Fall festivals and other pumpkin fun for the family in Cincinnati

Halloween is one of the highlights of a kiddo's year, and Greater Cincinnati is creepin' it real with totally eerie-sistible ways to paint the town dead. You don't need to be Sherlock Bones to track down family-friendly things to do during spooky season, because we've got ya splattered, smothered and covered.

From fall festivals to not-so-scary haunted happenings, there's a lot of fang-tastic fun to be had. So what are you waiting for? Let's get the party startled!

We'll be updating this list all season long, so be sure to boo-kmark it to stay ahead of the carve.

Through Oct. 27: Spooktacular 2024, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Windmill Farm, 1454 E. State Route 73, Springboro. Hayrides, pumpkin bounce pad, cornstalk tunnel, play areas, farm animals. Runs Sept. 21-Oct. 27. $15 all-inclusive ticket. Windmillfarmmarket.com.

Through Oct. 27: Simmons Farm Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Simmons Farm, 3020 Schaller Road, Bethel. U-pick pumpkins, trebuchet, cow train, hay ground (playground), corn maze, animals, picnic area, homemade jams and jellies for sale. $5. simmonsfarms.us.

Through Oct. 27: Fall Fest, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Neltner's Farm, 6922 Four Mile Road, Melbourne. Horse-drawn wagon rides, model train display, corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, barrel train, seasonal apples and more. Free weekdays, $7 Saturday-Sunday. neltnersfarm.com.

Through Oct. 27: Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Burger Farm, 7849 Main St., Newtown. Enjoy hayride to pumpkin patch, scavenger hunt, puppet shows, play areas, cow train, adult-size peddle carts, games and live music. Activities for additional fee include pony rides, amusement rides, sand art, carnival games. $15, $12 ages 65-up. burgerfarms.com.

Through Oct. 27: The Pumpkin Express, 10 a.m.12:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad, 16 E. South St., Lebanon. Runs Saturday-Sunday Oct. 12-27. $24-up, $5 ages under 2. Lebanonrr.com.

Through Oct. 27: Weekends at the BOOseum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Little ghouls and goblins can wear costumes and join parade at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., dance the Monster Mash, enjoy eerie art activities and more. Included with museum admission. cincymuseum.org.

Through Oct. 27: HallZOOeen, noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Kids can wear costumes and visit trick-or-treat stations. Runs weekends Oct. 12-27. Included with admission. Cincinnatizoo.org.

Through Oct. 31: Jack O’Lantern Glow, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Immersive walk-through experience with more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins and fall displays along a half-mile trail inside the zoo. Family-friendly. Runs Oct. 3-6, Oct. 11-13, Oct. 18-31. $25, $20 ages 3-12, free ages under 3. Cincinnatizoo.org.

Through Oct. 31: Country Pumpkins Fall Festival, 4-7 p.m. Monday, 4-7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 2-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 1835 Sherman Mount Zion Road, Dry Ridge. Enjoy petting zoo, giant slides, corn box, mini maze, pumpkin house and more. Weekends include hayride, train ride, 4-acre corn maze, chunkin' pumpkin, and adventure barn. Closed Tuesdays. $22 funpass (weekends), $8 weekdays. 859-905-9656; countrypumpkinsky.com.

Through Oct. 31: Fall on the Farm, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday,10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Blooms & Berries Farm, 9669 State Route 48, Loveland. Enjoy hayrides, bounce pad, corn maze, petting farm, games, bee train, barnyard 500, shopping and bakery daily. Weekend additions include hot dog stand Saturday and Sunday, and a beer garden Friday-Sunday. $18.95. bloomsandberries.com.

Through Oct. 31: Jack O’Lantern Junction, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, EnterTrainment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. Runs Sept. 28-Oct. 31. Entertrainmentjunction.com.

Through Nov. 2: Underwater Pumpkin Glow, 10 a.m. daily, Newport Aquarium, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Encounter larger-than-life sculptures of aquarium favorites, reimagined as pumpkins. See giant, glowing underwater octopus, an underwater pumpkin patch, and glowing environments for families to explore together. Runs Sept. 16-Nov. 3. Newportaquarium.com.

Through Nov. 3: Waynesville Fall Fest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, 7392 E. State Route 73, Waynesville. Family-friendly fun with pedal cars, corn maze, mini golf, playsets, petting farm, ghost town village, trolley, disc golf, corn crib, foot golf, giant skee-ball and more. Food, crafts, pumpkins and more. $14, $12 ages 10-under. Waynesvillefallfest.com.

