Fall always seems to go by in a flash, but it’s a season jam-packed with festivities, from pumpkin and apple picking to Halloween parties and trick-or-treating.
To help you make the most of the season, Signal Akron and Signal Cleveland’s Najee Hall have teamed up to create a schedule of events happening in and around Northeast Ohio. It’s by no means a complete list, but there’s something for everyone, and many of the events below are free. As always, check the individual event’s website for more information, as details can change.
Ongoing events
Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
Year round
2155 Broadview Road, Cleveland
It’s that spooky time of year. Are you interested in learning more about the history of witchcraft and magic? The Buckland Museum is located on Cleveland’s West Side and has more than 500 artifacts to view. Online: $8, at door: $10, bucklandmuseum.org
September events
Fall Festival Series
Sept. 14 – Oct. 27
Mapleside Farms (294 Pearl Road, Brunswick)
Mapleside Farms will be hosting a series of themed festivals throughout September and October. Festival themes include Hometown Heroes, Johnny Appleseed Festival, Wild Wild West, Superhero, Great Pumpkin Fest and Spooky Fest. Fall favorites such as caramel apples, apple pie and more will be available for purchase. $13 and up, mapleside.com
FallFest
Sept. 21 | 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Longwood Park (1566 E. Aurora Road, Macedonia)
Sip on craft beer and wine and sample bites from food trucks while enjoying live music at Macedonia’s FallFest. Free, macrec.com
Cleveland Pickle Fest
Sept. 21 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mall C, across from entrance to the Cleveland Convention Center
Are you a lover of all things pickle? Then Cleveland Pickle Fest may be right up your alley. Join thousands of people in enjoying pickle companies, food trucks, restaurants, pickle items, pickle beer and more. General admission: $10; children 3 and younger: free, clevelandpicklefest.com
Fall Fest
Sept. 21 | 12 to 9 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park (7619 Memphis Ave., Cleveland)
Old Brooklyn will be having a Fall Fest celebration. Activities will include food trucks, a kid zone, live music, hayrides, a car show, fireworks and more. Free, brooklynohio.gov
Autumn Equinox Yoga Session
Sept. 23 | 6 to 7 p.m.
Hines Hill Campus (1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Peninsula)
Celebrate the start of a new season with an outdoor yoga session in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The class is open to yogis of all skill levels. Participants should bring their own yoga mats. Refreshments will be available after the session. CVNP members: $15, nonmembers: $20, eventbrite.com
Karaoke & Conversations
Sept. 26 | 6 p.m.
Finn Cafe (4641 Broadway Ave., Cleveland)
The Civic Engagement Collaborative will be hosting a bi-weekly Karaoke & Conversation, starting Sept. 26, and running through Election Day. Sing your favorite tunes while networking with community members. Take part in conversations geared toward both civic engagement and education. Food, raffles and other fun activities will be provided. Free, facebook.com
Fall Family Fun Fest
Sept. 28 | 2 to 5 p.m.
Water Works Park (2025 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls)
There will be plenty to keep young ones busy at this festival, from music, bounce houses and hayrides to a petting zoo, face painting and games. Guests will have a dozen food trucks to choose from as well, making it the perfect place for families to spend an autumn afternoon. Free, cityofcf.com
Stow Harvest Festival
Sept. 28-29 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days
Heritage Reserve Park (5120 Young Road, Stow)
Stow Historical Society’s annual festival features free tours of historic buildings, activities for kids and adults and music, as well as handmade artisan goods and food for sale. Proceeds from the events will support the historical society’s work of preserving its artifacts and maintaining its archives. Free, stowhistory.org
Barberton Mum Festival
Sept. 28-29 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days
Lake Anna Park (615 W. Park Ave., Barberton)
This long-running event celebrates fall’s favorite flower: the chrysanthemum. The festival — which is in its 34th year — provides visitors with plenty of food and shopping options, as well as a variety of live entertainment and kid-friendly activities. Of course the real show stopper is the floral display: More than 17,000 mums are planted to create a unique design each year. Guests who want to bring the festival home with them can purchase potted mums. Free, barbertonparksandrec.com
Children’s Fall Festival
Sept. 28 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bedford Square (730 Broadway Ave., Bedford)
Bedford will be hosting Children’s Fall Fest. This family-friendly event will include games, a pumpkin patch scavenger hunt, dancing, singing and more. Free, allevents.in
Fall Fest & Clambake
Sept. 29 | noon to 4 p.m.
Elmwood Park (6200 Wisnieski Parkway, Independence)
The City of Independence will be hosting Fall Fest & Clambake. Airbrush tattoos, face painting, food, magic shows, live music, a petting farm, hayrides and more will be provided. Admission is free with a canned food donation. All clambake food must be pre-ordered by Friday, Sept. 20. Free, independenceohio.org
Vermilion Woollybear Festival
Sept. 29 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vermillion Chamber of Commerce (5495 Liberty Ave.)
