Looking for the best things to do this weekend in Southwest Ohio with kids? October is officially here, and the first weekend of the month is packed with fall festivals, free pumpkin fun, and plenty of reasons to get outside. Catch a friendly-ghost movie under the stars in Dayton, pick a pumpkin at Winton Woods, try paddleboarding and rock climbing for free at Eastwood MetroPark, or end Saturday night with fireworks in Trenton. Nearly every pick this weekend is FREE, so grab a jacket and go!
Things to Do This Weekend in Southwest Ohio: October 2–4, 2026
All Weekend
Ohio Renaissance Festival | Ohio Renaissance Festival, Harveysburg | Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Step back into 16th-century England in a 35-acre village filled with jousting tournaments, sword-fighting shows, human-powered rides, and more than 160 daily performances across 24 stages. Kids can try old-world games and crafts while grown-ups browse over 100 shoppes, and nobody should leave without a giant turkey leg.
Runs weekends through November 1, 2026.
Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience | Eastwood MetroPark, Dayton | Saturday and Sunday, All Day | FREE
Five Rivers MetroParks’ biggest outdoor festival lets families test-drive new adventures at no cost. Try water activities, biking, slacklining, and the climbing wall, then cheer on the competitions and stick around for food and live music. There’s truly something for everyone here, even the dog.
Friday, October 2
RiverScape Reels presents Casper | RiverScape MetroPark, Dayton | 7:15 p.m. | FREE
Kick off spooky season with the friendliest ghost around. Arrive as early as 6:30 p.m. to claim a spot under the pavilion and play cornhole, giant Connect 4, and Jenga before the 1995 family favorite hits the screen. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, and grab popcorn and theater candy from the RiverScape Cafe.
Saturday, October 3
Pumpkin Patch | Winton Woods (Parky’s Farm), Cincinnati | 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | FREE activities; pumpkins $4–$7
Pick the perfect pumpkin straight from the farm’s patch, then settle in for pumpkin decorating, face painting, fall crafts, and games. Pie pumpkins are $4 and large pumpkins are $7, with a limit of one per person while supplies last.
Art on The Rise: Fall Fun | Cincinnati Art Museum | 1–5 p.m. | FREE
Head to Art Climb, the museum’s hillside sculpture garden and stairway, for an afternoon of live performances and hands-on art-making. No reservations are needed, so it’s an easy add-on to a day in Eden Park.
The Great Pumpkin Fest | Keehner Park, West Chester | 2–6 p.m. | FREE
West Chester’s first-Saturday-in-October tradition is back with a costume parade, games, and a Not-So-Scary Haunted Trail that’s just right for little ones. Dress the kids in their costumes early and make an afternoon of the free activities and entertainment.
Trenton Fall Fest | Trenton Community Park, Trenton | 3–10:30 p.m. | FREE
The 8th annual Fall Fest packs a full day into one evening, starting with a cruise-in car show, food trucks, vendor pop-ups, and family activities. Live rock from Austin Meade and Goodbye June brackets a jaw-dropping Kiriosities show with sword swallowing and fire breathing, and the night wraps with a fireworks finale at 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 4
Beech Acres: For the Love of Kids Festival | Washington Park, Cincinnati | Noon–4 p.m. | FREE
Spend Sunday afternoon in Over-the-Rhine at this festival made just for kids. Enjoy free pizza and cookies, live music, dancing, drumming, arts and crafts, inflatables, balloons, and free books to take home. Parenting pros will also be on hand with helpful resources, and no registration is needed.
Want even more ideas? Check out our top things to do this weekend and browse the full calendar below for every festival, pumpkin patch, and family event happening across Southwest Ohio. Happy October!
Things to do in Southwest Ohio this weekend (October 2–4, 2026):
