Southern Ohio Celebrates Autumn

The beauty of southern Ohio reaches its peak during the autumn months. There is a plethora of activities for your family to enjoy as you soak in its splendor: Scenic drives through the rolling Appalachian hills; artisan festivals celebrating our region's heritage; and of course, what October is complete without a trip to a local (very sincere) pumpkin patch?

It's no secret that my family's favorite season is autumn. The weather is perfect, the leaves are gorgeous, and the food! The food is delicious. We've compiled a little list of our favorite events and hangouts, plus some suggestions for new places to check out.

Festivals

The Fall Festival of Leaves in Bainbridge features the standard festival fare and entertainment, but its focus on fall foliage is highlighted through its skyline drives: four individual loops through the most beautiful, scenic routes with historical highlights along the way.
Bainbridge, Oh. October 20-22, 2017.

The Circleville Pumpkin Show began in 1903 as a modest exhibit, and has grown in size and popularity in the years since- enough to shut down a large portion of the city to accommodate the festivities! With several amusement rides, vendors, and a heaping portion of pumpkin-laden everything you can imagine, this festival lives up to its reputation as "The Greatest Free Show On Earth."
Circleville, Oh. October 18-21, 2017.

The Jackson Apple Festival was founded in an effort to bring the rural county together and celebrate one of its leading industries. Enjoy a lovely drive before reaching your destination to indulge in all things apple.
Jackson, Oh. September 19-23, 2017.

Farms & Train Rides

Bonnybrook Farms holds Fall Farm Days that are chock full of autumn goodness! Pony rides, pumpkin chuckin', wagon rides, and more. Bonnybrook Farms also hosts The Great Pumpkin Run at the end of October.
Clarksville, Oh. 

If you're in the mood to relax and enjoy the scenery while someone else doing the driving, consider one of the October Fall Foliage tours with Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad. Each ride lasts about two hours and is sure to delight train lovers of all ages!
Nelsonville, Oh.

​Train lovers looking for a fright may enjoy a drive through Kentucky to visit the Bluegrass Railway Museum and take a ride on the Halloween Haunted Train. Looking for something a bit less spooky? The Bluegrass Railway also holds Pumpkin Patch Trains.
Versailles, Ky.
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Even More To Explore

There is no shortage of autumn activities and sites to visit throughout the Buckeye State.

OhioFestivals.net catalogues events in the state for the entire year.

Pumpkin Patches and More lists local farms, breaking them down by state and by region. Check out what Ohio has to offer!

To discover local orchards, Ohio Apples features a database searchable by region, county, or GPS.