7 Pumpkin-Perfect Events to Enjoy This Fall in Ohio

Fall is finally here, and that means that it’s the season of flannels, football and, perhaps most notably, pumpkins. Sure you can celebrate the season with a pumpkin spice latte here and there, but what about sweetening the pumpkin season with a trip to one of Ohio’s gourd-forward events? Make a trip to Circleville for the “Greatest Free Show on Earth” at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, or head toward Barnesville, where the village’s fall festival has been a tradition since 1964. From colossal pumpkin weigh-ins to sweet treats not to be missed, find your pumpkin-perfect event in Ohio this season.


Pumpkin Pandemonium | Through Oct. 25
For over 175 years, Heritage Farms in Peninsula has welcomed families to its land in the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley, and its annual Pumpkin Pandemonium has become a favorite fall tradition. Open seven days a week, the experience differs depending on the day you visit. Weekday visitors can enjoy browsing pumpkins for sale as well as a harvest maze and scavenger hunts. Once the weekend arrives, all manner of fun can be found on the farm, including hayrides, food vendors, live music and a Kidzone with rubber duck races, Skee-ball, a bean bag toss and more. Plus, pumpkins, gourds and other fall decor are available for purchase to take home.


Pumpkin Days | Through Oct. 31
Find pumpkin fun every day through Halloween at Nickajack Farms in North Lawrence. Pumpkin Days packs fall fun into every corner of the farm with more than 70 activities for visitors to enjoy. Take a spin on wagon rides and pedal carts, visit with adorable barnyard animals and wander through a corn maze. New to the event this year are giant corn hole, a gold mining station, pig racers and a dinosaur egg roll. The farm also features a pick-your-own pumpkin patch with more than 75 gourd, squash and pumpkin varieties, and Grandma’s Country Store, which is stocked with cider, baked goods and local honey. Don’t leave without treating yourself to food truck eats and doughnuts from the farm’s car.

Old West Pumpkin Fest | Through Nov. 1
At Rockin’ R Ranch in Columbia Station, this festival transforms fall weekends into an all-day family adventure. Admission includes unlimited pony rides, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, kids’ activity zones, face painting, straw mountains and a petting farm filled with friendly animals. Children can explore an Old West town, paint pumpkins or ride down slides, while live character shows add music and dancing to the fun. Attractions like a children’s haunted house and gem mining round the afternoon out. Be sure to dig into seasonal concessions, browse the farm market and pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home.


Pumpkins Aglow | Through Nov. 1
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus is bringing back its annual glowing pumpkin-glowing wonderland. This autumn tradition draws more than 30,000 visitors each year, inviting them to wander among hand-carved pumpkins arranged in themed displays; mermaids, pirates and skeletons are on deck this year. The conservatory’s pumpkin house makes for a perfect photo stop, while live entertainment, food trucks and seasonal cocktails add to the festive mood. Children can enjoy crafts like sand art and stuffing a squishy, as well as navigate the straw bale maze, which is new this year.


Weber Pumpkin Fest | Oct. 17–18
What began in 1984 as the Minges Pumpkin Festival has grown into a decades-long celebration that attracts thousands each October to this Harrison destination. Arts and crafts exhibitors from several different states set up booths, while 25 food and drink vendors keep visitors fueled with great eats. The grounds also feature live music, children’s activities, demonstrations and a selection of pumpkins for sale. There is also a craft beer garden on-site, the proceeds from which are donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Cancer Society in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Circleville Pumpkin Show | Oct. 21–24
Billed as the “Greatest Free Show on Earth,” the Circleville Pumpkin Show is Ohio’s oldest festival and one of the state’s most iconic fall traditions. Held annually since 1903, the four-day event transforms downtown Circleville with parades, rides, contests and pumpkin-themed fun. The 2025 show featured a 1,972-pound pumpkin from Mike and Dusti Helberg, continuing a long legacy of giant gourd weigh-ins. Visitors can enjoy pageants like the Miss and Little Miss Pumpkin Shows, along with multiple parades through the festival, including one made up of bands on Thursday.

Pumpkin Glow | Oct. 22–24
Greene County Parks & Trails gives pumpkin displays a creative twist with this gathering at Caesar Ford Park in Xenia. Instead of traditional candlelit jack-o’-lanterns, this free event features hundreds of hand-painted pumpkins decorated with neon, black-light reflective paint. Visitors can stroll along trails lined with glowing gourds, ranging in theme from cartoons and animals to music icons and classic horror. Families can borrow or bring their own black-light flashlights to enhance the glow, and local food vendors are on hand to add festive flavor.

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