Mark Your Calendars! October Events and Happenings in Cincinnati
Written by Erin Michel, Graduate Assistant for the Graduate School
It’s finally fall; the crisp chill in the air and the slow turning of leaves awakens a special kind of autumnal excitement in all of us. Cincinnati in the fall is truly a wonderland of exciting events and sights to behold. Check out the following list for specific events as well as monthlong opportunities to enjoy some classic fall fun in the Queen City this October.
Date-specific Events
October 7-9: Fright Night Weekend at Washington Park
Free spooky movie screenings all weekend courtesy of Washington Park. Showings run Thursday-Sunday and include Hocus Pocus, Beetlejuice, and Cruella.
October 8: Cincinnati Pay it Forward Guitar Festival
This music festival, featuring over twenty artists, is donating all proceeds to Cincinnati Musician Relief to benefit musicians financially impacted by COVID-19. The festival will take place at Southgate House Revival; free performances run 1-6 PM and ticketed performances from 6 PM-12 AM.
October 13-16: BLINK Cincinnati- A Festival of Light and Art
BLINK is the nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping festival, returning to Cincinnati for the first time since 2019. BLINK features over 101 luminous installations spanning more than 30 city blocks. View the full event guide online at this link.
October 15-16: Weber’s Farm Pumpkin Festival
Featuring live music, pumpkin eating contests, sack racing, wood carving, pumpkin sculpting, petting zoo, and much more, Weber’s Pumpkin Festival is not to be missed.
October 17-23: Taco Week in Cincinnati
Featuring over 35 restaurants across the Cincinnati area, taco week provides an opportunity to sample delicious cuisine at a low cost; restaurants will be offering taco specials for just $2 each. Attendees can download the Taco Week app to view menus and check in at restaurants to be entered for prizes.
October 23: Findlay Market Fall Food Fest
Attendees can purchase sample tickets for just $2 each in order to try a wide range of special fall offerings from vendors across the market. Additionally, Findlay Market will offer a range of entertainment and activities including live music and a photo booth. Purchase tickets here before they sell out!
Monthlong Events
Visit a farm
The Greater Cincinnati area is full of farms offering a wide range of fall fun, including hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin and apple picking, live music, apple cider donuts, and much, much more. Blooms & Berries Farm Market, Iron’s Fruit Farm, and Brown’s Family Farm Market are a few notable options; check out this CityBeat article for a more extensive list.
Haunted Houses
Cincinnati boasts an impressive array of haunted houses, including the famed Dent Schoolhouse, the chilling USS Nightmare, and even King’s Island’s Halloween Haunt. Check out this CityBeat article for a full list of haunted attractions in the area.
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Operated by the Brewing Heritage Trail, this 1.5-hour walking tour, available Thursday-Saturday through November 5, teaches attendees about Cincinnati’s gruesome and macabre past and rich brewing culture. Stops include an abandoned city street and an underground brewery cellar complex. Tickets cost $29.
Cincinnati Music Hall building tour
Throughout October, the Friends of Music Hall organization will be offering 75-minute guided tours of the inside of the music hall as well as 90-minute guided tours of the outside of the building, exploring the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the beautiful and iconic structure. Tickets cost $15.
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This monthlong contemporary arts festival, featuring 100+ projects and 90 venues, features photography as a medium of creative and social expression, including showcases, discussions, receptions, and panels. Individuals can attain a FotoFocus passport free of charge at this link (for a limited time) and attend all events free of charge.