Through Nov. 3: Tricks and Treats, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Runs Saturday-Sunday Sept. 22-Nov. 3. Visitkingsisland.com.

Oct. 25-26: Haunted Village, 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. The village transforms for Halloween into a family-friendly, slight-fright event. Trick or treat through the village and meet ghosts, witches, the Headless Horseman, and a fortune teller. $15 per person. Heritagevillagecincinnati.org.

Oct. 23: Monster Mash, 6-7:30 p.m., Erlanger Branch Library, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger. Ages 3-12 can wear costumes and dance to DJ's creepiest, crawliest tunes. Pizza while supplies last. Free. kentonlibrary.org.

Oct. 24: BooFest at the Y, 6-8:30 p.m., Clippard Family YMCA, 8920 Cheviot Road, Colerain Township. Trunk or treat and family-friendly activities open to community. Free. myy.org.

Oct. 24: Tween Halloween Party, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch Library, 1000 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas. Ages 8-14 enjoy trivia, crafts and candy. Free. cc-pl.org.

Oct. 24: Halloween Sensation, 5-8 p.m., Lawrenceburg Fire Dept., 300 W. Tate St., Lawrenceburg. Hot dogs, candy, prizes, games, hayrides and more. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 24: Madison Square's Halloween Hangout, 6 p.m., Element Eatery, 5350 Medpace Way, Madisonville. Hosted by KISS 107's Jon Jon. Family-friendly activities, trunk or treat from 6:30-8:30 p.m., cocktails, live music with Hi Fi Honey from 8-9 p.m. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 24: Halloween on the Green, 6-8 p.m., Village Green, 4599 Green Drive, Fairfield. Kids can wear costumes and trick or treat with Fairfield Parks and Recreation. Ages 10-under. facebook.com.

Oct. 25: BooFest at the Y, 6-9 p.m., Gamble-Nippert YMCA at Westwood Town Hall Park, 3017 Harrison Ave., Westwood. Trunk or treat and family-friendly activities open to community. Free. myy.org.

Oct. 25: BooFest at the Y, 6-8 p.m., Campbell County YMCA, 1437 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. Trunk or treat and family-friendly activities open to community. Free. myy.org.

Oct. 25: BooFest at the Y, 6:30-8:30 p.m., R.C. Durr YMCA, 5874 Veterans Way, Burlington. Trunk or treat and family-friendly activities open to community. Free. myy.org.

Oct. 25: Spooky Tales on the Trails: Sparse Species, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Miami Whitewater Forest, Timberlakes Program Shelter, 9001 Mount Hope Road, Harrison. Family-friendly night hike. Ages 5-up. $5. greatparks.org.

Oct. 25: Children's Halloween Party, 6 p.m., RG Cribbet Recreation Center, 5903 Hawthorne Ave., Fairfax. Games and goodies. Admission is individual servings of food items for the treat table, such as brownies, cupcakes, bagged snacks, apples and bananas. No candy or gum. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Hall-O-Ween, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Meet and get photos with Reds Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman an Doug Flynn from 1-2 p.m., take part in costume contest at 2:30 p.m., enjoy trick or treat stations, prize giveaways and plenty of Halloween-themed fun. redsmuseum.org.

Oct. 26: Halloween Skate Party, 7:30 p.m.-midnight, Jimmie's Rollerdrome, 115 Main St., Elsmere. Costume contest, Halloween-themed snacks, games and decor. Family-friendly. Admission: $10, skate rentals $2 regular, $4 speed. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Halloween Hootenanny, noon-3 p.m., Arts Connect, 9158 Winton Road, building A, Springfield Township. Enjoy not-so-scary hay maze, scavenger hunt, costumed characters, trunk or treat, games and family-friendly activities open to community. Dog costume contest at 2 p.m. Free. myy.org.

Oct. 26: Pioneer Village Trick or Treat, 3-6 p.m., Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, 4006 Pioneer Village Drive, Harveysburg. Kids can wear costumes and trick or treat around village. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: HalloWest, 1-6 p.m., Mount Airy Forest, Maple Ridge Lodge, Mount Airy. Wear costume and enjoy games, face painting, costume contest, inflatable bounce houses, live music and activities. Food truck and ice cream truck on site. Free. cincinnati-oh-gov.

