2011 Fall Events and Activities For Cincinnati Families

We here at Family Friendly Cincinnati have the best readers! Last year when we decided to put together a post about fun things to do this fall we went straight to you.  We asked for your recommendations on our Facebook Fan Page, and boy did you deliver! You gave us lots of great ideas.

We’ve updated that list from last year and following is a compilation of all the great fall events and activities you told us about. After each suggestion you’ll see that we’ve added some additional information to give you an idea of things like costs, activities and directions.

Also, be sure to bookmark the Cincinnati Enquirer’s listing for Trick-or-Treat times across the Tri-State!

Thanks for all your help! We hope you all have a chance to get out and experience Cincinnati this fall with your family. If you have an event you’d like to share, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

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“The Minges Pumpkin Festival in Harrison, OH is a wonderful family tradition of ours. The kids have a blast. The dates this year are Oct. 15th (10am-7pm) & 16th (10am – 6pm). Here is a link to their website: http://www.mingespumpkinfest.com/” {From reader Angie Sutton Deffenbaugh}

“Minges Pumpkin Fest in Harrison. Try parking on a near-by side street and walking in.” {FFC Reader Regina Radcliffe Rankin}

Additional Information:Free Parking; Admission is $5 with children 12 and under getting in for free. Kids events include: Pumpkin Pie Eating, Seed Spitting, Cow Chip Throwing, Sack Races, Tug of War, Egg Toss (must be 16), Hog Calling (adults too), greased pole climbing and more. DIRECTIONS.

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“www.kinmanfarmsfallfest.com and Hallozeen at The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. We have never missed”{FFC Reader Pam Zepf}

Additional Information:

Kinman Farms Fall Fest runs weekend through October 30, Fridays 5pm-10pm, Saturdays 10am-10pm and Sundays 12pm-7pm. Festivities include music, barnyard with Alpacas and a miniature horse (among others), barnyard ride, pumpkins galore, hayride, pony rides and more. Cost is $8. COUPON   DIRECTIONS

Cincinnati Zoo’s Hallzoween is open weekends, October 8 – 9, 15 – 16 and 22 – 23 and is FREE with paid Zoo admission. Hours are noon – 5pm and children are encouraged to come in costume. Fun includes Trick-or-Treat stations, special animal encounters, pumpkin patch, special shows an more.

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“Farm Haven-10515 US Highway 42, Union, KY 41091 — Best Pumpkin patch our family has been to! We visited Farm Haven for the first time the fall of 2009 and can’t wait to go back this fall! They have the best hay ride around! I would like to see a pumpkin included in the $8.00 admission fee, but still a great farm to visit in the fall with your family. Pony rides and pumpkins cost extra.” {From Reader Debra McCutchen}

Additional Information: Includes corn maze, petting zoo, hayride and tour our Log Cabin. Also available is a concession stand, pony rides, pumpkins and a baked goods and craft store.  Admission fee applies to Adults and children ages 3 and up. More details over on the website. DIRECTIONS.

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“Haunted dinners at Hammel House Inn in Waynesville, followed by Ghostly walking tours by the museum.” {From Reader Belinda Wright}

Additional Information: Dinners are called Ghosts and Goblets Dinners and are held weekends in October. Evening includes scary talks and a tour of other local ghostly sites. Reservations are required. Sounds like an event that older children might enjoy.

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“Irons Farm in Lebanon, Shaw Farm , Halloween Nights at Parky’s Farm, and the Black Walnut Weekend (bring your own things to tie dye for free) at Farbach Werner – that’s all I can think of off the top of my head. :~)”  {From FFC Contributor Karen Ottopal Eborall}

Additional Information:
Irons Fruit Farm – Fall fun runs weekends in October.  Activities include hayrides for pumpkins (12pm – 5pm), a 12 acre corn maze, apple cider, wagon rides, and more. DIRECTIONS

Shaw Farms – Weekends in October. Free Admission and parking. Family fun includes hayrides, barn dances, learn about bees and taste fresh honey, face painting, farm animals, corn maze, interactive playground and more! DIRECTIONS. COUPON.

Parky’s Farm –  Parky’s offers a fun, non-scary, Halloween event that includes a display of thousands of lights and lots of kid friendly Halloween activities. October 6 is Sneak Preview Night with half price admission! Fun runs October 6-30 and hours are Thursday through Sunday, 6pm – 10pm and cost is $6 per person, under 2 admitted free. DIRECTIONS.

Black Walnut Weekend – Takes place at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16.  Noon – 4pm both days. Plenty of food samples including  sandwich spread, ice cream and cookies prepared with walnut; as well as hikes, crafts and games. Jake Speed & The Freddies will perform on Sunday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The Black Walnut Weekend is free and open to the public.

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“Marvin’s Organic Gardens is going to have a Fall Harvest Event on October 15th for families. Hayrides, face painting, food, music, etc. Plus, a fun pie baking contest!” {From Reader Audrey Duren Keyes}

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“We’ve driven out to Shaw Farms, it’s a little cheesy, definitely cooler for the little ones than older, but it’s a yearly tradition now!” {From Reader Chrissy Sanders Lear}

Additional Information: See Above

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“Burger Farm in Newton. Great pumpkin patch and “festival” type set up.” {From Reader Katie Barkley Lavelle}

Additional Information: Annual PUmpkin Festival — Open each weekend in October through October 30. Hours are 10am – 5pm and admission is $2 per person which includes hayride, puppet show and access to pumpkinland.  Other activities are available but are priced separately. Parking is free. DIRECTIONS  & ONE FREE ADMISSION COUPON

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“Blooms and Berries on 48 just outside of downtown Loveland. Awesome, big corn maze, fantastic hayride, fun games for young and old. We hit it every year!” {From Reader Jenny Davis Rupe}

Additional Information: Fall on the Farm features seven acres of sunflowers, the fun Pumpkin Town & Pumpkin Circus and even Pumpkin Paintball! Kids will find a sandbox comprised of corn, a giant slide and of course their huge Corn Maze, this year designed like a GIANT train engine.  Parking and Admission to the farm is free, goat food is $.25. There are costs for the Corn Maze, Hayride and a few other activities, but they offer an all access pass — $8 for adults, $6 for children. DIRECTIONS.

