5 great events this weekend in Butler County

Friday, Sept. 22, marks the first day of fall and the start of a busy weekend in Butler County.

Here are 5 events you don’t want to miss:

1. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park to host 15th annual art fair

Thousands of people will be at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum this weekend all in the name of art.

The Pyramid Hill Art Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road in Hamilton.

Diverse artists from across Southwest Ohio will be selling paintings, drawings, photography, prints, ceramics, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood-working, metal, sculptures and more.

2. Country concert, fireworks for Monroe’s 200th birthday

Monroe is turning 200 and celebrating the milestone with a festival Friday and Saturday at Monroe Community Park, located off South Main Street.

Both days of the bicentennial celebration will include live music and entertainment.

On Friday there will be music from Fresh Funk, a Cincinnati-based band that covers classic Motown, funk and soul.

The festivities on Saturday will feature live musical entertainment from Jo Dee Messina, Little Texas and Darryl Worley beginning at 5 p.m.

Entertainers from The Cincinnati Circus Company will provide circus-style entertainment both Friday and Saturday nights.

The event will also feature carnival rides, a zipline, an archery range, mobile fishing, inflatables, a midway, food trucks, concessions, stilt-walkers, face painting, balloon artists, craft booths and more. The Lions Club will host a beer garden both days.

3. 500 Women March Against Heroin in Middletown

Middletown resident Pat Herndon, 67, her good friend, Josephine Gates, 65, and other women have organized what they call: “This Means War! 500 Women March Against Heroin” on Saturday in Middletown.

There will be keynote speakers and marchers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and wear military attire.

“We will be going to war that day,” Herndon said while standing near Yankee Road and Ninth Avenue, where the march will begin at 10 a.m.

It’s time to fight back, the ladies said.

4. Liberty Twp. Fall Festival

No one here will judge you for your obsession with all things pumpkin spice.

Liberty Twp.’s 2017 Fall Festival will feature live music, festival food, arts and craft vendors, inflatables, an activity zone for the kids, and one adorable pet costume parade.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Park, located at 6757 Yankee Road, behind the Lakota Family YMCA.

P’s in a Pod Bluegrass Band will perform throughout the day.

Registration for Paws on Parade will be from 11 to 11:45 a.m., with the pet parade starting at noon.

5. Miami University hiking event benefits service animals

Butler County residents and their four-legged friends are encouraged to "take a hike" this weekend as part of Miami University's annual Hike-A-Thon.

In its 11th year, the event not only offers a chance to experience Miami University Natural Areas, but also to raise funds for 4 Paws for Ability, an organization that provides trained service dogs to people with disabilities.

Money will be raised based on the number of miles hiked during the event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 4824 Oxford Road, Oxford. Hikes of one, three and five miles are available for participants, with the goal a total of 2,000 miles hiked that day.

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