Oct. 26: Pumpkin Hike, 6:30-8 p.m., Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, 3455 Poole Road, Colerain Township. Jack-o-lanterns light the path along the Pin Oak Trail, Bring flashlight for this self-guided hike, then enjoy fall fun around the campfire. Drawing at 8 p.m. to select pumpkin to take home. $7 per person, $6 per pumpkin. Register: greatparks.org.

Oct. 26: Trick or Treat Lights On at Nightmare Manor, 2-5 p.m., 1601 S. University Blvd., Middletown. Special trick or treat lights on experience. $20. Get $2 off with donation of canned good. Parking $2. Nightmaremanorhaunt.com.

Oct. 26: Tiny Tot Trick or Treat, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Erlanger Branch Library, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger. Ages 0-2 can wear costumes and trick or treat at different stations. Free. kentonlibrary.org.

Oct. 26: Hangar Halloween, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tri-State Warbird Museum, 4021 Borman Drive, Batavia. Dress in your costume and enjoy family-friendly activities. $12, $7 children. eventbrite.com.

Oct. 26: Halloween Walk in the Woods, noon-3 p.m., Nature, Park, 4433 Cooper Road, Blue Ash. blueash.com.

Oct. 26: Halloween Open House, 5:30-7 p.m., William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 2038 Auburn Ave., Mount Auburn. Join a "Victorian visitor" for a look at the origins of "Hallows Eve," and the 19th century traditions and customs surrounding this unearthly holiday. Enjoy arts and crafts to make a Victorian keepsake. Costume contest, trunk or treat. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Jack O'Lantern Festival, 5 p.m., Randolph Park, 226 E. Eighth St., Covington. Costume contests, games, arts and crafts, candy, bounce houses, face painting, free food. Free.

Oct. 26: Halloween Block Party, 5 p.m., Point Perk, 45 W. Pike St., Covington. Hosted by Point Perk, the Covington Police Dept. and Covington Fire Dept., this party includes free candy handed out by participating businesses, live music from DJ Brody, bounce house, costumes, giveaways and a chili cookoff between the police and fire. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Kid's Halloween Party, 6-8 p.m., The Standard, 434 Main St., Covington. Pumpkin carving station, S'mores, costume contest with prizes at 7:30 p.m. Free. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Halloween Kids Festival, 1-4 p.m., Church of Scientology, 283 Main St., Florence. Cookie decorating, pumpkin carving, face painting, costume contest, treats and more. Tickets: 859-962-5080. facebook.com.

Oct. 26: Halloween Carnival and Carpool Cinema, 5-6:30 p.m. (carnival), 6:30 p.m. (carpool cinema), Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Ave., Clifton. Carnival in partnership with Clifton Rec., Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Clifton Area Neighborhood School and Fairview German Language School. Free; carpool cinema requires registration: cliftonculturalarts.org.

Oct. 27: USS Nightmare Lights On Matinee, 4-6 p.m., 100 Riverboat Row, Newport. The crew is away from this haunted riverboat for this matinee. Ages under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. $10-up. ussnightmare.com.

Oct. 27: Halloween Family Hike, 7 p.m., Sharon Woods, Sharon Centre, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Wear favorite costume and hike along trail. You might find trinkets or treasures along the way. Make sure costume is hike-appropriate. Free. greatparks.org.

Oct. 27: Trick or Treat at the Ballet, 1-3:30 p.m., Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance, Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills. Enjoy trick or treating, games, character photos and more. Sessions run every 30 minutes and advance registration required. $5, $2 ages 12-under. cballet.org.

Oct. 29: Halloween Night Out, 6-8 p.m., Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Dress in costume and trick or treat from more than 50 local community partners. Pumpkin patch, photo booth, bounce house. Free.

Oct. 29: Halloween Party, 6-7:30 p.m., Hebron Branch Library, Meeting Room ABC, 1863 North Bend Road, Hebron. Wear costume and enjoy Halloween fun, including trick or treating on the Storywalk. Free. bcpl.org.

Oct. 30-31: Highfield Halloween Party, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Glenwood Gardens, Highfield Discovery Garden, 10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn. Spooky fun in the garden at this family-friendly party with crafts, story time, pumpkin science and creepy crawlers. Kids can dress in costume. $6. greatparks.org.

Nov. 2: Pumpkin Chuck & Handmade Market, noon-5 p.m., Stanbury Park, 2221 Oxford Ave., Mount Washington. Features flying pumpkins, games, food, beer, live music and craft vendors. Free. facebook.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Fall festivals, pumpkin parties, family Halloween events in Cincinnati