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“Bonnybrook Farms is a MUST.” {From Reader Kathy Frazier Goodpastor}

Additional Information:  Bonnybrook Farms Fall Farm Festivals: Pumpkin & Gourd Festival: Saturdays & Sundays Oct. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 | Noon – 5:30pm | Fun includes the Great Pumpkin Hunt, friendly petting animals, Farmyard area with play houses, swings, sandbox and train locomotive, Pumpkin coloring contest, and guess the weight of the gianormous pumpkin. Cost: All Inclusive Pass: $17, or pay per activities (see website for pricing) | Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival: Saturday & Sunday Oct. 29 – 30 | Noon – 5:30pm | Fun includes friendly petting animals, Farmyard area with play houses, swings, sandbox and train locomotive, pumpkin coloring contest, and guess the weight of the gianormous pumpkin. Cost is based on activities selected. See website.   COUPON and DIRECTIONS

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“Pumpkin Patch Express with the LM&M Railroad – stops at Schappacher Farms in Mason. Fall-o-Ween Festival at Coney Island.” {From FFC Contributor Kristin Goecke}

Additional Information:
Pumpkin Patch Express – Fun includes a corn maze, lots of animals and of course, a TRAIN ride! Cost is $18.50 for adults, $15.50 for kids 5-16 & seniors and $8.50 for kids ages 2-4. Runs through October 30th.

Fall-o-Ween Festival– Fun includes interactive kid’s activities, rides, music, farm animals and more! Cost to attend is $8.50 for ages 2 and up, kids under 2 are free (but if they do the trick-or-treat trail they have to pay admission).  Open October 8-9 from noon-6:00pm both days.

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“Niederman Family Farm for Corn Maze, Hayride, and best Pumpkin Patch. Great Family Fun :)” {FFC Reader Christina Lee Siscoe}

Additional Information: Neiderman Family Farm Fall Activities  take place in October and happen Wednesday & Thursday from 6pm – 9pm; Friday 6pm – 10pm; Saturday 11am – 10pm; Sunday 1pm – 6pm;  Admission is $9 per person (children age 2 and younger are free).  Fun includes Hayrides, corn maze, trip to the pumpkin patch, lots of barnyard animals to visit and lots more. DIRECTIONS

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Additional Fall Events Around the Tri-State:

 

Keepin’ It Country Farms – Country Fall Festival takes place weekends in October, through the 23 | 10am to 6pm.   Fun includes hayrides, corn maze, barnyard games, mini train rides and more. See website for pricing details. DIRECTIONS

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Daniel’s Petting Farm & Pumpkin Patch – Daniels Petting Farm and Pumpkin Patch is located in Walton, KY. Open Saturdays and Sundays in October. Admission is just $9 per person which includes one cup of food per person for the animals (lots of them!), playground fun, hay bale maze and a hayride through the farm which includes a stop at their pumpkin patch (pumpkins extra).  DIRECTIONS

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McGlasson’s Farm off Route 8 — Oct. 9, 22, 23 & 29 – Enjoy live music with bands like Jake Speed & the Freddies and River Cats while you pick pumpkins, drink cider and more. Music starts around 1pm and lasts throughout the day. Free to attend. All shows are from 1-4pm DIRECTIONS.

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Miami University Middletown students will host the Second Annual Family Fun Fest, 12-6pm on Saturday, October 15 in and around Johnston Hall. Fun includes food,  25-cent carnival games, a bouncy house, magician, child identification kits and adult and child costume contests (at 3 p.m.). The free “Trek & Treat” event encourages you to join us for a fun and educational journey through MUM’s nature trails. Children’s activities and treats will be provided along the way for the scare-free, half-mile trail. Admission is free, but canned good donations will be accepted for local charities at the door.  DIRECTIONS

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Warren County Historical Society– Lebanon, Ohio  (FFC suggests for older children)

• Haunted Ghost Tours: Haunted Harmon Hall -9-11pm on October 28 | Ghoulish Glendower – 9-11pm on October 21 | Cost: $20
• Paranormal Ghost Hunt: Glendower –  Sunday the 30th |  Harmon Hall – Monday the 31st.  9pm to Midnight. | Cost: $45

Reservations are required and tickets must be purchased in advance –  513-932-1817 or www.wchsmuseum.org.  DIRECTIONS

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Lebanon Theatre Hauntings – Lebanon, Ohio (Ages 13 and up)
October 28  & 29 | 9pm | Experience an evening of light-hearted Halloween Magic followed by a dark turn into unnerving Paranormal Theatre. Join local magicians Scott Meyer, Sean Owens, and Brahm Corstanje (a.k.a., The Haunted One), for a memorable evening of Halloween-themed entertainment. The production is rated PG-13.  Location: 10 S. Mechanic Street, Lebanon.  Tickets are $13.  Reservations: 513-228-0932 or www.LTCplays.com.DIRECTIONS

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Neltner Farm & Greenhouses – Neltner Farms Fall Festival, weekends in October| 9am – 5pm | Age 3 & up $5, includes horse drawn wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, 2-acre corn maize, face painting, petting zoo & plenty of acres to roam. DIRECTIONS
Farm shop, patch, maize, & petting zoo open.

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While we did include several coupons below, we are sure there are more out there. To find them visit FFC’s savings partner, Savings Lifestyle.