Summer, schummer. Bring on fall! The festivals, cooler temps, pumpkin-everything, flannel, apple picking, trick or treating… what’s not to love? In our eyes, September signals the start of this glorious season, so today, we present Cincinnati Parent’s fall bucket list!
Here are 50 of our favorite festivals, events and things to do in Cincinnati this fall:
1. Go apple picking.
2. Find the perfect ingredients for homemade chili at Jungle Jim’s.
3. Walk Kids Row in Oakley.
4. Explore Serpent Mound.
5. Have a day date with your kids at The Silver Diva.
6. Hit up an outdoor farmer’s market while there’s still time!
7. Carve a pumpkin.
8. Indulge in some classic comfort food at one of these Yelp faves.
9. Pick your own pumpkin!
10. Visit farm animals.
11. Have a bowl of chili at a local diner.
12. Take a covered wagon ride.
13. Explore the Ohio Caverns.
14. Visit a 1000 Hands Playground.
15. Walk the Ohio River Trail.
16. Explore a new-to-you children’s museum.
17. Visit the Museum Center’s displays at the Library, Children’s Theatre, Mt. St. Joe and CVG Airport!
18. Speaking of the library, sign your kids up for their own, fine-free card.
19. Plane watch at the CVG Airport Viewing Area.
20. Relive summer by swimming at the brand-new Goldfish Swim School in West Chester.
21. Rake leaves for an elderly relative or neighbor.
22. Spend a Saturday morning building at Lowe’s.
23. Visit Cincinnati’s very own castle.
24. Rake a big pile of leaves… then jump!
25. Hike at a local nature center.
26. Make a mud pie at the Cincinnati Nature Center PlayScape’s Mud Zone.
27. Go fossil hunting at Trammel Fossil Park.
28. Say hi to the brand-new Streetcar!
29. Take a self-guided tour of Heritage Village Museum.
30. Explore the Great Green Room at Blue Marble Books!
31. Make a fall craft at Brazee Street Studios.
32. Try a pumpkin product from Trader Joe’s. (Ravioli? Joe Joes? Waffles? Check, check and check.)
33. Donate, give away or consign some of your kids’ toys ahead of the holidays.
34. Go on our Southwest Ohio Waterfall Road Trip!
Starting in September…
35. Fall back in time at Krohn Conservatory {Sept. 3-Oct. 23}
36. Stay back in time at the Renaissance Festival {Weekends from Sept. 3 – Oct. 23}
37. Complete the 7 acre corn maze at Blooms & Berries’s Fall on the Farm festival {Starts Sept. 24}
38. Check out Jack-o-Lantern Junction at America’s Largest Indoor Train Display {Sept. 26-Nov. 1}
39. Learn about theorems at Math Alive! at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force {through Oct. 2}
40. Have free family fun at Smale Kids Day {Sept. 8}
41. Be a Night Owl at the Cincinnati Nature Center’s Preparing for Night event! {Sept. 9-10}
42. Enjoy a family friendly day of outdoor music and fun at Bluegrass for Babies! {Sept. 17}
43. Celebrate President Taft’s birthday at this month’s Third Sunday Funday {Sept. 18}
44. Get outdoors during the Great Outdoor Weekend {Sept. 24-25}
Starting in October…
45. Check out HallZOOween! {Select weekends in October}
46. Indulge your inner book lover at Books by the Banks {Oct. 15}
47. Fall through the looking glass at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s season opener, Alice in Wonderland {Opens Oct. 15}
48. Do the two-step to live music at Neltner’s Fall Festival {Live bands perform weekends in October!}
49. Take a ride on the Fall Flyer at LM&M Railroad {Select weekends in October}
50. Get your Peanut Butter & Jam on at a Linton PB&J Session {The fall season starts Oct. 1!}
Cincinnati is at its best in the fall — we challenge you to take full advantage of the season by taking part in our Fall Bucket List. So grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte (or two!) and make it a fantastic fall!