Ready to have a little farm family fun? Kids of all ages love to explore and take in all of the excitement in October. Dig into sweet treats, too!
farm family fun
Brown’s Family Farm Market; 11620 Hamilton – Cleves Road; Hamilton, Oh; 513-738-0404; brownsfarmmarket.com
Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fall activities include a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, straw maze, farm animals, picnic area, several play areas and lots of photo ops! Fall decor and fresh produce include corn stalk bundles, Indian corn, squash, gourds, mums, and pumpkins. In addition, school groups can attend sessions during the week (call ahead to reserve). Private parties are welcomed on weekends; call to reserve a picnic area.
Burger Farms’ Fall on the Farm; 7849 Main St., Cincinnati, Oh; 513-561-8634; burgerfarms.com
Every weekend in October from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free parking, hayrides to the Pumpkin Patch (last hayride at 5 p.m.), Pumpkin Land (story book world walk through); puppet show (starts at 12 p.m. and runs every hour); giant straw castle; play set area; giant jumping pillow and more. Plus, enjoy weekday hayrides from 1:30 – 5 p.m. $5 hayrides plus additional fees for produce and merchandise.
Burwinkel Farms Fall Festival; 4359 Hamilton Cleves Road; Ross, Oh; 513-738-1145; burwinkelfarms.com
Saturdays and Sundays through October 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.. Burwinkel Farms is open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Hayrides wind through sunflower fields and the pumpkin patch and corn mazes. Enjoy plenty of photo ops and be sure to shop for décor and more. Check their Facebook for weekday public hayride announcements, additional weekday time openings and more.
Country Pumpkins Fall Festival; 1835 Sherman Mount Zion, Dry Ridge; 859-905-9656; countrypumpkinsky.com
Through October 30, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; hayrides, a corn maze, barrel train, petting zoo, U-pick and pre-picked pumpkins, concessions and more at the 250-acre farm. Activity options include: Gold Bundles (U-Pick Hayride (includes a large pumpkin), Cotton Wagon, barrel train ride, Turbo Slide, four-acre corn maze, and two shots from the Chunkin’ Pumpkin launcher; Pumpkin Ridge includes two pre-picked pumpkins, a petting zoo, giant slides, corn box, photo spots, the all-new Pumpkin House and more. Get early bird savings at the website. Rides and U-Pick available Friday nights 5 – 7 p.m. and weekends only and weather permitting. Concessions are available weekends only. Plus, the Candy Express Barrel Train will be running on Saturday, October 29 from 2 – 3 p.m. for ages 12 and younger.
Fall on the Farm at Blooms and Berries Farm Market; 9669 Ohio 48, Loveland, Oh; 513-697-9173; bloomsandberries.com
Through October 31, Sunday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wind through a corn maze, hop on the pumpkin bounce pad, take a hayride or spin around the bee train. In addition, you can pick a pumpkin, explore the petting farm, browse seasonal baked goods and more.
Neltner’s Fall Fest; 6922 4 Mile Road, Melbourne, Ky; 859-496-7535; neltnersfarm.com
Open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekends through October 31. Live music is on weekends 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. In addition, take a ride on a horse-drawn wagon ride, check out a cool model train display, browse craft vendors, listen to live music, visit the petting zoo and more.
Shaw Farms Pumpkin Times; 1737 Ohio 131, Milford, Oh; 513-575-2022; shawfarmmarket.com
Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Pumpkin Times — featuring live bluegrass music — is available on weekends. Little ones will love the interactive playground with themed cut-outs, plump pumpkin people and more for fun photos. You can’t have a fall fest without a hayride! Hop on a tractor- drawn hayride, find fresh pumpkins, venture through the corn maze, enjoy pedal carts, horse drawn hayrides, the little blue train and more.
Trick or Treat on the Farm; Hidden Valley Orchards; 5474 Ohio 48, Lebanon, Oh; 513-932-1869; hiddenvalleyorchards.com
Open October 29 & 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wear costumes, and don’t forget your candy pail! Kiddos will visit “spooky” treat stations throughout the farm. Be sure to grab some treats from the bakery before you go, and grown-ups can try a pumpkin beer from the Crate Room; must register.
