Looking for some fall fun for the whole family? OHventures has you covered! Here are 5 fantastic fall adventures across the Buckeye State for you to enjoy before the snow starts up!
1. Circleville Pumpkin Show: The
Circleville Pumpkin Show is where families go to make memories and is one of the most highly anticipated festivals in the state. I first became aware of this gourd-tastic event when my college roommate and his family would perform in a band each year, ranting and raving for the weeks leading up to the event. In addition to live entertainment, there is much fun to be had at the annual show, which has taken place for the past 40 years for an entire weekend in October (this year, the fair runs from October 17-20). The Great Pumpkin Weigh-In draws a great deal of excitement, as it finds out who has grown the largest pumpkin in the state that year (these puppies are HUGE, weighing close to 1,500 pounds!). If that isn't enough squash for you, everything imaginable is made out of pumpkin: pies (over 20,000 to be exact), cookies, dips, salsas, burgers, sloppy joes - you name it! Crafts, games, parades, pageants, and more are crammed into the weekend as well!
2. Mansfield Reformatory Haunted Prison Experience: Nothing is spookier in Ohio than the
Mansfield
Reformatory. I don't mean the "fake spider web and bedsheet ghosts" kind of
spooky. I am talking about the "decaying walls, rusted jail cells, and eerily
quiet hallways echoing with stories of tortured prisoners" kind of spooky. This
now defunct prison is one of the most majestic buildings in all of Ohio,
resembling a Transylvanian castle soaring high into the sky. In the fall (RIGHT NOW) the prison is transformed into a
haunted house! It is hands down
THE SCARIEST haunted house experience I have ever had. I am not afraid to admit,
that at age 25, I was jumping and shrieking left and right! The cost is $17 and
the lines are incredibly long....but you can guess, it is worth the wait!
3. Camping: I have done a lot of camping at various locations throughout the state, all of
which were unique and memorable in their own way. Some places I would suggest
for any aspiring camper in Ohio are: The
Atwood Lake Campground
in
Tuscawaras County (where they hold the annual "Fall
Festival" each October),
Pymatuning
State Park in
Ashtabula County (and partially in
Pennsylvania), and of course
Hocking
Hills State Park in
Hocking County (the most
famous for hiking, ziplining, and pretty much every other OHventure in the
state). However, the fun certainly does not stop at those 3 suggestions. There
are HUNDREDS of campsites all over the state, which you can find at
Ohio Camper. Don't be
afraid to step out of your comfort zone!
4. Apple Picking: A sea of apples and a maze of corn lie just minutes away, in every nook and cranny of Ohio, providing a perfect escape for anyone wishing to relive their
childhood. For those in Central Ohio,
Lynd Fruit Farm, located on the
corner of state Route 310 and Morse Road in
Pataskala, provides a bounty of fall
activities for the young at heart throughout September, October and November.
When you're there, it's like
walking through a postcard. It's so serene and
peaceful here. Coming here makes me almost forget about school and work and
bills and all the responsibilities of life. It's also a cheap, or sometimes free, activity. To find the nearest apple orchard for public picking, visit
Ohio Apples!
5. Tailgating: Whether you are a
Cleveland Browns,
Cincinnati Bengals, or
Ohio State Buckeyes fan (or even another college, high school, or peewee team), you are bound to be found hooting and hollering on a weekly basis (sometimes more), rooting for your favorite team to win. This is probably the most common and easiest of OHventures to be had, as it's probably not too difficult to round up some friends to drink some beer, eat a potluck of chili and hot dogs, and throw on some jerseys while gathered around a big screen TV! No matter what way you do it, the pigskin sport brings people together, in sports bars, parking lots, and man caves across the state! Ohio is truly a football-loving sport, so on the off days, you can try visiting the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Canton to get your fix and learn some interesting history!
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