Cooler weather, the return of the beloved pumpkin spice latte, the cheering of crowds at football games, and all photos are starting to look like pastel paintings of oranges reds and yellows.
It can only mean that Fall is officially here. Toledo and its surrounding areas do not run short of fall and Halloween festivities. I’ve made it easy and rounded up what’s happenin’ from now until Halloween, so you can be sure to thoroughly enjoy all of what this beautiful and spooky season has to offer!
1. The Family House Fall Festival
- September 16
- 2 pm - 8 pm
- 235 14th St. Ste. 508
The largest family shelter in Northwest Ohio is putting on a fall festival for the whole family.
Family House Fall Festival will feature live entertainment from EZ PICKENZ; The Symphony Orchestra; The Good, The Bad, and The Blues; and Nate Hicks.
Food trucks and drinks will be available, as well as a play area for the kids.
All proceeds will benefit the Family House.
2. Old West End Autumn Market
- October 7
- 10 am
- 716 W. Delaware Ave.
It doesn’t need to be dark outside to have a good time!
The 2023 Old West End Market at The Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum is more than just a market; you can see live musical acts, enjoy local food trucks, and learn about nonprofit organizations all while visiting numerous local vendors.
Get there early for the neighborhood garage sales!
Visit their website for more information.
3. Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival
- October 8
- 10 am - 5 pm
- Downtown Grand Rapids, Ohio
Since 1977, Grand Rapids has hosted this annual festival filled with live music, charming downtown shops, fall decor, crafts from over 100 local artists, and, of course, apple butter – lots and lots of apple butter.
Admission is free and parking is only $15.
Head over to the Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival website to learn more.
4. Silver Screen Classic Film - Hocus Pocus!
- October 13
- 7:30 pm
- Valentine Theater
- 410 Adams Street
A Halloween favorite for all makes its way to the silver screen once again. Watch the Sanderson sisters as they attempt to wreak havoc on Salem, Massachusetts.
Ticket prices vary based on your seat, and reservations are spooktacularly recommended!
5. Sylvania Fall Festival
- October 14: 4 pm - 10 pm
- October 15: 10 am - 4 pm
- Parade: October 15: 1 pm
- Historic Downtown, Sylvania
The yearly festival is free to the public and is hosted by the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce.
Parents can visit local vendors whole kids trick or treat on Main Street and walk thrush a pumpkin patch.
There will also be live music and food trucks!
Visit the official Sylvania Fall Festival website for more information.
6. Fall Festival & Truck-or-Treat
- October 14
- 12 pm - 3 pm
- The Shops at Fallen Timbers
The details are in the name!
There will be all kinds of fun for the whole family, including of course truck-or-treat, fun activities and food trucks.
All the info is on their Facebook page!
7. Wicked Plants Vendor Fair
- October 14
- 10 am - 5 pm
- The Flower Market
- 8930 S. Custer Rd., Monroe, MI
This year the Wicked Plants Vendor Fair hosts vendors and food-The Lake Erie Hexenbrut will be performing midday along with crafting activities and spooky plants for sale.
Visit their Facebook page to get all the details and find out what awaits you!
8. Art Loop Haunted Harvest Celebration
- October 15
- 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
- Uptown Green Park and Adams St.
The Art Loop Haunted Harvest Celebration makes its return in 2023.
Guest can participate in creative events that celebrate local art, culture, food, and music.
Kids can also enjoy a petting zoo and trunk-or-treat.
Click over to the Visit Toledo website to get all the details.
9. Woodlane Cemetery at Centennial Terrace
- October 20 - October 30
- 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
- 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania
One of the main attractions at Centennial Terrace will be the spooky decorations that in previous years were displayed in beloved Woodland Lane Cemetery.
A local family’s collection is being passed to the Sylvania Recreation District and Centennial Terrace is keeping the tradition alive!
Kids will love the Halloween display!
All the details are on the organization’s Facebook page right here.
10. Camp Miakonda Halloween Party
- October 21: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- October 22: 1 pm - 3:30 pm
- 5600 W. Sylvania Ave.
This family friendly event features two days with hayrides, inflatables, trick-or-treating, games and haunted attractions.
Tickets are only $7 per person.
11. Boo-To-Do Downtown Waterville Halloween
- October 26
- 5 pm - 7 pm
- 122 Farnsworth Rd. in Toledo
Happening the Thursday before Halloween, the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce and surrounding businesses host the annual Halloween Boo-To-Do event where kids don their best costumes and collect candy handed out by local businesses.
Visit the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce website for more information!
12. Annual Halloween Hike at Olander Park
- October 28
- 5:45 pm
- 6930 W. Sylvania Ave., Sylvania
Take a stroll around the park in costume and collect candy from volunteers!