Trick-or-Treating & More Fall Fest at Washington Park; 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, Oh; 513-621-4400; washingtonpark.org
Open October 22 – 23: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; dance to an entertainment lineup, check out local craft vendors, kids’ activities, animal encounters and a free pumpkin patch
Halloween Walk in the Woods Blue Ash Nature Park; 4337 Cooper Road, Blue Ash; http://blueash.com
Saturday, October 22; 12 – 3 p.m. Trick-or-treating at the Blue Ash Nature Park.
HallZOOween & Haunts
HallZOOween Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden; 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Oh; 513-559-7781; cincinnatizoo.org
Runs October 15 – 16, 22- 23 and 29 – 30, 12 – 5 p.m. Ghouls and little boos can visit trick-or-treat stations, see animals and take in Phil Dalton’s Theater of Illusion and more.
Haunted Village at Heritage Village; 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville; 513-563-9484; heritagevillagecincinnati.org/events/haunted-village
Takes place October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29: 6 – 10 p.m. The 19th century village inside Sharon Woods Park is the perfect setting for a spooky October evening! Trick-or-treat through the village meeting ghosts, witches and a fortune teller along the way. Little ones can enjoy balloon art, games, theater, storytelling, a maze, a creepy critter zoo and more.
The Howl, Voice of America MetroPark Wiggly Field Dog Park. 7850 VOA Park Drive; 513-867-5835; yourmetroparks.net
Take place on Saturday, October 15, 4 – 7 p.m. Bring the kids and their furry pals for a costume parade, a trick-or-treat trail for owners and pups, an obstacle course, vendors and more! Next, stick around for a screening of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians at sundown. Don’t have a dog of your own? Adopt one from the Animal Friends Rescue Society or loan one out for the duration of the event. Must register; $5 per pup, free for families without dogs; valid vehicle permit required for park entry.
Howl-O-Ween Hootenanny, ArtsConnect Front Lawn 9158 Winton Road, Cincinnati; 513-522-2108; theartsconnect.us
Happens on Saturday, October 29, 12 – 3 p.m This not-so-scary, outdoor celebration includes trunk-or- treating, a fun hay maze, a Scooby-Doo scavenger hunt, DJ, face painting, mini pumpkin painting ($4) and more. Additionally, a pet costume contest takes place at 2 p.m. (must register for pet contest) and more! Sponsored by ArtsConnect and Powel Crosley YMCA.
Not-So-Scary Fun
Jack O’ Lantern Junction; EnterTRAINment Junction; 7379 Squire Court, West Chester, Oh; 513-898-8000; entertrainmentjunction.com
Now through October 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Navigate through a maze including friendly ghosts, skeletons and trick-or-treat candy. Kids can also check out the pumpkin-filled cargo trains making their way around train neighborhoods, cities and Halloween mini scenes.
Kings Island; Tricks & Treats Fall Fest, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason; 513-754-5700; visitkingsisland.com
Running through October 30 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Enjoy treats, live entertainment and exciting rides.
Nighttime Trail Fest Cincinnati Nature Center; 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford; 513-831-1711; cincynature.org
One night only! Friday, October 28, 7 – 9 p.m.; spiders, bats and bones. Wear costumes for this non-spooky woodland Halloween adventure. Little ones can enjoy hands-on nature crafts, activities and treats; must register.
Operation Pumpkin; 1 High St., Hamilton, Oh; operation-pumpkin.org
Takes place October 7 – 9, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m; Celebrate 11 years at this pumpkin and art festival; live music, kids’ activities, a pageant, pup parade, vendors, food and gigantic carved pumpkins.
Wyoming Fall Festival, Wyoming, Oh; wyomingohio.gov
Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; browse more than 80 vendor booths, enjoy live performances and more.
Gentle Fun
Sensory Friendly Mornings at the Contemporary Arts Center: Halloween Treat; 44 East 6th St., Cincinnati, Oh; 513-345-8400; contemporaryartscenter.org
On October 29 from 9 – 10 a.m. the CAC welcomes guests for sensory fun. Get into the season with fun activities.
TIPS for Farm Visits with Littles
- Bring a lightweight stroller.
- Dress for the weather: If it rains on your parade, have ponchos at the ready.
- Dress in play clothes under costumes and wear boots for mud!
- Follow your child’s lead and when they are done, let them be done.
- Pack snacks: A happy belly equals a happy kiddo!
- Bring cash
- Go early and plan ahead: Know that most farms will close early on Halloween.