Downtown Vermilion will play host to the 52nd annual Vermilion Woollybear Festival. Activities will include the woollybear parade, games, live entertainment, crafts, vendors, food and more. Free, vermilionohio.com
October events
Ohio Mart
Oct. 3-6 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (714 N. Portage Path, Akron)
From ceramics and jewelry to furniture and art, there’s something for everyone at this annual showcase of artisans. Grab lunch or a sweet treat (hot gingerbread, anyone?) from one of the 16 food vendors, and get a head start on holiday shopping — or buy something for yourself. Ohio Mart is a fundraiser for the estate, so this is one shopping trip you won’t feel guilty about. Adults: $12-$16; youth ages 3-17: $6-$8 (Admission includes a self-guided tour of the estate.) stanhywet.org
“The Woman in Black”
Oct. 3-26 | 2 p.m. (Sundays only) and 8 p.m.
Greystone Hall (103 S. High St., Akron)
What — or who — goes bump in the night? Find out in the Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s production of “The Woman in Black,” based on the famous gothic horror novel of the same name. Set in the late 19th century in an abandoned English manor, this spooky tale of a vengeful ghost is sure to get audiences in the Halloween spirit. Adults: $20-$35; students: $5-$30, ohioshakespearefestival.com
Fire Truck Pull
Oct. 5 | 11 a.m.
Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Grab nine friends and see if you all have what it takes to pull a Cuyahoga Falls fire truck — all 40,000 pounds of it — 40 feet in the fastest time. (Teams can also choose to pull the truck just for fun.) The fourth annual event benefits the Falls Cancer Club. The organization offers assistance to residents going through cancer treatment. Team: $250; individual: $25, downtowncf.com
Fall Into Nature
Oct. 5 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bath Nature Preserve (4160 Ira Road, Bath Nature Preserve)
Bath Township will host an afternoon of seasonal activities, including face painting, hayrides and a pumpkin patch, at the picturesque Bath Nature Preserve. Guests can also tour and view demonstrations at the on-site University of Akron Field Station. Free, bathtownship.org
Wonderfest
Oct. 5 | noon to 7 p.m.
88 Oakdale Ave., Akron
Celebrate Akron’s West Hill neighborhood at this arts and culture festival. Now in its third year, Wonderfest will feature live music, art workshops, historic tours, kids’ activities, a handmade marketplace, a silent auction and raffles. Food trucks and a beer garden will also be on site. Free, bit.ly/wonderfest2024
Fall Family Outing
Oct. 5 | 1 to 9 p.m.
Munroe Falls Metro Park (521 S. River Road, Munroe Falls)
Take in a lumberjack show, go on a hayride and enjoy refreshments, naturalist activities and bonfires at this all-day event hosted by Summit Metro Parks. Free, summitmetroparks.org
Akron Latin Festival
Oct. 5 | 4 to 9 p.m.
Cascade Plaza (122 S. Main St., Akron)
Food, music, entertainment and more are on tap for the fourth annual Akron Latin Festival. Keep an eye on Downtown Akron Partnership’s website for an event schedule, and check out this recap of last year’s festival for an idea of what to expect. Free, downtownakron.com
Brew at the Zoo
Oct. 5 | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Akron Zoo (505 Euclid Ave., Akron)
Guests are encouraged to don their Halloween costumes for this frightfully fun night of dancing and libations. Registration includes eight drink samples and admission to the zoo. Food and additional drinks will be available for purchase. Early bird tickets: $20-$38; general admission: $25-$43, akronzoo.org
City of Seven Hills Fall Fest
Oct. 5 | 1 to 5 p.m.
Seven Hills City Hall (7325 Summitville Drive, Seven Hills)
Seven Hills City Hall will be having a Fall Fest. Bring the family out and enjoy food trucks, a beer tent, live music, hay rides, a bounce house, petting zoo and more. Free, sevenhillsohio.org
Solon Fall Festival
Oct. 5 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Solon Community Park (6679 SOM Center Road, Solon)
Solon Parks & Recreation and Solon Center for the Arts present the Solon Fall Festival. Enjoy vendors, inflatables, a petting zoo, music, crafts, food trucks, pumpkin decorating and more. Admission and parking are free. For more information, click here. Free.
Harvest Festival
Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 13 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all days
Hale Farm and Village (2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath)
This annual festival gives guests the chance to explore seasonal traditions, including an apple cider press and apple butter making, at a working 19th century farm. Other activities include a pumpkin patch, food preservation, farmyard animals and a nature scavenger hunt. Admission includes the heritage gardens, demonstrations, and early American craft and trade demonstrations. Adults (age 13 and older): $15; youth (ages 3 to 12): $8; Western Reserve Historical Society members, active military and youth 2 or younger: free, wrhs.org
Harvest Festival and Dinner
Oct. 6 | 3 to 7 p.m.