Admission is $2 for ages 3-12, and children 2 and under get in free!
Pre-registration begins October 2-6,
Those who pre-register can enter the event anytime between 5 and 5:45 PM.
The hike is rain or shine!
13. The Anderson Family Series, Halloween Spooktacular
- October 29
- 3 pm
- The Valentine Theater
- 410 Adams St.
Don your best Halloween costumes and come to the Valentine Theater to see Toledo ballet dancers moving to the sounds of The Toledo Symphony on stage.
This family friendly event will include pre concert games and demonstrations.
Visit their official website to learn more.
14. Sandpiper Cruises
- Every Saturday & Sunday in October
- 1 pm - 4 pm
- Docks by Promenade Park
- 1 Jefferson Avenue
Fall Color Cruise: on the Sandpiper every Saturday and Sunday throughout October from 1-4PM.
Halloween BOO Cruise!:
- October 28 at 6 and 6:45PM
- October 29 at 6 and 6:45 PM
- October 30 at 5:30, 6:15, and 7PM
- October 31 at 5:30, 6:15, and 7PM
The Fall Color Cruises offer smooth passage down the Maumee River. The Halloween BOO! Cruise promises 30 minutes of Halloween treats and fun on The Sandpiper.
15. MacQueen Orchards Activities
- October 7 & 8
- 10 am - 5 pm
- 7605 Garden Rd., Holland, OH
Apple Stir and Crafts Festival
This festival is a great way to kick off fall with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. Pick your own apples, tour the Giant Apple Cider Press, or take a wagon ride. Live performances, an apple pie baking contest, pony rides, and bounce houses round out the festivities.
Pick Your Own Apples
MacQueens offers apple picking to the public beginning in mid-September each year and continuing through the third week of October. You can pick from any tree in the orchard, which has 16 different varieties of apples. If you’re not in the mood for picking the apples but still want the freshest fruit, choose pre-packaged bags to take home.
16. Gust Brothers Pumpkin Farm
- Labor Day to Halloween
- 9 am - 7 pm
- 13639 Mulberry, Ottawa Lake, MI
Fall of Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm got underway on Labor Day and the farm will be open each day through Halloween for pumpkin picking, homemade donuts and apple cider slushies, as well as hayrides on Saturdays and Sundays.
17. Fleitz Pumpkin Farm
- 10 am - 7 pm
- 7133 Seaman Rd., Oregon, OH
Fleitz Pumpkin Farm offers pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hayrides, and the opportunity for kids to feed the goats.
Fresh apple cider and donuts are available for purchase!
This year, the farm will host special events throughout the fall.
18. Johnston Fruit Farm Activities
- Monday-Saturday: 8:30 am - 7 pm
- Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
- 2790 US-20 ALT, Swanton, OH
They’ve been open since July, but beginning in early September, you can pick your own apples or pumpkins, then enjoy spending time visiting the animals at the free petting zoo. Snack on fresh apple cider and homemade donuts.
Food Bank Event: September 30 (10AM-4PM)
The farm will have food, music, games for the kids and apple picking for the food banks as well as hay rides and other activities.
19. Carter Historic Farm: Scarecrow Contest & Workshop
- October 5
- 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, OH
The fall tradition of building scarecrows continues at Carter Historic Farm.
You can partake in a scarecrow contest, for cash prizes, where you’ll build a scarecrow from scratch using the farm’s materials, or your own supplies.
The scarecrows entered in the contest will be on display and judged during the Heritage Farm Fest on Oct 7.
20. Heritage Farm Fest
- October 7
- 11 am - 3 pm
- 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green, OH
This free community event brings everyone together to enjoy fresh food from the farm, live music, wagon rides and hands-on heritage activities.
Donut lovers come with an empty stomach to participate in the donut eating contest.
Parking, entrance and all activities are free.
All are welcome.
21. Toledo Zoo Events
- 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH
Harvest Fest
October 1-31
During Zoo Hours
With general admission to the Toledo Zoo, you will enjoy fall activities, giant pumpkin displays and more!
October 19 and 20
10AM-3PM
Your family can have all the Halloween fun, and your kids can get all the candy without the fright! There are various trick or treat stations.
October 21 and 22
10AM-4PM
Kids can visit various trick-or-treat station, while the rest of the family enjoys local entertainers.
Pumpkin Stomp & Chomp
October 28
Halloween just isn’t for kids! The animals will discover pumpkins, strategically placed in their exhibits, and some of them will even make a meal out of them. This is a great way to see your favorite animals and to participate in the zoo’s enrichment program at the same time.
