free, family-friendly fall festival at Keehner Park. All are invited for an afternoon of fun and entertainment. Activities include a puppet show, a petting zoo, a costume contest, a hay bale maze, the "Not-So-Scary" haunted trail, games, crafts and more. Children are encouraged to wear a costume and bring a bag or basket to collect candy.

Trenton Fall Fest

Trenton Community Park | October 3, 2026

Trenton's largest and most anticipated event of the year brings the energy! Fall Fest features live rock music, a wild freak show intermission, vendors, food trucks, free family activities, a car cruise-in, a poker tent, and a jaw-dropping fireworks grand finale.

Harvest Fest

Garver Family Farm | October 3, 2026

Enjoy fall family fun at Garver Family Farm Market! Search for the perfect pumpkin to pick, take a hayride, and enjoy sweet fall treats. Sit and listen to live music as you sip on cider. Browse 30+ local vendors and find unique handmade gifts. Grab a bite from one of the food trucks and enjoy kids activities!

Operation Pumpkin

Downtown Hamilton | October 9 - 11, 2026

Celebrate the most popular produce of the fall season, the pumpkin! Operation Pumpkin, held in historic downtown Hamilton, Ohio is a pumpkin and art festival held each year in the fall. Pumpkins are sculpted, carved, decorated and eaten all weekend long! This fall festival is packed with crafts, live music, pumpkin vendors and rides for kids.

Hocus Pocus Halloween

Downtown Middletown | October 11 2026

Enjoy Hocus Pocus-themed fun this October! This family-fun festival includes food and craft vendors, dance troupes, a magic and illusion show, pumpkin carvers, Binx the cat, fun music, a Howl-o-ween dog costume contest and parade, games and activities for kids, and more! The festive day wraps up with a free screening of the full-length feature film, Hocus Pocus.

Candy Bomber

BC Warbirds Museum | October 17, 2026

Inspired by the famous Berlin Airlift, and Colonel Gail Seymour "The Candy Bomber" Halvorsen, the Butler County Warbirds will be dropping parachutes of candy from their 1941 Aeronca L-3E for all the kids! Get festive and wear your favorite costume to this FREE, family-friendly event, and learn a little something about history, too! Skydivers from START Skydiving will be dropping in as well!

Apple Butter Festival

Hueston Woods Pioneer Farm Museum | October 17-18, 2026

This annual festival is a fall favorite! You can watch the process of how homemade apple butter is made. Craft vendors, food concessions and music are all part of this family fun fall festival. Learn more about blacksmithing, apple butter cooking, and spinning & weaving!

The Howl

Voice of America MetroPark | October 20, 2026

Bark your calendars for the Howl, Voice of America MetroPark's costumed-canine celebration! Explore Wiggly Field with your dog, visit treat stations sponsored by friends from the local pet community, and compete in the cutest costume contest Butler County has ever seen. Create canine cuisine, test out enriching toys, and spark your dog's creativity to become the next Pup-casso.