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Fall is here, and here are eight autumn activities we can’t wait to try this year.
1.) Renaissance Festival
Take a step back in time to a 16th Century English village with almost 100 shows performed daily and unique crafts, lots of food and drinks and games for all ages. Not to mention over 150 costumed characters from the time period including knights, jousts, swordsmen, pirates, nobles, peasants and jugglers. Entertainment includes shows and live demonstrations of glassblowing, stone carving, boot making and more.
Where: 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville
Hours: 10:30 a.m. -6 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays through Oct. 23
Info: (513) 897-7000 | www.renfestival.com/ | Facebook
Cost: $21.95 per adult ticket, $9.95 per child ticket
2.) Nature walks at Five Rivers MetroParks
There are so many gorgeous spots to choose from for a nature walk. Here's one of our faves. Englewood MetroPark has three waterfalls with an amazing view of limestone dipping into a wide ravine. If you continue to Patty Falls, you'll see a large rocky waterfall, which is active year-round, sided by cascade stone.
Where: 100 E. National Road, Vandalia
Hours: 8 a.m. -10 p.m. every day
Info: (937) 275-7275 | www.metroparks.org | Facebook
Cost: Free
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3.) Everything pumpkin
Pick your annual pumpkin from Young's Dairy Farm. With those cooler fall evenings, stop by Bill's Donut Shop (which is open 24 hours), and order their delicious, glazed pumpkin donut to-go. Then ride over to Grounds for Pleasure, a cozy café with a hot pumpkin spice latte.
Young's Dairy Farm
Where: 6880 Springfield Xenia Road, Yellow Springs
Hours: 7 a.m. -11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. -12 am. Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. -11 p.m. Sunday
Info: (937) 325-0629 | http://youngsdairy.com/ | Facebook
Bill's Donut Shop
Where: 268 N. Main St., Centerville
Hours: 24 hours
Info: (937) 433-0002 | http://billsdonutshop.com/donuts/ | Facebook
Grounds for Pleasure
Where: 115 E. Main St, Tipp City
Hours: 8 a.m. -7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. -7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. -4 p.m. Sunday
Info: (937) 669-5288 | Facebook
4.) Dayton Art Institute's Oktoberfest
You don't have to be in Germany to enjoy a good beer. Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute offers a taste of authentic fall, and runs from Sept. 23-25. Events include a Lederhosen Lunch and Oktoberfest Preview Party, which is part of the museum's annual fundraiser, with over 65 exhibitors and food vendors.
Where: 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton
Hours: 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23; 12:30 -8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24; 12 a.m. -7 p.m., Sunday Sept. 25
Info: (937) 223-4ART (4278) | http://www.daytonartinstitute.org | Facebook
Cost: Free
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5.) Visit a haunted house
Moraine Zombie Fest
Haunted houses, zombies and games in the dark, can create one spooky night at the Moraine Zombie Fest Oct. 21 and 22. For only $3 a person or $5 for two people, visitors can enjoy the haunted house, games and food trucks. Lose those scary calories by running the vampire 5K Saturday morning for $25.
Where: Wax Park, 3800 Main St., Moraine
Hours: 7 -10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22
Info: (937) 535-1060 | http://slashmoraine.com/games.html | Facebook
Cost: $3 per person or $5 for two people
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Nightmare on Valley Street
Where: 5117 Valley Pike, Dayton
Hours: Dark –12 p.m., every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 31
Info: (937) 397-2273/39-SCARE | www.daytonscreampark.com/ | Facebook
Cost: $20 for two haunted houses, trails and attractions, free parking
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6.) Enjoy a hay ride
'Tis the season. There are dozens to choose from in the Dayton region, ranging from haunted to family-friendly.
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Hidden Valley Fruit Farm hay rides
Riders can choose from four tours while on a hay ride — a basic tour of the pumpkin patch, or choose the apple tour or both seeing the pumpkin patch, picking a pumpkin, trying some fresh apple cider and a fresh donut. For the ultimate fall experience, guests can choose the ultimate hayride with a picnic and bonfire.
Where: 5474 N. State Rt. 48, Lebanon
Hours: 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Saturday
Info: (513) 932-1869 | www.hiddenvalleyfruitfarm.com | Facebook
Cost: Varies from $7 -$14 a person
Bonnybrook Farms' Lantern Light Wagon Ride and Corn Maze
Where: 3779 State Route 132, Clarksville
Hours: 7:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m., Saturdays, October only
Info: (937) 289-2500 | http://bonnybrookfarms.com | Facebook
Cost: $14 per adult for the wagon ride, $8 per adult for the corn maze, $21 per adult for both
7.) Yellow Springs Street Fair
As one of the most sought-out events in Yellow Springs, the colorful street fair is filled with over 250 vendors, 65 city shops, a beer garden and many organized and spontaneous street performers.
Where: Downtown Yellow Springs
Hours: 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Oct. 8
Info: (937) 767-7876 | http://www.yellowspringsohio.org/ | Facebook
Cost: Free, bring cash for use at vendors
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8.) Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow
Experience an unforgettable time gutting, lighting and organizing these once-a-year celebrated vegetables. Their light can be seen near and far through dozens of carved pumpkins behind the Dayton Art Institute. What will your design be this year? Participate in the creation or enjoy the beauty of the glowing pumpkins.
Where: Stoddard Avenue, Dayton
Hours: Generally occurs Oct. 31, hours to be determined
Info: (937) 223-4278 | Facebook
Cost: Free
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