Pepper Pike Park (28000 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike)
Pepper Pike and Ohio Real Title present the Harvest Festival & Dinner. Enjoy the fall festival, which will include face painting, hay rides, pumpkin painting and more. Dinner will be served immediately after the festival. Festival is free, but dinner tickets must be purchased in advance, and kids will be provided a free kids meal with every individual adult ticket purchased. Free, eventbrite.com
Hair-raising Halloween
Oct. 9-12 | multiple times
Perkins Stone Mansion (550 Copley Road, Akron)
Summit County Historical Society’s new exhibit is an ode to scary movies, complete with spooky artifacts from the organization’s collection — including a haunted rubber ball. Afternoon tours are available, and an extra evening tour is offered on Thursdays, excluding Halloween. $5-$15; society members and children age 6 and younger: free, eventbrite.com
Karaoke & Conversations
Oct. 10 | 6 p.m.
Finn Cafe (4641 Broadway Ave., Cleveland)
The Civic Engagement Collaborative will be hosting a bi-weekly Karaoke & Conversation, starting Sept. 26, and running through Election Day. Sing your favorite tunes while networking with community members. Take part in conversations geared toward both civic engagement and education. Food, raffles and other fun activities will be provided. Free, facebook.com
Fall Festival
Oct. 12 | 1 to 5 p.m.
Tallmadge Recreation Center (46 N. Munroe Road, Tallmadge)
Attendees at this festival will want to save room for dessert. The pie-eating contest starts at 2:30 p.m. sharp. Also on the schedule: hayrides, pony rides, live music, crafts and cornhole. Food trucks and a beer garden will also be on site. Beer tickets and wristbands for the kids’ activities are $5 each, cash only. Free, tallmadge-ohio.org
Stow Haunted Hayride
Oct. 12 | 6 to 8 p.m.
Silver Springs Park | 5238 Young Road, Stow
Something sweet awaits guests after this spooky trip: a Toasty Trail where attendees can roast marshmallows and make s’mores before heading back to their cars. Food trucks will also be on site. Wagons leave every 10-15 minutes from the baseball field’s parking lot. Registration is required. Stow residents: $5; nonresidents: $7, stowohio.org
Spooky Pooch Parade
Oct. 12 | 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Madison Park (13201 Madison Ave. Lakewood)
LakewoodAlive will be hosting the 17th annual Spooky Pooch Parade. A parade will occur along Madison Avenue and surrounding streets and will conclude with an awards ceremony for the best-dressed dog. While the parade is free to attend, you must register to enter the costume contest or march in the parade. Pre-registration: $15 per dog; day-of registration: $20 per dog, lakewoodalive.org
The Haunted Library
Oct. 12 | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tallmadge Branch Library (90 Community Road, Tallmadge)
What goes bump in the library? Find out when the Tallmadge branch is transformed into a family-friendly haunted library. Costumes are encouraged. For more Halloween events at Akron-Summit County Library branches, check out the events schedule. Free, services.akronlibrary.org/event/11395871
Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 12-27 (weekends) | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no entrance after 6 p.m.)
Akron Zoo (505 Euclid Ave., Akron)
Guests have three weekends to attend the zoo’s annual Halloween event. Twelve stations will be set up throughout the zoo for treaters to visit and collect candy. Allergen-friendly options will be available at each station. Treaters: $12-$22; youth 2 and younger: free, akronzoo.org
Spook-tacular Twinsburg Fall Family Festival
Oct. 19 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Glen Chamberlin Park (10260 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg)
This event hosted by Twinsburg Parks and Recreation will feature face painting, food trucks, games and contests, a pumpkin giveaway and truck-or-treat. Free, mytwinsburg.com
Trick-or-treat Trail
Oct. 19 | 3 p.m.
Central Park (1795 Steese Road, Green)
Local businesses and organizations will hand out candy to costumed treaters at Central Park in Green. Kids as old as 12 can also participate in a costume contest. Admission: Nonperishable food item or personal care item, cityofgreen.org
Stan Downtown Akron Fall Fest
Oct. 19 | 4 to 8 p.m.
Cascade Plaza (122 S. Main St., Akron)
Main Street and Cascade Plaza in downtown Akron will be open to trick-or-treaters for the third annual Fall Fest. Free, downtownakron.com
Truck-or-Treat
Oct. 19 | 5 to 7 p.m.
Silver Creek Metro Park (5000 Hametown Road, Norton)
Kids of all ages will enjoy getting an up-close look at the vehicles that make Summit Metro Parks run. The trucks will be decked out in their Halloween best. Along the way, visitors can collect treats from SMP staffers and enjoy games and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. (Summit Metro Parks will host a second Truck-or-Treat Oct. 26.) Free, summitmetroparks.org
Nightmare on Front Street
Oct. 20 | noon to 5 p.m.
2085 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
One of downtown Cuyahoga Falls’ signature events features breweries, vendors, food trucks and costume contests. This indoor and outdoor event takes place at the plaza, amphitheater and pavilion in downton Cuyahoga Falls. Free, downtowncf.com
Karaoke & Conversations
Oct. 24 | 6 p.m.
Finn Cafe (4641 Broadway Ave., Cleveland)
The Civic Engagement Collaborative will be hosting a bi-weekly Karaoke & Conversation, starting Sept. 26, and running through Election Day. Sing your favorite tunes while networking with community members. Take part in conversations geared toward both civic engagement and education. Food, raffles and other fun activities will be provided. Free, facebook.com
Community Baby Shower
Oct. 24 | 2 to 5 p.m.
Friendly Inn Settlement (2384 Unwin Road, Cleveland)
The Friendly Inn will be hosting a community baby shower. Diapers, wipes, baby clothes, food and more will be provided to mothers and expecting families. While this is a free event, you must register to attend. Free, docs.google.com
Hands-On Halloween
Oct. 26 | 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Akron Children’s Museum (216 S. Main St., Akron)
This annual event features live music, face painting, photo ops, trick-or-treating and hands-on experiments including a pumpkin volcanoes and 3D-printed bones. Costumes are encouraged. Guests can also bring new, fuzzy socks that will be donated to children in foster and kinship homes through Summit County Children Services. Tickets: $8-$12, akronkids.org.
Truck-or-Treat
Oct. 26 | 5 to 7 p.m.
Goodyear Heights Metro Park (2077 Newton St., Akron)
Kids of all ages will enjoy getting an up-close look at the vehicles that make Summit Metro Parks run. The trucks will be decked out in their Halloween best. Along the way, visitors can collect treats from SMP staffers and enjoy games and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes. (Summit Metro Parks will host an earlier Truck-or-Treat on Oct. 19, at Silver Creek Metro Park.) Free, summitmetroparks.org
Trick-or-treat on the Trail and Spooky Tales
Oct. 27 | 1 to 4 p.m.
Richfield Heritage Preserve (4374 Broadview Road, Richfield)
Spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful nature preserve and gather treats along the way. Games, crafts and refreshments will be available. Costumes are encouraged. Those who want to show off their artistic skills can enter the pumpkin decorating contest. Contestants can drop their entries off at the park office no later than Friday, Oct. 25. Free, richfieldheritagepreserve.com
Fall Festival
Oct. 27 | 1 to 5 p.m.
303 (Streetsboro Road) and Riverview Road, Peninsula
Enjoy food and beverages, games, a costume contest and live music. The festival will take place at Boston Township Hall and G.A.R. Hall. Trunk-or-treat will start after the costume contest. Free, villageofpeninsula-oh.gov
Perkins Paranormal Trick-or-treat
Oct. 31 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Perkins Stone Mansion (550 Copley Road, Akron)
Families can collect treats in each room of the historic mansion at this Halloween event. Along the way, they can hear scary stories and explore the home’s exhibits. Costumes are encouraged, but no masks please. $5 per family, eventbrite.com
Murder in the Mansion: Dressed to Kill
Oct. 31 | 6:45 to 9:15 p.m. (Gates close at 7 p.m.)
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (714 N. Portage Path, Akron)
A murder has taken place at this famous Tudor Revival manor! Find out if you have the skills needed to crack the case. This event is recommended for those 17 years and older; 1920s attire is encouraged. Tickets: members: $38; nonmembers: $48, stanhywet.org/events
November events
Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival
Nov. 2 | 12 to 6 p.m.
Cascade Plaza (122 S. Main St., Akron)
Coffee-coffee-coffee is on the menu at this “Gilmore Girls”-themed festival in downtown Akron. Whether you prefer flannel and a backward baseball cap or cowboy boots and tie-dye, put on your best fan garb and come sample some caffeinated sips from local businesses. Word on the street is a couple Hep Aliens will be there too. Free, downtownakron.com
Karaoke & Conversations
Nov. 5 | 6 p.m.
Finn Cafe (4641 Broadway Ave., Cleveland)
The Civic Engagement Collaborative will be hosting a bi-weekly Karaoke & Conversation, starting Sept. 26, and running through Election Day. Sing your favorite tunes while networking with community members. Take part in conversations geared toward both civic engagement and education. Food, raffles and other fun activities will be provided. Free, facebook.com
Shop-a-Holidays
Nov. 16 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Akron Zoo (505 Euclid Ave., Akron)
Check some names off your holiday shopping list at this local market. There will also be a kids’ craft corner and animal encounters. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck will be on site. Free, akronzoo.org
